There’s been some rumours floating around of a project at Saab called “Black Turbo”, which apparently pertains to the updated 9-3 range that we’ll see later this year. It’s believed to be a boosted engine configuration, though I haven’t heard any pariculars as to whether it relates to a four or six cylinder engine.
Given that the updated 9-3 will be getting an AWD setup, one could guess that the Black Turbo project is a boosted engine setup that would be available due to the power being distributed via all four wheels.
One Swedish contact via email offered the following:
[a guy he knows from GM powertrain]……has been in Death Valley driving a 300 hp engine for an GM project, but not knowing for which product i could guess that it might be for the 9-3 with XWD.
Obviously this is quite speculative.
If you’ve got any info on the Black Turbo project then feel free to clue us in via comments. Or, if you prefer the more anonymous approach, contact me directly via email.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Carl
// Jan 4, 2007 at 1:05 am
Darkness is spreading!
2 Michael Karesh
// Jan 4, 2007 at 2:01 am
A 300-horse AWD 9-3 is exactly what Saab needs. Hopefully we’ll see it soon.
3 SaabKen
// Jan 4, 2007 at 3:25 am
Cool, sounds like an Area 51 project ! Let’s hope the rumour is true.
4 saab9x
// Jan 4, 2007 at 4:49 am
i see increased sales. thx, btp.
5 ctm
// Jan 4, 2007 at 5:17 am
Well, 300 bhp may be cool… But I wont LED light all around, wireless Internet built in, heads-up display…
6 Gunnar
// Jan 4, 2007 at 5:23 am
Why not throw all caution to the wind and put a big-bloc Chevy V-8 with turbocharger under the hood of the new 9-3. The world’s fastest sedan we’ll call it.
Talk about torque steer…
7 1985 Gripen
// Jan 4, 2007 at 5:53 am
SAAB’s version of this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_aircraft
8 Saaboy
// Jan 4, 2007 at 6:14 am
If they put the window controls back in the center console, i’d buy one…
9 1985 Gripen
// Jan 4, 2007 at 7:20 am
If they put EVERYTHING back to where is was on the C900 I’d buy one!
10 Talonderiel
// Jan 4, 2007 at 6:58 pm
300 hp twin-twinscroll (hell, a single twin-scroll would be amazing) turbo with AWD…. that’s the “must have” complaints… I’d buy it this!!!