Swedish tuners and makers of the easiest re-tune module going around, BSR, have added the new Saab TTiD to their list, to awesome effect.
In standard form, the Saab 9-3 TTiD produces 180hp and 400Nm. I drove one of these in Sweden last year at the 9-3 launch and it was pure joy with its dual sports exhaust growling like no other diesel I’d ever driven.
BSR’s new tune will boost the TTiD to 213hp and 450Nm. As you can see on the dyno chart (click to enlarge) the torque is all available down low where you need it.
This gives the TTiD driver a 20% reduction in getting up to overtaking speed, from 80km/h to 140km/h in just 9.1 seconds in fourth gear (vs 11.5 in standard tune). From 80km/h to 110km/h in third takes just 3.3 seconds.
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If you’re unfamiliar with BSR’s stuff, I’ve written about them plenty of times (here, for example). The beauty of the BSR system is that there’s no need to remove your ECU as a part exchange or send it away for re-flashing. The BSR unit connects to your car via cable and downloads the tune information directly. When you want to return your car to it’s original tune, you just hook it up again and away you go.
BSR do tuning for a huge rage of vehicles and their units are available at their own website, or Saab tunes only at Elkparts. There’s a video at the Elkparts link to show how the whole system works.
Thanks Turbin!
Holy Torquemonster. With the way fuel prices are going, maybe Saab should try to get one of these on the next series of Top Gear instead of a limited edition Turbo X?
I filled up with premuim today at US$3.65 per gallon. I’ve heard were headed for above US$4.00 fairly soon. But as nice as the diesel might seem, it is already at US$4.35 per gallon. I’m not sure how that affects the economy of things, but it doesn’t sound very attractive to me.
I want a TTid with BSR!!!
Andy, remember that a diesel engine is 33pc more efficient than a gas engine so you are saving money having a diesel car as diesel fuel isnt 33pc more expensive that gasoline.
How does USD4.29 per US gallon for gas sound? You Americans dont know how lucky you are, not that I complain about gas prices here in Canada as prices in my native England are USD8.10 per US gallon.
Diesel cars get from 25% to 50% better mileage per gallon than comparable gas engine vehicles. If we take the LOWEST of the above numbers and apply it to Andy’s expensive fuel scenario, diesels are still ahead. e.g.: A gas car with 24 mpg @ $3.65 per gal. would cost $15.20 every 100 miles. A diesel with 30 mpg @ $4.35 would cost only $14.50 every 100 miles.
HOWEVER: The US Energy Information Administration stats for today show that the most expensive average diesel prices in the US are in California @ $3.95/gal where regular gas is $3.53/gal. Applying the conservative 25% better mpg assumption from above, diesel still comes out being 12% cheaper than gasoline. In actual fact, typical diesels like the VW Golf TDI get 42% better mileage than the gas version of the same car, so the real-world savings for most drivers is quite substantial even when diesel fuel is more expensive.
One other thing about diesels is that they hold their resale value way better than gassers (at least that has been the case in the US in recent years. So the extra cost of a diesel engine (which runs from $500 to $2000 US depending on the brand) is not really an issue.
I agree with Zippy. Bring on the TTid!
intresting, will BSR out 320 hp solution for Turbo X ?
dim8, they already have a 320hp solution for the standard 2.8T, involves changeover of turbo, uprated injectors, exhaust and a couple of weeks in their workshop in Sweden. I expect the Turbo-X would require similar treatment as the extra horses it has over standard are probably software only tweaks.
I got my TTiD two days ago and boy does it go…(except 1st gear)
It will be probably be a “fight” to drive with all that torque….
I’ve driven the 9-3 TTiD Aero automatic for about an hour a couple weeks ago and I totally agree with Ebbot that it lacks power in 1st gear, but none of that matters once you get in 2nd or 3nd gear. Very smooth powerdelivery, even in the top end of the range. The thing I liked even more were the great brakes on the car. With the new generation of diesels coming up it is very hard to choose between petrol and diesel. But here in Belgium there’s no doubt: Euro 95 costs minimal 1.4 euro/litre, Diesel cost s 1.1 euro/litre. Even with the taxsurplus you’re better of with a diesel overhere, and now we even have one in aero trim!
The elkparts movie is the old one from 2004 I think. There is a newer video on the following link that also shows parts of PPC version 2.
http://en.bsr.se/movies/2007uk/
Where is Hirsch with the TTiD?
Best guess to the lack of 1st gear performance in the standard TTiD is some sort of electronic control to stop 400Nm winding up the transmission from a standing start!
Sad that!
The BIG problem here in the states, even though diesel is over $4/gal, even though its UltraLowSulpher, is that its still CRAP. I dare ya to find 1) a “cetane” sticker on a retail diesel pump, and if ya do 2) one that says more than “40″. This low-grade stuff does wonders for 21st century diesels, clogging EGRs, causing driveabilty(check engine) problems and consequently making meeting strict CARB emission specs for 100K near impossible. My whinings been on deaf or apathetic ears.