Sorry for the delay this morning, but I think you’ll understand why….
I’ve just spent a very enjoyable 45 minutes on the phone recording an interview with the former SaabUSA chief, Bob Sinclair.
I’m getting at all together in order to upload to Google Video now.
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In the meantime….
Last night I mentioned a desire to see what was under the Aero-X hood, and Dmitry has delivered!
Click here for a full compliment of photos and click the one below to enlarge.
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Pictures of the Alfa Rome Mi.To have been released.
Mama Mia!
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John McElroy from Autoline Detroit addresses oil change frequency at Auoblog.
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And finally, Saab and Volvo are getting all buddy-buddy in Sweden over hybrids. I think I’ve covered this before.
the engine looks like it came out of old opel vectra/cadillac catera 3.0l
Saab would do well to build something as gorgeous as that Alfa. Stunning!
Those are interesting shots of the engine bay. It almost looks like an ‘old’ C4 Corvette (circa 1984 to 1996) chassis under the hood, although the ‘frame’ is a little more Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice.
And that does look like that unfortunate 3.0L V6 under the hood. I have never heard anything good about that engine here in the United States….
Now if the Aero-X ever really came into production I wonder if this guy http://www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm would get a hold of one and do something un-Saab like and cram a V8 under the hood?
Hey Ted- I’ve got the 3.0L V6 in my ’02 9-5, and I’ve been pretty happy with it. I love the smooth power delivery, though I admit it doesn’t pack quite such a wallop since it’s got the smaller Garrett turbo as opposed to the beefy TD04.
I’m aware of the tensioner pulleys, arms, etc. that have issues on the 60* V6, but I had ‘em done at 60k since SaabUSA was already going in there for the free timing belt replacement…better replace them now than an engine later, right? Anyway, everything else has been great so far.
What else do you know about that engine that others may not? I know you’re the automotive guru here locally, and it’d be good to know what else is prone to failure/problems in that engine.
1st the 3 litre engine. As a former Opel salesman I never encountered somebody having a problem with that engine in the Omega or in the 9-5. It was replaced with a 3,2 litre V6 and at the same time Saab abandoned the V6 in the 9-5.
2nd the Mi.To. Great looking car except the headlights. Looks to much like a Lancia Thesis or something. ALthough I must say Lancia is shaping up. Might be something for Fiat to bring to Sweden. The younger generation dont remember the 600/Delta so it just might work. And Lancia is as I understand it “Fiats own Audi”. Mi.To you get my blessing. But change the headlights please.
Oh.. Wait.. Saab did continue with the 3 litre for a while.. Sorry
Sorry.. A third post in a row.
Is there somebody here that could calculate the cost to develop the Aero-X with normal doors and a pillars, a 3,2 litre Saab Turbo modified 500hp engine sitting on a Corvette chassie? XWD ofcourse
Too Much
You’re kidding me — the Mi.To? Me Too??.
It looks an awful lot like the 9-1x!!
Except the Alfa has a nice butt on it!
I love this car and wished they would just make it! I love the “butt” on it.