Comments on: Wednesday Snippets

By: Troll96

Troll96 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:30:18 +0000

Smaller, lighter, economical engines with enhanced power using innovative technology. That’s a great tag line for a Saab comeback! Reminiscent of the simple and innovative themes that Honda cultivated in its early days. To think that Saab was already working on cool stuff like this several years ago makes me both proud of its engineering prowess and sad over how that prowess has been neutered and/or hijacked.

By: Sport Mode

Sport Mode — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:41:02 +0000

Sam- I get your point that Saab needs to make money before extra money comes, but in reality investments must always begin with an inversion of capital, and only then can a product be created. No product means no sales, and products can’t come without investment.

Case in point: leaving Saab’s flagship vehicle in its same form for over a decade is not a way to make money. For all intents and purposes there is no 9-5. I’ll explain- first of all, the 9-5 doesn’t even have variable valve timing! The B235 engine has been a great engine, but it’s long past its prime- just like the rest of the 9-5. Therefore the car is rarely even considered at all when people are shopping in that class. It’s almost as if the car didn’t even exist. And isn’t that how the brand is, too? Few people think of Saab or consider it a viable competitor- almost like Saab weren’t around. And that’s the real problem: little-to-no value as a brand or as a vehicle is just like not even existing. Which will never sell products.

The only way to break out of the cycle is by investing capital to create a true existence and a true product.

By: sam

sam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:50:47 +0000

Well, if Saab started making money for GM like Cadillac rather than losing it, they might get more development and marketing support.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:20:36 +0000

Tim – That was a bit TOO grudging.

I get that Swade hates Cadillac for taking all of Saab’s money, but I can’t take all the Caddy-bashing seriously until he flogs a CTS-V around some twisties.

By: edusaab

edusaab — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:35:15 +0000

Recently in the Saabclub forum we were talking about some work done by saab about a new engine is in development. One member talking with one colleague of its company that seems is working in a project for Saab, were talking with one engineer that explained him they are developing a new Wankel engine, able to reach over 400bhp, with a low consumption. The big problem as all this engines and the big headache, to reach a realibility at long term with the sealing problems commonly associated to this type of engines.

regards

By: Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:43:53 +0000

Back in the mid-seventies, Saab were dabbling in alternative propulsion techniques and they actually designed a working steam engine codenamed ULF. I think it was a contraption with nine cylinders, weighing about the same as the early two stroker engines and generating the same output as the first Saab Turbos. Supposedly, there was also a “steam-powered” prototype 99 built. Now this could be something for GM and Saab to consider again Should be possible to use any combustible fuel.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:08:57 +0000

saabyurk: Walter Wong told me they popped the hood on the car and doctored the crash. They didn’t really crash the car into the tree.

Wilfried: I don’t think that Lotus has a two-stroke Exige. They simply are building a two-stroke single-cylinder variable-compression bio-fuel capable testbed engine. They do however have a Tri-Fuel (gasoline/ethanol/methanol) Exige called the 270E. However, as far as I know it’s a four-stroke.

Saab last used their SVC prototype to figure-out the best compression ratio for the BioPower 100 concept.

A company called Secant offers a conversion for the Elise/Exige where they remove the 1.8-liter Toyota powerplant and replace it with a supercharged GM 2.0 direct-injected Ecotec engine. With upgraded brakes, suspension, and other mods this car keeps up with a V10 Dodge Viper on the track.

Lotus is getting 280 bhp (coincidentally the same Saab is getting out of their 2.8T V6 Turbo X) out of GM’s 2-liter Ecotec engine. Saab has only been able to get at best 255 bhp out of essentially the same engine, but with a turbo rather than a supercharger and minus the direct-injection.

Lotus out-Saabing Saab? Indeed.

By: Tim in Denver

Tim in Denver — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:44:23 +0000

‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I still hate them anyway.’

Jeff, that is a grudging nod…

By: swade

swade — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:53:44 +0000

Jeff: sink to the bottom of the sea.

Gunnar: that should make them sink faster, then!

By: Gunnar

Gunnar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:47:30 +0000

Oh, come not Swade-man, Cadillac’s current models are actually quite sharp.