I understand why Saab are into BioPower. I believe that it’s got more substance to it than just taking advantage of favourable tax conditions in the Swedish market.

I believe that climate change, whatever the cause, is real and I believe that we’ve got a moral obligation to do everything we can to minimise the harmful effects of the way we live. I don’t always live up to those lofty ideals, but i believe them.

I believe that ethanol and the way Saab use it make sense on paper and I believe that engines specifically designed and tuned for E85 – rather than a petrol engine adapted to use it – will be even smarter and more efficient.

But right now I have to wonder if BioPower is a sustainable product.

Cellulosic ethanol is still a few sleeps away from being more than just a dream or a press release. The promise it brings is substantial, but at the moment it’s still just a promise.

The reason I’m writing all this is the latest news on food prices and the problems these are causing in developing countries around the world. There was talk of burrito riots in Mexico last year, which I believe were somewhat exaggerated. There’s little denying the current price rises and civil unrest in places like Haiti right now, however.

That image is from The Age here in Australia. A few lines from that story:

Anger over food prices led to last week’s riots in Haiti, in which at least five people were killed and the country’s prime minister was ousted.

Developing countries claim that rich countries, in their rush to tackle global warming, are helping to drive up food prices by encouraging the use of crops to produce biofuels rather than to feed people.

Now it should be said that ethanol is probably a minor protagonist here. The demand for biodiesel is huge and there’s a lot of land clearing going on for plantations to make diesel rather than ethanol.

But whatever the fuel being produced, this issue of food vs fuel is going to have to be addressed somehow. I just wonder if Saab will be able to continue the BioPower push in the face of such opposition.

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For some further reading on the topic, I can highly recommend this recent article in Time Magazine. 1985 Gripen sent it to me last week and whilst I think there’s a number of flaws in it, the basic premise is correct.

I don’t think Biofuel is a scam at all, but the food vs fuel argument should be won with a moral imperative. Unfortunately, it’s probably going to be won by the party with the deepest pockets.

And yes, I feel like a total hypocrite on this issue given my own addiction to driving.

So…… solutions?

Aside from Cuba at Saab Central, I don’t think I’ve come across any prime time Saab nuts in New Zealand (I think you’re more of an interested party, Robin C, right?).

That’s changed.

Although the Poelsmas bought the building for its traditional architecture and its appeal was subsequently enhanced by the chiropractic connection, Mr Poelsma admitted there was another reason why he liked the building.

“I have a problem,” he confessed. “I’m a Saab (car) nut – I have nine of them.

“And the house has a 130 metre square shed out the back for me to store them. That’s very important.”

Nine Saabs? Nice problem to have.

——

Saab are the only company here in Australia to market an E85-capable vehicle.

It’s good to see that fact noted in a story about the V8 Supercars race series switching to E85 in 2009.

The V8 Supercars series is the biggest motor racing series in Australia. It’s our Nascar, except they drive left and right corners and stuff. The V8 Supercars are Holdens and Fords. The crowds are significant and most have been fighting for thir preferred brand since they first watched their Dads do the same many years ago.

That the V8′s are planning a switch to E85 will likely be lost on many of these hardnut supporters, but the V8 Supercar hierarchy recognise that E85 is likely to play a bigger part in Australia’s fuel future, so they’re getting on board.

In light of this, PT’s BioPower advertising discovery from Saab Australia seems all that more impressive.

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Here’s a quick question for the convertible owners out there…and everyone else too, I guess.

Do you see your vehicle as a performance vehicle or as a cruiser?

I came across a convertible review today. I don’t have time to cover it right now but it criticised the Saab 9-3 convertible for not having XWD and the 280hp engine. It sounded like the reviewer had caned the car through a mountain pass or something and was complaining about the handling as a result.

I’ll look it up and cover it soon enough.

I’ve always considered convertibles as cruisier vehicles. The lack of roof structure and added weight of the roof mechanism generally means that performance is always going to be somewhat short of tin-tip standards.

Sure, you can have some fun in them, but I generally view them as relax-mobiles.

Am I the only one?

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A few weeks ago I covered a 2008 Saab 9-3 review by an Aussie website called CarAdvice.com.au. The writer of that review was gracious enough to join us in comments and listen to the feedback we gave. A rarity these days.

I’d just like to give all the Car Advice guys a shout out, my congratulations, and let them know that I’m extremely jealous.

They’ve just finished test driving the Bugatti Veyron, which I believe is a pretty difficult gig to get. Here’s a teaser: