Petrol engines make way for greener power

Saab is assessing whether its petrol engine range has much future in light of developments in its E85 BioPower engine technology.

The BioPower versions use ethanol-based E85 fuel made from biomass. The engines can use E85 or unleaded petroleum, or a combination of the two, from the same fuel tank.

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile's Managing Director said at last week's launch of the new 9-3: "We are making gains in our home market [with BioPower] and today, 80 per cent of sales are actually E85 cars. We are even considering if we should continue to offer regular gasoline cars in Sweden because the success with BioPower and also diesel has been tremendous.

"The growth of the environmentally friendly car [in Sweden] is around 16 per cent of the total market and we [Saab] have a market share of around 30 per cent of that segment. On a European basis, E85 is gaining momentum and in the ethanol segment we currently have a market share of 43 per cent."

Ford (with Focus) and Volvo (V50) also sell E85 flex-fuel models in Europe.

Saab Australia first introduced the BioPower unit in the 9-5 model in October and is making the option available across the MY08 9-3 range.

Senior powertrain engineer for GM Nicklas Lindewald told the Carsales Network that if any engines in Saab's line-up faced extinction, it would be the petrol-only versions in favour of its newly-developed biofuel-powered units. Saab Australia has good reason to offer BioPower across the 9-3 range, he says, even if E85 is currently difficult to obtain.

"In Sweden they have to import E85 from Brazil, and even so it's popular and readily available. Companies in Australia can make it here and distribute it everywhere. We don't have any reason not to promote its use."

United Petroleum and CSR have agreed to support Saab's endeavours to encourage the use of E85 fuel in Australia. United is an independent distributor with 280 outlets. Initially one outlet in Melbourne, most likely within the CBD, and another in Sydney's northern suburbs, will offer one E85 ethanol fuel pump each.

The BioPower engines are available immediately for the Sport Sedan, Sport Combi and Convertible 9-3s priced at $1000 more than the equivalent petrol-only models.

Prices for the 9-3 range start at $43,400 for the Sport Sedan with turbo 2.0-litre and six-speed manual, or $44,400 for the BioPower version.

Saab says the BioPower engines provide increased output than petrol equivalents because E85 has a higher octane rating which is better utilised by turbocharging. The turbo 2.0-litre engine offered in the Sport Sedan model is rated at 129kW/265Nm and the BioPower equivalent is good for 147kW/300Nm.

Saab claims the 9-3 BioPower produces just 40 grams of 'fossil' CO2 per kilometre. This statement may be correct but it is misleading in that it infers 40g/km is the total CO2 output of the BioPower 9-3. This is not the case. Indeed, typically E85 engines use more fuel than petrol engines thus increasing total CO2 output.

Saab did not quote fuel consumption figures for its E85 9-3 (or 9-5) models at last week's launch.

The MY08 9-3 range includes a newly developed twin-turbodiesel option, available from February 2008. The 1.9-litre TTiD engine uses two turbos; one larger than the other but working in conjunction.

The TTiD will be offered for the Sport Sedan and Sport Combi models. Saab Australia will also consider the engine for the Convertible model. Lately however, the oiler opentop's sales have declined but the company says it remains open to customer interest for the model with the TTiD engine.

Saab Australia launched the 9-3 with 2.0-litre turbo and 2.0-litre high-output turbo engines; 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 and 1.9-litre turbodiesel models and the BioPower 2.0-litre turbo option. A limited edition Turbo X model for Sport Sedan and Sport Combi with the V6 and all-wheel drive is expected in 2008, a few months after the aforementioned TTiD option.

The Turbo X uses what Saab is calling its 'XWD' all-wheel drive system which is the latest 'active' version from Haldex. The V6 is uprated to 206kW/400Nm (from 188kW/350Nm) and offered with either six-speed manual or six-speed auto transmission.

Saab has simplified trim-level specification for the 9-3, offering Linear, Vector and Aero for all models. The Linear and Vector spec can be matched to the 2.0-litre turbo, BioPower and 1.9-litre turbodiesel options and Aero is relegated to the V6-equipped 9-3s.

All models feature updated styling including more prominent grille, return of the clamshell bonnet and white-accent taillights. The side bumper-strips have been dropped and Saab has introduced new alloy wheel designs for the new range.

Saab says it has made around 2000 changes to exterior, interior and drivetrain components for the 2008 model year 9-3. See our upcoming launch review for full details.

Jonsson also confirmed at the launch that a compact car, under 9-3, was going to production. The small Saab will be adapted from GM architecture.

He said a compact Saab variant was crucial for the continued success of the brand and utilising GM resources for the project was beneficial to operations in Sweden.

"This has also given us access to not only tremendous technology development but benefits in sales operations in other countries."

Under GM ownership Saab hit a peak in 2006 with 133,000 sales worldwide. Saab's major markets include the USA, UK and Sweden but the company has also made gains in Australia, 'Mediterranean' markets and developing markets such as China and Russia.

Sales for 2007 haven't been as good but Jonsson reasons that the changeover for its volume-selling 9-3 has slowed progress. He says the release of the new 9-3 as well as the introduction of an all-wheel-drive 9-7 crossover model will promote a recovery.

The full 9-3 range will be finalised with the release of the limited edition Turbo X all-wheel drive V6 model in June next year. Pricing for models available now is listed below.

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan
9-3 Linear 2.0t manual $43,400 auto $45,900
9-3 Linear 2.0t BioPower $44,400 $46,900
9-3 Linear 1.9TiD $45,900 $48,400
9-3 Vector 2.0t $49,900 $52,400
9-3 Vector BioPower $50,900 $53,400
9-3 Vector 1.9TiD $52,400 $54,900
9-3 Vector 2.0T $53,400 $55,900
9-3 Aero 2.8T V6 $70,600 $73,100
Saab 9-3 SportCombi
9-3 Linear 2.0t $45,900 $48,400
9-3 Linear BioPower $46,900 $49,400
9-3 Linear 1.9TiD $48,400 $50,900
9-3 Vector 2.0t $52,400 $54,900
9-3 Vector BioPower $53,400 $55,900
9-3 Vector 1.9TiD $54,900 $57,400
9-3 Vector 2.0T $55,900 $58,400
9-3 Aero 2.8T V6 $73,100 $75,600
Saab 9-3 Convertible
9-3 Linear 2.0t $65,500 $68,000
9-3 Linear BioPower $66,500 $69,000
9-3 Linear 1.9TiD $68,000 $70,500
9-3 Vector 2.0t $69,600 $72,100
9-3 Vector BioPower $70,600 $73,100
9-3 Vector 1.9TiD $72,100 $74,600
9-3 Vector 2.0T $73,100 $75,600
9-3 Aero 2.8T V6 $90,800 $93,300

To comment on this article click here