As a follow-up to the previous writeup on the past and present Saab designers and their achievements, it was necessary to include a chronological up-to-date listing of Saab projects both production and concepts.

This listing includes each Saab project, year introduced along with each designer and/or engineer that contributed to the given project.

This list is a work-in-progress, so any additions and/or modifications that you see necessary below, please add your comments to ensure correctness and accuracy.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

Design Contributions by Model

SAAB Scandia 90 (1946-1958)

Bror Bjurströmer

SAAB 91 (1947-1966)

A.J. Andersson

SAAB 92001 (Prototype) (1946/1947)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

SAAB 92 (1948-1956)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

SAAB 93 (1956-1959)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 94 (1956)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 95 (1959-1978)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 96 (1960-1980)

Sixten Sason

SAAB-SCANIA 97 (SonettII/V4 1966-1969) (SonettIII 1970-1974)

Björn Karlström

Sergio Coggiola

Gunnar A. Sjögren

SAAB-SCANIA 98 (Prototype, Cancelled) (1974)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 99 (1969-1984)

Sixten Sason

Björn Envall

Saab 90 (1984-1987)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 900 (1979-1993/94)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA EV-1 (1985)

Björn Envall

Saab 900 (NG) (1994-1998)

Björn Envall

Einar Hareide

SAAB-SCANIA 9000 (1985-1998)

Björn Envall

Giorgetto Giugiaro

Saab 9-1 (Speculative Design)

Saab 9-3 (1999-2002)

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (2003- )

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Hybrid BioPower Convertible (2006 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 (1999- )

Einar Hareide (1999-2001)

Tony Catignani (1999-2001)

Magnus Jonsson (1999-2001)

Simon Padian (2002- )

Tomas Ostlund (2006 – )

Saab 9-5 BioPower E85 (2005 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 BioPower E100 (2007 – )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-X (2001)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Simon Padian

Saab 9-X BioHybrid (2008)

Anthony Lo

Andrew Dyson

Bryan Nesbitt

Saab 9-2X (2005-2006)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Per Jansson

Bengt Persson

Kjell-Ake Eriksson

Saab 9-3X (2002)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-3 SportHatch (2003)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept (2008)

Anthony Lo

Andrew Dyson

Bryan Nesbitt

Kaj Zackrisson (Skier)

Saab 9-6X (Cancelled)

Saab 9-7X (2005-2009)

Per Janssan

Aero-X(2006)

Anthony Lo

Alex Daniel

Erik Rokke

Simon Padian

Film Credit: Saab History

During the 2008 NAIAS, I had the great opportunity to meet with and interview Saab Automobile’s President & CEO of their Powertrain department, Kjell ac Bergström. Kjell ac Bergström is also the chief engineer responsible for Saab’s BioPower program as well and in this interview he describes the history of the program, where it will be going in the future, and of course some of his own history that he kindly shared with me.

A special thank you again to Saab Automobile & General Motors for being invited as a guest to this event, Saab Colorado, Inc. for sponsoring me to make this interview possible and Kjell ac Bergström for his time. Enjoy.

Other accomplishments in the BioPower area for Kjell ac Bergström & Saab Automobile include the Saab 9-3 Convertible BioPower Hybrid Concept, the Saab 9-5 E100 BioPower Concept and of course the Saab Aero-X concept and the new Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept. Today all of Saab Automobile’s 9-3 as well as 9-5 models include available BioPower variants

This past summer, I had the great opportunity during the 2007 Saab 60th Anniversary Festival to enjoy a presentation by on Saab BioPower, quite an educational experience.

Here is a little background about his history in the area of powertrain and BioPower developments.

Kjell ac Bergström(M.Sc)
GM Powertrain Sweden
Saab Automobile Powertrain AB

2003-………………..GM Powertrain Sweden / Saab Automobile Powertrain AB CEO & President

2001-2003 ………..FIAT-GM Powertrain J/V, Torini Italy Vice President, Product Enginering

1999-2001…………Saab Automobile AB, Sweden Vice President, Powertrain

1994-1999…………Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden Senior Vice President, Transmission

1982-1994…………Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden Head of Engine Design & Development

1969-1982…………Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden Professor & Researcher, Internal Combustion Engines

1969………………….Chalmers University Of Technology Master of Science, Machine Engineering

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile USA

I just received a photo of the Saab 9-5 BioPower E100 Concept during its arrival in New York City. The photo you see here is of the concept car approaching the Jacob Javits Center before making it to the Saab display stand.

I must say that the impending traffic looks threatening at that hour in NYC, then again traffic is quite bad here during rush hour from what I have been told. Enjoy the photo.

This just in from Saab Automobile USA.

North American Auto Show Debut

Saab BioPower 100 Concept Arrives in New York

· First production-based turbo engine optimized for pure bioethanol (E100)
· 300 hp with greatly reduced CO2 impact
· Demonstrates further potential of bioethanol fuel
· Scope for future ‘rightsizing’ with turbocharging to give ‘large’ engine power
· Saab extends leadership of “flex-fuel” bioethanol engine technology
· Precursor of Saab BioPower production vehicles coming to the United States

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept, first unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show last month, is making its North American debut at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, New York.

“Saab is the sales leader in the “flex-fuel” car segment in Europe, and we are eager to extend that success to North America”, said Jay Spenchian, Saab Automobile USA General Manager. “The BioPower 100 Concept shows the way to go. Beyond highlighting the first production-based turbo engine to be optimized for pure ethanol, this hi-tech concept also foreshadows the arrival of Saab BioPower products in the United States in the near future.”

The exciting BioPower 100 Concept brings Saab’s technology to a new level by showing the true potential of combining turbocharging and sophisticated engine management with pure bioethanol fuel. It is one of the best examples that greener motoring can also mean even sportier driving.

At the heart of the Saab BioPower 100 Concept is a modified version of a 2.0-liter turbo production gasoline engine from the current Saab 9-5 range, which in standard specification gives peak power of 150 hp. A test and development program – involving modifications to the engine management system and internal components – now enables it to exploit the high octane benefits of E100 fuel by using a higher compression ratio, together with more boost pressure. The outcome of this work is peak power of 300 hp and a remarkably high specific power output of 150 hp per liter.

“This exciting concept shows the tremendous potential of bioethanol, in terms of both performance and future opportunities to ‘rightsize’ engines,” says Saab Automobile Managing Director Jan Åke Jonsson. “Bioethanol is already entering the market as E85 fuel and we look forward to seeing further supply infrastructure developments that will make it more widely available in the future.”

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept is presented as an evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi. It is visually distinguished by styling features such as ‘ice block’ front and rear light units – extending a theme seen on the 9-3 SportCombi – and 19-inch ‘turbine’ alloy wheels inspired by those of the award-winning Saab Aero X concept, first shown at Geneva last year. The interior is upholstered in unique white leather, complemented by the main fascia and door trims, which are finished in black leather overlaid with a carbon fiber-effect pattern. The car is also equipped with Saab’s innovative AlcoKey, an easy to use, pocket-sized alco-lock device that helps drivers steer clear of drinking and driving.

Total BioPower
· Saab 9-5 BioPower, Europe’s top-selling bioethanol (E85)-powered car
· 300 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque from concept’s production-based engine
· E100 enables high compression ratio with high boost pressure

Saab is already established as the leading player in Europe’s emerging market for “flex-fuel” vehicles able to run on gasoline and/or bioethanol (E85). Its current Saab 9-5 BioPower model is the best-selling flex-fuel car in Sweden, a title which also extends to the European continent. At Geneva this year, Saab also announces BioPower’s introduction throughout its 9-3 product range in Europe.

So far, Saab BioPower development has been focused on using E85 fuel, (85 percent bioethanol/15 percent gasoline). Now, with the announcement of the fully functioning BioPower 100 Concept, Saab confirms its leadership position by showing how bioethanol technology could be further extended. In combining pure bioethanol with Saab’s expertise in turbocharging, the BioPower 100 Concept offers drivers an exciting win/win proposition: greener motoring with dramatically enhanced power and performance.

Running on E100, the concept car’s engine delivers peak power of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm and an exceptionally strong 295 lb.-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 5,100 rpm, with almost 85 percent available at just 2,000 rpm. This strong and flexible power delivery gives the Saab BioPower 100 Concept car zero to 62 mph acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and 50 – 75 mph (fifth gear) in an even more impressive 8.2 seconds. The standard 150 hp gasoline engine produces 177 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,800-3,500 rpm, giving zero to 62 mph in 10.2 seconds and 50- 75 mph (fifth gear) in 16.3 seconds.

The secret behind such enhanced performance is the ability of E100 fuel to resist harmful self-ignition, or ‘knocking’, as the fuel/air mixture is compressed in the cylinder. This attribute is denoted by E100’s high 106 RON octane rating. It permits the use of an engine compression ratio that is higher than normally possible with turbocharging, giving more power and greater combustion efficiency without risk of knocking.

The BioPower 100 Concept’s engine operates with a compression ratio of 11.0:1, compared to 8.8:1 for the standard gasoline engine. This has been achieved by modifying the shape of the piston crowns to reduce the volume of the combustion chamber, thereby raising the engine’s compression ratio.

New software for Saab’s powerful Trionic engine management system, which controls the throttle setting, ignition timing, fuel injection and turbo boost pressure, looks after the different ignition timing and fuel/air mixture requirements of E100 fuel.

More durable valves and valve seats are fitted to the engine, together with bioethanol-compatible materials throughout the fuel system. The only other modification necessary is pre-heating of the fuel. This is required to achieve good cold-starting performance, which is the main reason why bioethanol is currently blended with gasoline and sold as E85 fuel.

In ambient temperatures below 60°F, the chemistry of E100 makes it resistant to vaporization and, as a result, it can be difficult to start the engine. To overcome this issue, the Saab BioPower 100 Concept has an experimental fuel heating system, using small heating elements in the inlet ports downstream of the injectors. When the engine is cold, these elements warm the incoming fuel sufficiently to allow it to vaporize. Shortly after start-up, the function is automatically deactivated.

On The Road
· Driver enjoys ‘on demand’ performance typical of 4-liter engine
· ‘Less is more’ turbo philosophy with E100 offers engine ‘rightsizing’ potential
· Future hybrid application for further energy savings
· Gasoline flex-fuel capability retained

In optimizing the potential of bioethanol fuel, the Saab BioPower 100 Concept turbo engine offers improved drivability as well as greater full power performance. The high compression ratio allows the engine to generate more torque more quickly, particularly from low engine speeds. On the road, the driver of the BioPower 100 Concept will immediately notice a sharper engine response, with a better low speed pick-up before the turbo is engaged.

On full throttle openings, the turbocharger packs up to 1.2 bar (17.4 psi) boost, without risk of ‘knocking’ from the high octane fuel. It gives the BioPower 100 Concept driver access to the sort of in-gear performance typical of a modern, naturally-aspirated engine of four liters or more. The smooth power delivery – without fossil fuel emissions – takes Saab’s traditional ‘less is more’ turbo philosophy to a new level.

That impressive 150 hp/liter specific power output also indicates considerable potential for engine ‘rightsizing’, giving the driver the performance characteristics of a ‘large’ engine without incurring its additional weight, greater complexity or higher fuel consumption. In this way, E100 offers significant potential to reduce the displacement of an engine – thereby reducing fuel consumption – while still achieving a desired power level.

The overall fuel consumption of the current Saab 9-5 BioPower engine using E85 is about 30 percent higher than on gasoline and the optimized BioPower 100 engine is expected to yield a near 10 percent gain against this. Bioethanol burns at a lower temperature than gasoline, which reduces thermal stresses on the engine and benefits fuel consumption at higher cruising speeds. With the future addition of direct injection and lean-burn technology, E100 fuel consumption can move even closer to gasoline levels.

For optimum energy saving, E100 applications could also be combined with electric hybrid technology, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions still further. This development has already been previewed in the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, the world’s first such vehicle to use pure bioethanol.

While the BioPower 100 Concept is focused on performance, it still retains a ‘flex-fuel’ capability and the engine will also run on gasoline, or E85, although power levels are not so high. Trionic monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on E100/E85 and/or gasoline in any combination.

To handle the increased performance, the BioPower 100 show car is fitted with a limited-slip differential and larger front brake discs (13.6 inches) and calipers, while using the sport chassis settings of Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi. It also has a dual pipe rear exhaust system, with tailpipes similar to those of the Aero X Concept.

Superb Fuel
· High quality, clean burn fuel
· Single chemical compound allows more precise engine management control
· Modern fuel meets current environmental challenges
· Experience gained from Saab Variable Compression (SVC) engine

Bioethanol is a clean burning fuel that can be produced in many parts of the world from a wide range of agricultural crops and biomass. More efficient second-generation processes, using ligno-cellulose extracted from forestry and agricultural products, are also under development.

Bioethanol’s simple, fixed chemical composition opens up new possibilities in engine management and control. It consists of just one hydrocarbon molecule, whereas retail gasoline is a cocktail of several hundred different hydrocarbons as well as additives to prevent engine deposits which may not be necessary with bioethanol. It is also biodegradable and will dissolve in water.

As it is a single chemical compound, bioethanol allows engineers to exercise much greater precision in maximizing engine performance. For example, it is possible to maintain an ideal fuel/air mixture (Lambda 1) at all throttle openings without impairing the smooth running of the engine.

Saab’s experimental variable compression (SVC) engine, revealed at Geneva in 2000, has played an important role as a test bed for BioPower development work. It has been used to help determine the optimum relationship between compression ratio and boost pressure for the BioPower 100 application.

“Bioethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us,” says Kjell ac Bergström, GM Powertrain – Sweden president and CEO, who has led the Saab BioPower 100 engine development team.

He adds: “As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. Bioethanol can play a key role in this ‘rightsizing’ process, while also minimizing fossil fuel emissions.”

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2007 model year, Saab markets seven engines/transmissions that perform at an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway. Saab also offers vehicle warranty coverage for five-years or up to 100,000 miles. Visit www.saabusa.com for more information.

# # #

http://media.saab.com/

Note to Editors:
Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn and sugar cane, and other forms of biomass. Also under development are second-generation processes which offer greater energy efficiency by using ligno-cellulose extracted from forestry and agricultural products, such as wood, straw and grass.

Unlike gasoline, bioethanol consumption does not raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main ‘greenhouse’ gas. This is because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere when crops for conversion are grown. In contrast, fossil-based fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, release new amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere which have been locked away underground in oil deposits.

Saab BioPower 100 Concept:

Technical Specifications
1,985 cc. Four cyl. in-line. Bore/stroke: 90/78 mm. Cast iron block, alloy cylinder head.
DOHC chain-driven, 16-valves. Twin balancer shafts. Turbocharged, intercooled.
Saab Trionic 7 engine management. Direct ignition, multi-point fuel injection, electronic throttle control

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

The Geneva Motor Show has unleashed a lot of positive press for Saab Automobile and their move into the Ethanol Industry.

Here is another press release on the Saab BioPower 100 Concept.

2007-03-06
World Premiere

Saab BioPower 100 Concept: Bioethanol Performance Potential Unleashed

* First production-based turbo engine optimized for pure bioethanol (E100)
* 300 hp with greatly reduced CO2 impact
* Demonstrates further potential of bioethanol fuel
* Scope for future ‘rightsizing’ with turbocharging to give ‘large’ engine power
* Saab extends leadership of bioethanol engine technology

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept, presented at the Geneva Motor Show, showcases the first production-based turbo engine to be optimized for pure, eco-friendly bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is a level of performance never seen before from a road car using this fuel.

This exciting concept takes Saab BioPower technology to a new level by showing the true potential of combining turbocharging and sophisticated engine management with pure bioethanol fuel. And in demonstrating that greener motoring means even sportier driving, it also extends Saab’s technical leadership of Europe’s emerging ‘flex-fuel’ segment.

At the heart of the Saab BioPower 100 Concept is a modified version of a 2.0-liter turbo production gasoline engine from the current Saab 9-5 range, which in standard specification gives peak power of 150 hp. A test and development program – involving modifications to the engine management system and internal components – now enables it to exploit the high octane benefits of E100 fuel by using a higher compression ratio, together with more boost pressure. The outcome of this work is peak power of 300 hp and a remarkably high specific power output of 150 hp per liter.

“This exciting concept shows the tremendous potential of bioethanol, in terms of both performance and future opportunities to ‘rightsize’ engines,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “Bioethanol is already entering the European market as E85 fuel and we look forward to seeing further supply infrastructure developments that will make it more widely available in the future.”

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept is presented as an evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi. It is visually distinguished by styling features such as ‘ice block’ front and rear light units – extending a theme seen on the 9-3 SportCombi – and 19-inch ‘turbine’ alloy wheels inspired by those of the award-winning Saab Aero X concept, first shown at Geneva last year. The interior is upholstered in unique white leather, complemented by the main fascia and door trims, which are finished in black leather overlaid with a carbon fiber-effect pattern. The car is also equipped with Saab’s innovative AlcoKey, an easy to use, pocket-sized alco-lock device that helps drivers steer clear of drinking and driving.

Total BioPower

* Saab 9-5 BioPower, Europe’s top-selling bioethanol (E85)-powered car
* 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque from Concept’s production-based engine
* E100 enables high compression ratio with high boost pressure

Saab is already established as the leading player in Europe’s emerging market for ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles able to run on gasoline and/or bioethanol (E85). Its current Saab 9-5 BioPower model is the best-selling flex-fuel car in Europe and Sweden and, at Geneva this year, Saab also announces BioPower’s introduction throughout its 9-3 product range.

So far, Saab BioPower development has been focused on using E85 fuel, (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline). Now, with the announcement of the fully functioning BioPower 100 Concept, Saab confirms its leadership position by showing how bioethanol technology could be further extended. In combining pure bioethanol with Saab’s expertise in turbocharging, the BioPower 100 Concept offers drivers an exciting win/win proposition: greener motoring with dramatically enhanced power and performance.

Running on E100, the concept car´s engine delivers peak power of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm and an exceptionally strong 400 Nm of torque between 3,000 and 5,100 rpm, withalmost 85% available at just 2,000 rpm. This strong and flexible power delivery gives the Saab BioPower 100 Concept car zero to 100 kph acceleration in just 6.6 secs and 80 – 120 kph (fifth gear) in an even more impressive 8.2 secs. The standard 150 hp gasoline engine produces 240 Nm of torque from 1,800-3,500 rpm, giving zero to 100 kph in10.2 secs and 80-120 kph (fifth gear) in 16.3 secs.

The secret behind such enhanced performance is the ability of E100 fuel to resist harmful self-ignition, or ‘knocking’, as the fuel/air mixture is compressed in the cylinder. This attribute is denoted by E100’s high 106 RON octane rating. It permits the use of an engine compression ratio that is higher than normally possible with turbocharging, giving more power and greater combustion efficiency without risk of knocking.

The BioPower 100 Concept’s engine operates with a compression ratio of 11.0:1, compared to 8.8:1 for the standard gasoline engine. This has been achieved by modifying the shape of the piston crowns to reduce the volume of the combustion chamber, thereby raising the engine’s compression ratio.

New software for Saab’s powerful Trionic engine management system, which controls the throttle setting, ignition timing, fuel injection and turbo boost pressure, looks after the different ignition timing and fuel/air mixture requirements of E100 fuel.

More durable valves and valve seats are fitted to the engine, together with bioethanol-compatible materials throughout the fuel system. The only other modification necessary is pre-heating of the fuel. This is required to achieve good cold-starting performance, which is the main reason why bioethanol is currently blended with gasoline and sold as E85 fuel.

In ambient temperatures below 15°C, the chemistry of E100 makes it resistant to vaporization and, as a result, it can be difficult to start the engine. To overcome this issue, the Saab BioPower 100 Concept has an experimental fuel heating system, using small heating elements in the inlet ports downstream of the injectors. When the engine is cold, these elements warm the incoming fuel sufficiently to allow it to vaporize. Shortly after start-up, the function is automatically deactivated.

On The Road

* Driver enjoys ‘on demand’ performance typical of 4-liter engine
* ‘Less is more’ turbo philosophy with E100 offers engine ‘rightsizing’ potential
* Future hybrid application for further energy savings
* Gasoline flex-fuel capability retained

In optimizing the potential of bioethanol fuel, the Saab BioPower 100 Concept turbo engine offers improved driveability, as well as greater full power performance. The high compression ratio allows the engine to generate more torque more quickly, particularly from low engine speeds. On the road, the driver of the BioPower 100 Concept will immediately notice a sharper engine response, with a better low speed pick-up before the turbo is engaged.

On full throttle openings, the turbocharger packs up to 1.2 bar boost, without risk of ‘knocking’ from the high octane fuel. It gives the BioPower 100 Concept driver access to the sort of in-gear performance typical of a modern, naturally-aspirated engine of four liters or more. The smooth power delivery – without fossil fuel emissions – takes Saab’s traditional ‘less is more’ turbo philosophy to a new level.

That impressive 150 hp/liter specific power output also indicates considerable future potential for engine ‘rightsizing’, giving the driver the performance characteristics of a ‘large’ engine without incurring its additional weight, greater complexity or higher fuel consumption. In this way, E100 offers significant potential to reduce the displacement of an engine – thereby reducing fuel consumption – while still achieving a desired power level.

The overall fuel consumption of the current Saab 9-5 BioPower engine using E85 is about 30% higher than on gasoline and the optimized BioPower 100 engine is expected to yield a near 10% gain against this. Bioethanol burns at a lower temperature than gasoline, which reduces thermal stresses on the engine and benefits fuel consumption at higher cruising speeds. With the future addition of direct injection and lean-burn technology, E100 fuel consumption can move even closer to gasoline levels.

For optimum energy saving, future E100 applications could also be combined with electric hybrid technology, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions still further. This development has already been previewed in the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept, the world’s first such vehicle to use pure bioethanol.

Whilst the BioPower 100 Concept is focused on performance, it still retains a ‘flex-fuel’ capability and the engine will also run on gasoline, or E85, although power levels are not so high. Trionic monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on E100/E85 and/or gasoline in any combination.

To handle the increased performance, the BioPower 100 show car is fitted with a limited-slip differential and larger front brake discs (345 mm) and calipers, while using the sports chassis settings of Saab 9-5 Aero SportCombi. It also has a dual pipe rear exhaust system, with tailpipes similar to those of the Aero X Concept.

Superb Fuel

* High quality, clean burn fuel
* Single chemical compound allows more precise engine management control
* Modern fuel meets current environmental challenges
* Experience gained from Saab Variable Compression (SVC) engine

Bioethanol is a clean burning fuel that can be produced in many parts of the world from a wide range of agricultural crops and biomass. More efficient second-generation processes, using ligno-cellulose extracted from forestry and agricultural products, are also under development.

Bioethanol’s simple, fixed chemical composition opens up new possibilities in engine management and control. It consists of just one hydrocarbon molecule, whereas retail gasoline is a cocktail of several hundred different hydrocarbons, as well as additives to prevent engine deposits which may not be necessary with bioethanol. It is also biodegradable and will dissolve in water.

As it is a single chemical compound, bioethanol allows engineers to exercise much greater precision in maximizing engine performance. For example, it is possible to maintain an ideal fuel/air mixture (Lambda 1) at all throttle openings without impairing the smooth running of the engine.

Saab’s experimental variable compression (SVC) engine, revealed at Geneva in 2000, has played an important role as a test bed for BioPower development work. It has been used to help determine the optimum relationship between compression ratio and boost pressure for the BioPower 100 application.

“Bioethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us,” says Kjell ac Bergström, President and CEO, GM Powertrain – Sweden, who has led the Saab BioPower 100 engine development team.

He adds: “As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. Bioethanol can play a key role in this ‘rightsizing’ process, while also minimizing fossil fuel emissions.”

Helping to Prevent Drink-Driving
The Saab BioPower 100 Concept incorporates Saab’s innovative AlcoKey, a vehicle ‘alcolock’ system designed to prevent the car being used if a driver is under the influence of alcohol.

The pocket-sized AlcoKey unit incorporates a cap covering a mouthpiece where the driver provides a breath sample before starting the car. Its radio transmitter then sends a signal to the engine’s electronic control unit. This will allow the car to be started or, if the breath sample is found to contain alcohol above the permitted legal level, keep it immobilized.

AlcoKey recently won the Swedish Automobile Association’s annual award for innovation and it is currently on user field trials in Sweden, where car fleet operators and public service providers want an effective means of reassuring the public that drivers cannot get behind the wheel if their blood/alcohol level is over the limit.

The field trials are focused on verifying AlcoKey’s convenience and ease of use. Its transmitter has a range of up to 10 meters and if a breath sample is provided before entering the car, its quick three to four second clearance process should not delay the driver. In everyday use, AlcoKey can provide a useful check if a driver has had a drink some time before intending to drive or has been drinking the night before. It could be offered as an option for Saab 9-5 and 9-3 models sold on the Swedish market, priced at around SEK 3,000.

Note to Editors:
Bioethanol fuel is produced commercially from agricultural crops, such as corn and sugar cane, and other forms of biomass. Also under development are second-generation processes which offer greater energy efficiency by using ligno-cellulose extracted from forestry and agricultural products, such as wood, straw and grass. Unlike gasoline, bioethanol consumption does not raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main ‘greenhouse’ gas. This is because emissions during driving are balanced by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere when crops for conversion are grown. In contrast, fossil-based fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, release new amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere which have been locked away underground in oil deposits.

Saab BioPower 100 Concept:

Technical Specifications
1,985 cc. Four cyl. in-line. Bore/stroke: 90/78 mm. Cast iron block, alloy cylinder head.
DOHC chain-driven, 16-valves. Twin balancer shafts. Turbocharged, intercooled.
Saab Trionic 7 engine management. Direct ignition, multi-point fuel injection, electronic throttle control

(All data for manual transmission)

	Saab 9-5 2.0t	BioPower 100 Concept
Fuel	Gasoline	E100
EEC rating	150 hp (110 kW) @ 5500 rpm.	300 hp (221 kW) @ 5800 rpm.
EEC peak torque	240 Nm @ 1800-3500 rpm.	400 Nm @ 3000-5100 rpm.
Max boost Pressure	0.4 bar	1.2 bar
Compression ratio	8.8:1	11.0:1
0-100 kph (sec)	10.2	6.6
80-120 kph (sec) 5th gear	16.3	8.2
Top Speed (kph)	210	250 (limited)

I have mentioned previously that Saab Automobile will unveil their 100% Ethanol BioPower concept at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

It currently gives me great pleasure to provide the circulation that this original press release has received in just over a week’s time. There is nothing like good press and a lot of it!

The following sources have written about the Saab BioPower E100 Concept since the original press release from Saab Automobile was posted on February 14th:

February 14th, 2007 “Saab Rolls Out BioPower 100 Concept” – Edmunds Inside Line
February 14th, 2007 “Look Mom, No Gas: 100% BioEthanol Saab Concept” – Kicking Tires
February 14th, 2007 “Saab launches a 100% ethanol-powered model” – Simon Robinson’s Big BioFuels Blog
February 14th, 2007 “Saab to show latest BioPower 100 Concept” – Autoblog Green
February 14th, 2007 “Saab BioPower 100 Concept” – Technology News Daily
February 14th, 2007 ” Saab’s BioPower 100 Concept” – Motor Authority
February 15th, 2007 “300hp E100 Saab concept to take a bow” – Just Auto
February 15th, 2007 “Saab to brings ‘green power’ to Geneva” – Motoring
February 15th, 2007 “Saab to debut first production bioethanol engine at Geneva” – Motortrend Online
February 15th, 2007 “Saab BioPower 100 Concept” – Slippery Brick
February 15th, 2007 “Saab To Debut Pure BioEthanol 9-5 SportCombi Concept In Geneva” – Winding Road
February 15th, 2007 “Bioethanol Performance Potential Unleashed as Saab Premieres the Saab BioPower 100 Concept at Geneva” – Auto Spectator
February 15th, 2007 “Geneva preview: Saab shows all-ethanol Biopower” – Channel 4
February 15th, 2007 “Saab BioPower 100 Concept at Geneva Show” – Askaprice.com
February 15th, 2007 ” Saab Rolls Out BioPower 100 Concept” – Auto Park
February 16th, 2007 “Saab unveils BioPower 100 Concept car” – Absolute Gadget
February 16th, 2007 ” Saab BioPower 100 in Detail” – Auto Parts Stores
February 16th, 2007 “Saab Premieres BioPower 100 Concept at Geneva” – Cars and Tuning
February 17th, 2007 “Saab to debut bioethanol-powered concept car at Geneva show” – Earth Times
February 19th, 2007 “No Fossil Fuels For Saab” – Car Keys
February 19th, 2007 “Ethanol Power from Saab” – Drive Channel
February 20th, 2007 “Automotive use of bioethanol” – Engineer Live

This just in from Saab Automobile

Saab Premieres BioPower 100 Concept at Geneva:

Bioethanol Performance Potential Unleashed

Saab will give green motoring a performance boost at next month’s Geneva Motor Show when it unveils its latest BioPower development.

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept showcases the first production-based engine to be optimized for pure bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is a level of performance never seen before from a road car using this fuel.

To be shown as an exciting evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, this latest BioPower concept demonstrates the great performance potential of bioethanol. In combining Saab turbocharging expertise with the use of high octane E100 fuel, the optimized 2.0-liter engine from the 9-5 range develops 300 hp maximum power. This has been possible through modifications to the engine management system and internal components, allowing the use of greater boost pressure with a raised compression ratio. That exceptionally high specific power output of 150 hp per liter demonstrates scope for future ‘rightsizing’, using smaller, high output engines that also deliver energy savings.

Peak power is complemented by a substantial 400 Nm of torque, giving this optimized engine the power characteristics of a naturally-aspirated engine of 4.0-liters displacement. This is reflected in strong performance, the Saab 9-5 BioPower 100 Concept achieving zero to 100 kph acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and 80 – 120 kph (fifth gear) in an even more impressive 8.2 seconds.

The Saab BioPower 100 Concept being shown at Geneva features exterior and interior styling elements supervised by GME Director of Advanced Design, Anthony Lo, who penned Saab’s award-winning Aero X Concept, which was also premiered at Geneva last year.

Saab already markets Europe’s best selling flex-fuel vehicle, the Saab 9-5 BioPower, and the Saab BioPower 100 Concept will extend its leadership position in the development of bioethanol technology.

“Bioethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us,” says Kjell ac Bergström, President and CEO at GM Powertrain – Sweden, who has led the Saab BioPower 100 engine development team.

“As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. This concept car shows that bioethanol can play a key role in this ‘rightsizing’ process, while also minimizing fossil fuel emissions.”