Photo Credit: James

James from Canada, a big Saab Enthusiast, first contacted me about my 1992 Saab 900 just after the sale was completed, fortunately he was able to secure this sale for the last year of the Saab 900 with site sponsor, Swedish Motor Cars.

The vehicle that was acquired was a limited edition 141 out of 325 1993 Saab 900 Commemorative edition 3-door hatchback.

Since acquiring the vehicle last week, he has enjoyed the drive back up North. He owns other Saab 900 models, but this one really holds a special place in his heart.

As he prepares the vehicle for winter storage, I have made the suggestion that he get it registered on the Saab Commemorative Edition registry so that it can be identified with the other 325 owners in North America.

It’s nice to see a Saab Owner acquire a beautiful yet rare Saab from an enthusiastic independent Saab shop today. A special congratulations to both for creating a sale that ensures that the new owner is able to keep this historical piece alive for years to come.

Photo Credit: Grenier Family

The Grenier Family in Leicester, Massachusetts have submitted their Saab Family Fleet Photo to Saab History this week.

They have quite the collection as you can see above, and now they’re added to the list of others such as the Koehnen, Frisch and Fagen families. I think it’s very cool to see that they have both a Saab 9-5 as well as an old Saab 95 in their collection too!

Here’s their message that arrived with the photos over the weekend. If you are a Saab family, click here to submit your Saab family fleet photo too!

We are a Saab family! That is for sure. That is all we drive and have driven for years! Submitting two different pictures one with the 78 95 GL and one with the 98 Convertible.. Can’t drive both

Grenier Family
Leicester Ma

Photo Credit: Saab History

A good friend of mine, Kevin, here in New England, and longtime Saab Enthusiast, owner of numerous Saabs including a pristine 1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible, 1969 Sonett V4, both in blue, has recently acquired a beautiful 2008 6-Speed Saab 9-3 SportCombi in polar white at a dealership in Boston, a former advertiser on Saab History.

Kevin, contacted a number of dealerships just earlier this past week and was determined to find this evidently unique combination, and did, but the Saab Automobile USA website was of little help come to find out.

What was good to hear was that he did not go through a large bank, he went through a small bank that provided him a huge incentive, a good rate and even a $100 gas card for the loan!

He was one happy camper this past Tuesday evening, and I was fortunate to help assist in the process. I should mention it was hard to keep up with him as we head North out of Boston following the sale in his new generation Saab 900 SET Coupe, but I am lucky I could spot his polar white exterior a mile away!

Photo Credit: DT

A Saab Enthusiast has recently written about his excitement with his 2003 Saab 9-5 Aero and has given Saab History permission to share some of it!

Here’s his opening line wow!

“If you can’t take to the sky …
Take to the road, preferably in a machine that will allow you to move as quickly (and safely) as possible. I’m a huge believer in the power of transportation. It transforms our world and lets people reach beyond normal definitions of space and distance. “

To read the complete story, please visit his blog directly

Photo Credit: Fagen Family (l-to-r 95 9000 Aero Ben, 91 900 Rachel, 91 900S Lynda, 87 900S Peter)

Peter Fagen of Connecticut, has recently submitted his “Saab Family Photo” here on Saab History.

As promised, I have indicated that I will highlight any submittals of Saab Family photos here on Saab History.

Thanks, you all look very proud to be a Saab Family! Have a happy holidays!

Photo Credit: Saab Cars USA

Are you a Saab family? The recent Saab Choice of Generations Film has gotten me thinking. Do you have various Saabs parked in your driveway at all times from members of your family?

This phenomenon has been under documented, so I am urging you to submit your photos here on Saab History and I will showcase them! If you can, please provide a description along with your photo in the form below!

A Saab Enthusiast actually created one of the most visually appealing video as a take off from Saab Sweden’s “Turbo Gene” quiz website launched some months ago.

I found this video recently on youtube and asked the author and he said that he just created this as a hobby, and no Saab did not pay him for the work, so I was asking myself what?

My only thing about the video is that technically, the beginning section when he rolls the time back, it should have stopped in 1977 or 1978, the year when Saab launched the turbo motor? I guess he could be thinking about when Scania started using the Turbo, but maybe I’m just giving him too much credit at this point.

I think it is pretty well done visually though, what do you think?

Here is his piece in his own words:

Saab’s USA Future

I don’t know if the website monitors the news, but while proposing that Saab have its own head rather than sharing it with Cadillac and Hummer I would like to point out the following:

1) Hummer is not much longer going to be a GM brand as it is up for sale. Either it will be sold or dissolved, but GM is not going to invest in it anymore. Now the head of luxury products will only worry about two divisions – Cadillac and Saab.

2) Saab and Cadillac share parts – more than people care to admit. The Saab 9-3 Aero currently has a 2.8 L V6 engine that comes orginally from the Cadillac CTS. Saab engineers did add a Mitsubishi turbocharger (I believe) but it is still a Caddy engine. Cadillac is also selling a rebadged 9-3 in Europe as the BLS. True, it does not sell well but it is more product sharing. It is not such a stretch to have the same person running these two divisions.

3) Finally, as has been in the news a lot lately, GM is hemmoraging – badly. It lost over $6 Billion in the last quarter alone, and is on the verge of global bankruptcy. Saab in Europe is a break-even proposition right now, and Saab USA loses a ton of money. If GM is to cut costs where do you think they will cut first? Where they are losing money. My bet is that Saab USA may no longer exist if the company declares Chapter 11 and has to reorgranize. At best, it will offer three cars the 9-3, 9-4 and 9-5 – and they might be at Cadillac dealerships.

It is too bad that the auto industry is in so much turmoil right now and the global economy is in bad shape, but the reality is GM cannot afford two divsiion presidents – especially for a division as small as Saab is in the USA.

Sincerely.
A 2006 Saab 9-3 owner

Photo Credit: Mr. Jorgen Trued

A Saab Enthusiast has started a Saab 9-3 Turbo-X blog, I guess it was about time!

The opening photo features his Turbo-X SportCombi on the backdrop of a Viggen Jet in Grastorp, North of Trollhättan, where I visited with my wife last year during the 2007 Saab Festival.

Photo Credit: Chris Campbell

Chris, a frequent visitor to Saab History has provided a wonderful photo taken en-route to the recent Swedish Car Day 9 when his 2002 Saab 9-5 reached 100,000 on the odometer while he chose to match the speed, how appropriate!

Photo Credit: Zach Wallace

A Saab enthusiast has just provided Saab History with a wonderful photo of his Saab 9-3 Viggen to showcase here on Saab History.

I really like this photo for many reasons, especially with how the Viggen has been kept original including those wheels!

If you have a photo that inspires you of your Saab, please submit it to Saab History here for others to view around the world!

Photo Credit: Mark Ward

I first covered Mark Ward of Missouri’s 1995 Saab NG900 Electric project titled “Saabrina“, back in December of 2006 when the project really got underway.

Over the past few years, I have illustrated the incredible progress he has made such as the drivetrain in September of 2007, the battery install in December of 2007 to the recent actual driving footage of the car this past February.

My most recent coverage included a nice interview with him here that covers all sorts of commonly asked questions.

Here is his final installation to the Electric Vehicle Community regarding this absolutely devastating blow to development. I should indicate that, he beat Saab Automobile to task by actually making an electric vehicle that runs and has proved it this past spring.

I am very sympathetic and my heart is with him as he indicates on his final blog entry.

Very Sad News to report much after the fact.

At 3:00 A.M. on the morning of April 17th 2008 a fire of unknown origin broke out in my garage. The Saab, all of my machinery and all of my work for 3 years was destroyed.

Fortunately my wife and I got out of the house unhurt and the “heroes” of St. Charles County and St. Charles City fire departments ganged up on the fire and put it out before it spread from the garage into the house. The damage destroyed the electric service which came through the garage and we had some smoke damage. The result was spending 3 months in a condo until my house was fixed and we were able to move back in July 28th. They did a fine job on the house and in some ways it is better than ever.

I want to take the opportunity to thank my Insurer State Auto of Ohio. What a fantastic company that took care of my needs and acted quickly to assist me. I would also like to thank Chris Powers of Nixon and company Insurance adjusters for taking a personal interest in helping me through a rough time.

In addition to my shop and the car, I also lost my intrepid Ford Ranger. It was parked behind the Saab and I didn’t have time to get either of them out. I was able to back my wife’s Chevy Malibu out of the garage before it sustained any damage and trip to the car wash took care of it pretty well.

While State Auto did everything they could to fix things for me, the opposite has been true with Progressive Insurance who insured the Saab. The adjuster was very sympathetic when I first called him about the claim. It was later on when I found that in spite of knowing the Saab was electric they were going to try to pay me for it’s value as a gas vehicle which is next to nothing in the car market. They asked for receipts to show my cost of major items, etc, but in the end it made no difference at all to them. The adjuster now calls himself a “theft investigator” and isn’t a bit nice. He recently called to read me a letter he had already sent by certified mail I believe just to antagonize me. I suppose they believe that by wanting to be fairly compensated I am trying to steal from them or something.

So after getting a professional adjuster to appraise my car which came in at $28,500-$40,000, Progressive has now come back with a $2500 estimate from their so-called “professional” adjuster. They sent someone out to the salvage yard to take photos of the remains fo the car and apparently based their appraisal on that alone. It is apparent from their appraisal that they know nothing about converted EVs or the costs involved in doing so. They have given me 15 days to accept their “generous offer”.

So it turns out that “actual cash value” is whatever Progressive decides your car is worth. I have turned the matter over to an attorney at this time.

The moral of the story is to check out who you buy insurance from, get it in writing what ACV actually means or find a company that issues “declared” value. ASK for the policy information up front. Don’t sign up with anyone until you read it all and ask a lot of questions. I have yet to collect a dime from them and it might take a long time if I ever do. It is real obvious they want the problem to go away. It is not.

I have no plans currently to start another car. A lot of things would have to transpire to replace machinery that I once had. And of course the beautiful elegant Saab. It would be hard to find another donor car of such impecable quality and harder yet to restart my ambition.

This was a picture of the last time I have seen the car. It was before sunrise and is hard to see. I have no idea where the car is at this time. Interestingly the battery pack was still intact after the fire even though some debris had dropped down on top of it. The car was not plugged in and nothing was going on at the time of the fire. We didn’t get to go a lot of miles together, but those we shared were great. The things I learned from the project are priceless!

Thanks to all that have given their support and encouragement throughout the project.
Check back into this website soon. It is my plan to post all the correspondence I am getting from Progressive for the EV community to see. Please pass along the information about the demise of Saabrina and the difficulties I am having with Progressive to everyone else interested in electric vehicles.

Mark Ward

Photo Credits: Saab History

Ever since returning back to my native land of New England, I have slowly begun to fully immerse myself backin into the Saab Community once again.

Today was no exception to this immersion into the Saab Community where I got the opportunity to see Chris Moberg, chair of the Cumberland Motor Club, and long time Saab enthusiast with the New England Saab Association. Chris hit the wet tarmack today at the Maine Mall in South Portland, Maine with his 1971 Saab Sonett III “Yellow Thunder”.

Earlier that morning, I had my doubts that this event may not even take place due to the rain, but then I got to thinking that the wet element, would make for an appealing addition to an autocross.

This event was fairly well attended with just about every other make and class in attendance at this club’s last autocross event of the year.

After I patiently awaited along with everyone else in the pouring rain, “Yellow Thunder” finally made a tremendous entrance onto the closed parking lot course by rounding all cones within small tolerances of touching them and finished his first heat without breaking a sweat. After I saw the maneuvering Sonett make it without a hitch, I had to ask Chris about what techniques were used during the run as he stunned the crowd. His response was great and I quote “I never needed to exercise my emergency brake”.

This event triggered my memory of the recent Turbo-X test drive event that took place just North of Boston, Massachusetts back in May. What that day would have been if it were raining, now that would have been a better way to test the abilities of the new XWD cross-wheel drive system in addition to just performance.

The experience today was fun as visitor, even in the inclimate weather as we got to see some performance and handling at the same time, conveyed with multiple makes and models and varying levels of driving abilities.

If I were to be buying a new car, I’d be asking myself where I can both gain the skills of the driver as well as vehicle as capable as the Saab Sonett III. These types of venues would be great to have a Saab tent with 3-4 Saab vehicles with cross-wheel drive available for the public to test…in the rain. Saab was, as you would guest very under represented at this venue.

Let’s also keep this in mind, Chris and his 1971 Saab Sonett III had the “second fastest raw time of the day” ahead of many modern all-wheel drive vehicles!

To learn more about the Chris’s Sonetts including “Yellow Thunder”, please visit his website directly.

The Art & Technique Of Driving Book, a book written by both Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson & wife Pat Moss has recently arrived on the shelf of the Saab History reference library.

This book, published in 1965 covers exactly what the title describes consisting of the following chapters which should make for quite an interesting read.

Improvements, Driving Position, Adhesion, Cornering, Braking, Skidding, Tyres, Gear Changing, Reading the Road, Overtaking the Motorway, Ice & Snow, Fog, Rain, Dusk and Darkness, Driving in Traffic, Systems, Headlight flashers and Main Road Signals, Instruments, Car Characteristics & Competions.

If you are interested in this out of print book, I purchased mine for only $19.95 on Amazon in brand new condition, so perhaps there are others there as well that you can order, so please check out the library and check for yourself, I think there may be a few remaining.

I received an e-mail about a week or so ago from a Joseph Mathis who is helping a fellow Saab Club of Kansas City, member Ken Ebling, track down some much needed information for his SAAB 92b.

This process began by Mr. Mathis receiving information from Mr. Ebling that he needed to find a SAAB 92 Service manual and parts list.

He used the internet to search for such material as a starting point and ran into the Vintage Saab Club of North America’s website and contacted the President (VSCNA), Bruce Turk.

The VSCNA kindly referred Mr. Mathis to Saab History. I then recalled seeing a SAAB 92 service manual during my visit to the GM Heritage Center in Detroit and remembered that they can provide copies of such material at a rate of $50/hr for interested parties. I immediately refererred Mr. Mathis to them and in short order, a beautiful copy of the original SAAB 92 service manual arrived via FedEx to his doorstep.

In Mr. Mathis inquiry to Saab History, he brought up Lennart Lonnegren, Saab Motors, Inc. & Saab-Scania of America’s former Public Relations officer, so I had to get the two together, which I did.

Here’s what Mr. Mathis wrote me in his final message to Saab History in his own words.

“I am sure that I speak for Ken when I say thank you for your invaluable assistance in moving this project forward. Here’s to getting a piece of SAAB history back on the road.”

I leave you with our dialog as a way to indicate the level of Saab history that has been shared:

Sunday July 27, 2008

Dear Ryan,

My name is J. T. Mathis, and I am trying to help fellow Saab Club member,Ken Ebling, track down information about his car. He does not have a title and therefore the registration papers in order to put license plates on his car.

Ken is the owner of a Saab 92B with VIN 06829.

Here is some history and background on the car. Ken bought the car in 1984 from an auction which, according to Ken, Saab Cars, USA conducted. He has no title. His contact at that time was with Mr. Lennart Lonnegren, the Saab Public
Relations Director.

Do you know how to get information from Saab about the ownership of Saabs or any information about the origin of this car? Any information that would get us going in our search for this car’s identity would be helpful.

The information you sent me earlier about getting in touch with Mr. Christo Datini in Detroit paid off, and we are getting the service manual from him on this 92B.

Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph T. Mathis

————-

From: Lennart Lonnegren
To: Joseph Mathis
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 4:09 PM
Subject: Saab history

Joseph T. Mathis

Ryan Emge of Saab History has sent me a copy of your recent e-mail correspondence, hoping, with you, that I can tell you more about what I assume was a Saab 92 that I supposedly was involved in selling back in the 80′s. Unfortunately I cannot tell you much about the car, or the transaction. To be perfectly frank when I first saw the correspondence I had no recollection whatsoever of the affair.

However, thinking back, I do remember something about a Saab 92 that I believe Saab-Scania of America had somehow received, I do not recall from where or from whom. I do seem to recall that we offered it for sale and that some nice Saab fans from Missouri or Kansas were the buyers. Somehow I also seem to recall that we arranged to transport the car to the buyers at the company’s expense, but I may be mistaken in that.

(At that time the company did not maintain any collection of cars and we were not that interested in starting one, although later a very respectable collection was begun, including a very early Saab 92 that I believe we received from Sweden. The collection is today part of the General Motors Heritage Collection.)

Frankly, that is all I can remember of this event, though I recall distinctly that the convention was held at New Glarus, Wisconsin. I must have attended close to a dozen Saab owner conventions, and memories from one or the other seem to mesh together without distinction.

For your information –you got my name absolutely correct… a very rare occurence indeed — I was in charge of corporate communications, including all public relations, for Saab Motors Inc., and Saab-Scania of America Inc., from 1963 until I retired and eventually left the company in 1990. And, yes, I am still alive, as are the two Saab officials who came with me to New Glarus: Bob Sinclair, president of Saab-Scania of America; and Erik Carlsson, Saab’s famous rally driver and good-will ambassador, who came from his home in England especially for the Saab owner convention.

If you have any other questions or maybe want to try to refresh my memory, please feel free to contact me

————–

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Ryan,

Thanks to your introduction, I have now heard back from Mr. Lonnegren.

A very pleasant response. He is leaving for a trip to Europe, so I will not be able to correspond with him again, until late August. I am very pleased to have made contact with him. I plan on sending him all of the information about the car that I can, to see if it helps in restoring the history of this car.

I feel that each contact and step here is working to fill in the gaps of this car and its origin. I have been talking to Ken Ebling, the owner, and getting as much information as I can from him. Surely along the way, we will reconstruct the history of this car. Since I am retired, it has been a fun project in which to be involved.

I am currently waiting to hear from the GM Heritage Center with service manual. I spoke with the GM Heritage Center and ordered it.

Thanks again for all your help.

Sincerely yours,

Joseph T. Mathis

——————

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Ryan,

Just this afternoon, FedEx dropped off my copy of the Saab 92 service manual.

I am attaching a picture or two of what they sent. You will note that the book is rather thick. I would guess, without counting that it is at least 100 pages, both sides.

I am also attaching a few pictures for you of the car, and of the dealership in Kansas City where the car is stored.

Thank you again for all your help in securing this Service Manual.

Sincerely yours,

Joseph T. Mathis

The wife of a devoted Saab Enthusiast, Jeff Powell of New Hampshire has decided that it is the right time to start a blog about her experiences living with a Saab fan.

If you are married or spend a lot of time with a Saab enthusiast, perhaps this blog will be a great place for you to share your experiences as well!

http://saabwife.blogspot.com/

I leave you with her opening inspiration for starting the blog:

After nearly twenty years of life with a Saab enthusiast, it’s time to write about these automotive adventures from the spouse’s point of view. I know I’m no walk in the park myself, but co-existing with an obsessive hobbyist presents certain challenges. There are benefits, too (I do drive a very nice car around, usually), but when that fleet of old Saabs gets too large I begin to get nervous. These are mostly rescue vehicles, many beyond reasonable repair, but my husband loves the species and wants to give every old Saab a chance. Or at least get the door handles off before the funeral. Welcome to my Saab World!

Jay Klein who has recently participated in the Saab Aero Academy, has provided Saab History an absolutely incredible writeup about his experience taking the opportunity to participate in the Saab European Delivery Program in 2007.

It’s clear that the Saab European Delivery Program in the United States needs come back online soon.

Here is his account of the Saab European Delivery program in his own words:

Title: An American in Europe exposes and exploits a loophole!
Or: How to live in Europe and buy a car without paying the European taxes

In 2005 when our daughter was 18 months old my wife and I made the decision to move to my wife’s native country of Denmark. We were there for two years, after the first year my grandfather died and I received a small trust in 2007. Needless to say the money goes further in the USA than it does in Denmark. Since I needed a car, or would upon my return to the US, I started looking at cars. I had certain criteria. It had to be a wagon, it had to be a manual and it had to be fast. That eliminated pretty much everything made by the Big Three and all but Subaru for the Japanese. I liked the Legacy GT Spec B Wagon, but the price couldn’t justify it, not to mention that it’s not a big car.

That left the Germans and the Swedes, which opened up the European Delivery option. I liked the BMW 328xi, but even with a friend that sells them and the ED discount, it was still to far out of my price range. As was anything made by Mercedes Benz. The Audi A4 is to small for a(soon to be)family of 4 and the A6 is out of my price range. I did a lot of research on Volvos and Saabs and decided on the Saab 9-3 SportCombi Aero 6spd manual based on a number of things. The looks, price and performance being the biggest factors.

After deciding how I wanted my car equipped, Titan Gray Metallic paint, grey leather interior with parchment inserts, cold weather package and the Touring package. No SAT/NAV, no OnStar roof rail delete. My experience began with calling Just Saab in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio to inquire about the benefits of European Delivery. I was quite impressed, $4000USD off the base price, discounts on the option packages you choose and a $2000USD check(yes, Saab actually sends YOU a check in YOUR name!)for travel expenses. The salesman at Just Saab, AJ Murphy, then suggested I come in for a test drive. He was very surprised to learn that I was calling him from Denmark! The power of VOIP internet! We started the paperwork, most of it done by fax and email, except what had to have my real signature

I picked my car up on July 2nd 2007 in Copenhagen, Denmark without a hitch and drove across the country to Esbjerg. Two weeks later we left for Punta Marina, Italy for a weeks vacation on the Adriatic Sea. That was a 1000 mile trip that took two ten hour days of driving. I did the drive back straight through, 17 hours.

2500+ clicks on the odometer through the traffic snarls and high heat of north central Italy and torrential rains in southern Germany can really test the mettle of a new car. I’m happy to say that the 2007 9-3 SportCombi Aero handled it all with ease. We left Esbjerg, DK on Friday July 13th with Nurnberg, Germany as our destination, a little over half-way to Punta Marina, Italy. It took 10 hours to get to Nurnberg and another 10 hour day to get to Punta Marina. According to my GPS, we lost 3 hours sitting in traffic on Saturday. On Wednesday, July 18th the high temperature was +40C(104F) in Modena, Italy, we took that day and drove from the coast to the Ferrari factory in Maranello and my outdoor temp gauge read 104F. The A/C handled it without a strain. Saturday, the 21st saw us leaving Punta Marina at 7:30am, my wife didn’t know it yet, but my intention was to get home that day. Everything was smooth, until we started to climb into the Italian Alps and an accident stopped us dead for about an hour. Heavy traffic continued through Austria but cleared as we hit the German border. As soon as the first unlimited sign appeared, me, and about 20 turbo diesels, took off. For about 25 minutes we ran at a steady 95mph, then the sky opened. This was the hardest rain I’ve ever seen in my life and it hit all at once, no warning sprinkles, just like someone unzipped a big pouch in the sky. Again, the Saab handled it with ease, no hydroplaning from the 17 inch Continental ContiProContacts and the traction control never kicked in, even through the deepest water running across the Autobahn. Granted I had slowed down considerably. 9:30pm saw us 500km from home and the rain had stopped and the highways were drying rapidly. I put the cruise control on 100mph and blew through that 500km in 3 hours. Slowing down twice for exit ramps, I averaged 150 kilometers per hour or 93mph.

Aside from general fatigue from driving for 17 hours(again, the GPS said I lost 3 hours)I was very comfortable and can honestly say that this is the most comfortable car I’ve ever driven.

The heat and traffic never affected the vehicles performance or operation. It wasn’t hampered by the torrential rains I encountered in Germany, if you saw the 2007 F1 race from the Nurburgring on Sunday the 22nd, that’s close to what I experienced. I’m dropping it off on the 8th of August for shipment home, and it snows at home in the winter. Let’s see how it handles a mid-western winter.

A $1000USD worth of winter wheels and tires solved the snow problem, although the only snow to speak of was 14+ inches that the 9-3 wouldn’t move in any way.

I dropped the car off in Amsterdam because it was the only city I could drop off in and get a direct flight to Cincinnati. Less than 30 days later Just Saab called me to tell me mycar was I and ready for pickup the following Monday.

So far so good, I just got back from an 800+ mile round trip with no drama. Unfortunately Saab killed the European Delivery program for an as yet undetermined amount of time to work the bugs out of it. I have read stories of people on the west coast waiting up to 3 months to get their car.

If they bring it back and you have the time and the means, I highly recommend doing European Delivery, but do the factory pick up, and buy a Saab. They are well worth their price tag.

Jay Klein

Photo Credits: Jim Laman

Jim Laman of the Great Lakes Saab Club, the same club that hosted the 25th Anniversary Saab Owners Convention last summer, has had the great opportunity today, to get the first test drive in North America of the 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X.

He was with a handful of other local Saab enthusiasts from Michigan that also got the opportunity to be taken out onto a test track by Jan Magnussen, an accomplished Danish race car driver.

It looks like as part of this Turbo-X test drive event, the 1985 900 SPG that we saw at the Boston Auto Show, was also present for test drives. I will be very interested to hear more about that as well.

It appears that this all-encompassing North American “Black Turbo” test drive event was a great time had by all.

Here is an excerpt from his experience:

Saab Cars and Pratt and Miller (the people who build and campaign some of GM’s race cars) had Gingerman Raceway rented down in SW Michigan for a “Saab Turbo X Intro/Comparison Event”. The weather was great, about 50F and dry and sunny. My wife and I got there just before noon and were greeted by Jan-Willem Vester and John Libbos from Saab Cars, as well as Greg Mull from CAS. Greg was there with the black 85 SPG that they recently restored for the Heritage Collection, and it was beyond perfect! How many perfect 85s ARE there anyway? Many of the parts were NOS, the paint was like a mirror… fantastic job, as we have come to expect from CAS, and he was justifiably proud. He said he is really developing an appreciation for Saabs, so that was nice to hear as well. I also had a tour of the Pratt and Miller race trailer, one of six in the USA, and one of several that are going to LeMans in a few weeks (complete with tractor!) to support GM’s LeMans effort. I have pics of that too, but briefly it was stainless steel countertops, mini- kitchen, lounge with AC, TV, stereo, parts and tools storage… all in 53 feet of trailer. With storage for 2 race cars above! I could live out of it, almost. P&W was there to handle car minatenance, including such things as tire changing (they had a tire change machine and a ton of new tires) and whatever else came up. I offered to clean the trailer out while it was at LeMans, but they didn’t take me up on it.

Not long after arriving, Jan-Willem introduced me to Jan Magnussen, a quiet young man who offered to take me out in the Turbo X. I should note that there was one “X” there along with 2 awd BMWs, one or two Audis and a Subaru Impreza something… most of them some sort of high performance version, one of the Bimmers being an M-Series, and the Subie was something fast too. So “Jan” proceeded to take me on several fast laps in the “X”, averaging about 110 mph while sideways (at times), me hanging on for dear life to the door handle and bracing my knee against the console. I think my hand still hurts, but it was a riot! I later took the car out myself with John Libbos, and was not able to achieve near the speed, but it was still fun. With some practice I think I “might” have been able to come close. I found out later, however, that Jan is a highly accomplished driver with multiple victories at LeMans 24 Hours in Corvettes, as well as some good finishes in things like Formula One. Check out his website… (www.janmagnussen.com)…. and here I thought he was “just some Corvette racer guy”! So much for my racing knowledge. I mainly took pictures after that, but the trucks went out later and wetted the track down to simulate poor traction conditions, and many of the cars were out after that. I assume this was to illustrate how the Haldex XWD system was able to respond faster and better to changing road surfaces than the competitors. Either way, I did not witness anyone spin a car, but one Audi did come in with pretty smoky brakes!

So it was an interesting day, and I think the X will certainly go down as one of Saabs best-ever high performance models. My driving impressions were that it was very easy and light to drive, no noticable turbo lag or torque steer, and when pushed hard, as I tired to do, the handling seemed quite nuetral and easy to control in the situations I was in. All in all, a very impressive automobile that handled all that was repeatedly thrown at it, something at least one German competitor did not!

Jim Laman

Photo Credit: Anton Kempink

Another new private Saab Museum has been built in the Netherlands recently by a Saab enthusiast by Anton Kempink. This museum marks the second private Saab museum in addition to the private museum in Woerden, Netherlands.

This collection is quite comprehensive, especially the display of all of the rare and unique accessories and SAAB branded items.

This place looks like a great museum to visit if you are planning on going to the 2009 Saab Meeting in Doesburg.

Here is is the press release from the owner. I highly suggest you visit his website and take a look at the impressive collection he has organized for the public at his new museum.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen.

Maybe you already know, that you can find in Aalten – municipality in the eastern Netherlands, less then two hours driving from Amsterdam our SAAB Oldtimer museum. Since April 2008 you can also find us on the internet

We ask you very friendly to mention our internetsite on your own site. Please look at our website as you will see that our site is a great pleasure for every SAAB friend.

Also we like to announce, that our museum is very close to the city Doesburg, where in 2009 the international SAAB meeting and 50 years jubilee of Saab Club Nederland will be take place. Please tell these to all your SAAB friend en mention also, that all information can be find on http://www.saaboldtimermuseumkempink.nl

Thank’s a lot for all your effort.

Your sincerely

Saab Oldtimer Museum Kempink
Bredevoortsestraatweg 65
7121 BC Aalten.
Tel. 0031543474845
e-mail: anton.kempink@orange.nl
internet: http://www.saaboldtimermuseumkempink.nl

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Photo Credit: Saab History

Don Wollum, a Saab Enthusiast who presented at the 2002 Saab Owners Convention, and a former Saab Master Technician, is now researching the development of Saab engines.

It looks like quite the project, and I am very interested in his findings:

Read below:

Wollum traces development of Saab Engines. A popular seminar at the convention was led by our own Don Wollum, Saab Master Tech who, in a well-researched talk with two dozen slides presented the history of Saab power plants from 2-stroke to 4-strokes.
Don reminds that Saab, of necessity at first, adopted the 2-strokes engine because “In resource-scarce Sweden after World War II, less materials wand machining were required and costs were lower.” By ’64 Saab was hunting seriously for a 4-stroke.

Among those considered were the Alfa Romeo Guglia, Lancia Appia V4, Volkswagen, Opel, an aluminum Imp engine, a Goliath-Hansa opposed 4-cylinder and some Triumph and Renault engines. None of them proved satisfactory. But then German Ford introduced its M-12, V4 power plant and Saab bought some of them for installation in the Saab 96. [Ed note: It should be remembered that at this time Ford was toying with the idea of producing a subcompact front-wheel drive which it dubbed the Cardinal and was to be powered b y the V4. So when Ford dropped the subcompact the V4 was readily available to Saab.]
But before the V4 appeared publicly there were machinations, secrecy and intrigue worthy of a cold war spy novel within the Saab organization. Because there had developed in a management group (including Tryggve Holm, the top man) a cult loyalty to the 3-cylinder, 2-stroke, only an engineer team of seven insiders shared the secret of the V4 project. In ’64 Per Gillbrand was hired away from Volvo. Shortly after coming aboard he was granted a leave of absence, presumably to manage some family business. Instead he was shipped off to a secret shop in Northern Italy to help adapt the Ford V4 to Saab.

But even as Gillbrand accomplished his mission Saab was contracting with the English engineer Henry Ricardo to design and develop a more powerful 4 cylinder, 4-stroke in-line engine for the next generation of Saabs, the 99 and 900. Again, Per Gillbrand was called to work — with Ricardo. Saab then discovered Triumph also had contracted for an engine project with Ricardo, so they joined efforts to save time and money. During the joint venture the displacement grew, in steps, from 1.2L to 1.7L, from ’65 to ’70 when Saab terminated the agreement.

Don noted the real progress toward building a sturdy, “bullet-proof” engine started when the Scania and Vabis truck divisions were assigned to produce the engines at a new plant at Sodertalje, a suburb of Stockholm, where the Scania trucks are built. Per Gillbrand was called upon to work on making a “big power” engine by changing dimensions for the to-be-forged crankshaft, cylinder distances, block length, piston height, cylinder head bolts, etc. As Gillbrand revealed, the engine was designed for the beginning for turbocharging, that was to be added, ultimately.

The 99 went on sale in the fall of ’68 with the Triumph power plant, but starting in ’69 Saab began to equip the 99 with its own 2.0L “B” engine. For each of the next five years Saab invested 1 billion kronor to improve the power and torque of the engine. Then in ’78 the company made its move to include a turbocharger because sales of the 99 had peaked by ’76 with 73,000 units and then dropped to 60,000 in ’77. From ’77 thru ’80 10,607 99 Turbos were sold. In the first five years of the 900 Turbo 70,000 were retailed.

Along the line of engine development the subjects of V8s arose but were somehow sidetracked and the discussion turned to turbocharging the 4 cylinder as a better idea. Saab incrementally is continuing to improve that engine. (Ed. note: Many thanks to Don Wollum for making his notes available to “Smoke Signals”} —-From “Smoke Signals’ ” E. Tonat circa 1998—

Saab Club of North America (SCNA) officers, Linnea Krajewski and Stephen Goldberger, former editor of Nines Magazine, share their thoughts on the Saab Automobile brand today with Ward’s Auto.

The SCNA is the organization that is responsible for the organization and managing of the annual Saab Owners Conventions in the United States. I understand we will be in for quite a treat this year at the 2008 Saab Owners Convention in Devens, Massahusetts.

Please read this piece by Wards Auto below and enjoy the comments made by these two SCNA officers that volunteer their time to contribute to a great organization catering to the Saab community.

Saab 9-X Concept Leads GM Geneva Lineup — WardsAuto.Com

By James M. Amend
March 3, 2008

General Motors Corp. unveils an impressive array of global brands at the annual Geneva auto show today, led by a concept car from Saab Automobile that demonstrates its intention to produce a premium compact car.

The Detroit auto maker shows a 3-door Chevrolet Aveo, which signals GM’s intent to grow the model’s range beyond 4- and 5-door variants, while Cadillac, Chevrolet and Hummer brands offer European premiers of previously shown products. Additionally, GM says it will make a major hybrid technology announcement tomorrow.

The 3-door Aveo arrives in Europe in June from the Warsaw-based joint-venture plant of Polish auto maker Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych S.A. and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co.

GM says the model makes a bolder design statement, upgrades its interior and offers more efficient 4-cyl. gasoline engines. Motivation comes via a 1.2L mill rated at 84 hp or a 1.4L generating 101 hp.

Meanwhile, GM’s German unit, Adam Opel GmbH, shows an Opel Meriva concept that demonstrates future potential for the monocab segment; a refreshed Opel Zafira 7-seater with new engine choices; and the Agila monocab that launches shortly after the show.

But the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept arguably represents the highlight for GM in Geneva and is a signal the Swedish brand soon will offer a sporty compact hatchback to answer the BMW 1-Series, Volvo C30 and Mini Cooper.

A timetable for its production, likely at the auto maker’s Trollhattan, Sweden, plant, was not offered prior to its unveiling. But the launch likely is about one year away, coinciding with an update to GM’s Delta global compact platform for the next-generation Opel and Saturn Astra.

Powertrain possibilities also remain sketchy ahead of today’s event, but speculation centers on 1.6L and 2.0L mills using Saab’s trademark turbocharger technology. As a concept, the 9-X at the show boasts a 200-hp, 1.4L BioPower turbo engine backed by GM’s next-generation hybrid system.

The system, which GM will detail to the public tomorrow, builds on the auto maker’s current belt-alternator-starter setup, which shuts the engine down at stops and provides some battery-power assistance. On a vehicle such as the 9-X concept, GM says the system will emit a combined-cycle carbon-dioxide level of 105 g/km with the use of E85 fuel.

That would bring the 9-X concept’s powertrain well within a current mandate from the European Union for an emissions limit of 130 g/km (roughly the equivalent of 45 mpg) in 2012, as well as a proposal to tighten the emissions standard to 125 g/km in 2015.

It also would prove instrumental to GM as it works to raise the fuel economy of its cars and trucks ahead of the new corporate average fuel economy standard of 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) for the U.S. fleet by 2020.

Saab already makes available across its European model range a 1.8L BioPower engine that creates 175 hp and 177 lb.-ft. (240 Nm) of torque, which represents 17% more horsepower and 10% more torque than its gasoline-only counterpart. The Saab 9-5 BioPower, introduced in 2006, ranks as one of Europe’s best-selling flex-fuel vehicles.

GM does not provide photos ahead of the unveiling, but the auto maker says the 9-X styling borrows from the award-winning Aero X and 9X concept cars previously shown by Saab.

For example, its exterior features the “wraparound” window graphic and deep front grille of the Aero X coupe. It also incorporates interior features from the Aero X, such as 3-D instrument panel graphics that appear “frozen” in ice.

The 9-X discards the Aero X concept’s floor-mounted console with angled controls and displays for a main instrument panel that sweeps out from the top of the door moulding, GM says.

“This car is all about efficiency in design and performance,” says Anthony Lo, director-advanced design, GM Europe, in a statement ahead of the unveiling.

“This car shows how our concept work can be carried forward into a compact format,” he adds. “It has a number of features which we will be developing further, such as the new driver-focused design theme; the importance of clean, uncluttered surfaces; and the easy, seamless connectivity inside the car.”

The 9-X concept also boasts an aerodynamic design to reduce drag and fuel consumption, a Saab design element that dates back to the brand’s original compact coupe from 1947, GM says.

Global Insight Inc. analyst Rebecca Lindland says based on images circling the Internet, the 9-X may look a bit too much like an Astra, which could saddle it with the same fate met by the Saab 9-7X SUV and 9-2X compact sport sedan.

The 9-7X shares a platform with GM’s midsize family of GMT 360-based SUVs, the Chevy TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy, both of which it closely resembles. The Saab version has been a slow seller since its launch in 2005.

The 9-2X leveraged the Subaru Impreza’s underpinnings and launched in 2005. Tepid sales and the dissolution of GM’s stake in Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. combined to kill the car in 2006.

Both vehicles met criticism from Saab loyalists, earning the nicknames “TrollBlazer” and “Saabaru,” respectively, for what was perceived as a superficial approach to their engineering.

“Saab is such a difficult brand,” Lindland says. “It has lost its way a bit with re-branding. It doesn’t re-brand well. It has a very distinctive design and feel and customer.”

Saab has expanded its lineup in recent years, from the 9-3 sedan and convertible and slightly larger 9-5 sedan and wagon, to include the 9-7X SUV, a sport compact and even a 9-3 Sport Combi that recalls its hatchback roots. But sales have fallen short of goal.

Since the brand hit a benchmark 44,818 sales when the 9-3 was last redesigned in 2003, deliveries have deteriorated to a mere 29,069 units in 2007, according to Ward’s data.

That said, Saab’s recent 9-4X BioPower CUV concept drew favorable reviews after it bowed in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Expected to share GM’s midsize CUV architecture with a production-version Cadillac Provoq and the Saturn Vue, the 9-4X reflects authentic Saab styling cues. GM designers pledge it will remain just as distinctive when it hits the market in about 2010.

Lindland says that with the right product Saab can overcome its volume deficiencies. She suggests GM, which acquired a majority stake in the Swedish auto maker in 1990 and bought it outright in 2000, should work more closely with Saab loyalists.

“Get ahold of the people who bought a Saab 10 years ago, when the brand was still pure,” she says.

Some Saab loyalists believe GM is starting to do that, after years of disconnect. “The current regime is really making an effort,” says Linnea Krajewski, an insurance adjuster in Webster, MA, and secretary of the Saab Club of North America“Swedish Buick.”

“But these guys really care now,” she says. “They go out there to connect with the average Saab owner, whether it’s a ‘93 Saab owner or a Saab 9-3 owner. That didn’t happen before.”

Krajewski likes the 9-4X, as well as iterations she’s seen of the next 9-5, and says if the 9-X arrives in the states with a 2.0L turbocharged powertrain she might consider buying one. “But my driveway is full right now.”

Stephen Goldberger, a member of the SCNA board of directors, retired mechanical engineer and former editor and publisher of Nines, The Saab Club Magazine, says Saab has gone too far up-market for many loyalists. From Saab’s introduction to the U.S in the 1950s through the 1970s, the brand was seen as a “Swedish Volkswagen,” a small, economical and modestly powered vehicle, he says.

“What we learned when we began driving these cars, especially in the winter, was their fantastic driving characteristics back in the days when the Citroen was about the only other front-wheel-drive car in the U.S.,” says Goldberger, who divides his time between homes in Apollo Beach, FL, and North Canton, OH.

In the 1980s, Saab cars became larger, more luxurious and more expensive. But now that Saab has been fully integrated into GM – the brand’s final assumption came in 2004 when its U.S. operations moved from Atlanta to Detroit – the possibility for the brand to return to its roots is exciting, Goldberger says.

“If done right, longtime Saab enthusiasts will enthusiastically embrace a vehicle that, from what little we have seen, will recreate what were the Saabs of the 1950s and 1960s: small, versatile, well-finished, well-performing and uniquely styled,” he tells Ward’s.

Krajewski also hopes the new spate of cars will help the brand achieve consistent profitability, which would keep enthusiasts flush with parts and service options. But she still has reservations.

“Saab needs to get back to its roots, and I don’t know if it can do it within the GM hierarchy,” Krajewski says.

“The new cars have no soul, no connection with the driver. Driving the classic 900 is like wearing a favorite sweater, or sharing a cup of tea with a close friend. I don’t know if Saab can ever get back to that.”

Kaj Zakrisson, a professional skier sponsored by the Saab-Salomon partnership, who I interviewed recently at the 2008 North American International Auto Show has been included in a press release some years back that as far as I am concerned, is as applicable today as it was back then.

Please enjoy what he has to say on the topic of ski equipment to the right driving equipment:

2004-11-16

Winter fun – on and off-piste

Picture someone racing down a snow-clad mountain in a swirl of powder, effortlessly carving his initials as he sweeps from side to side through the untouched snow off the prepared slopes. Suddenly a bare rocky crag looms up in front of him. He jumps clean over it and continues his journey down at breathtaking speed through the deep snow. That, basically, is freeskiing. Just as windsurfers ride the crest of the waves, so freeskiers ride the crest of the mountains as they carve their way through the powdery virgin snow.

One of the world’s top freeriders is the 31-year old Swede, Kaj Zackrisson. He skis, for example, in the Big Mountain races, which, with their trails bristling with craggy rocks and almost impossible mountain slopes, are regarded as the crème de la crème in freeskiing. Powder rather than prepared pistes, mega-fun rather than mass tourism, action rather than après-ski. With his eye-catching dreadlocks, Zackrisson is rather unconventional – just like his car, a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon.

He drives about 50,000 kilometers in it every winter, and a roof box helps with stowing his skis and camera gear. Whenever he hears a report on the radio that a lot of fresh snow has fallen somewhere, you can bet that Zackrisson is already behind the wheel on his way there.

“Last March, I had a truly amazing week shooting photos,” says the Swede with a smile on his face. “We looked on the net to find the best snow, then loaded my 9-5 Aero Wagon and took off. We drove through some intense blizzards, but ended up at five different ski resorts in five days.”

Anyone who travels around in winter as much as Zackrisson does knows a lot about safe driving on ice and snow. There are, after all, a number of parallels between driving on a snow-covered road and skiing off-piste: “Choosing your line, control and technique – these are the three main aspects with freeskiing… and with driving.” On the next few pages, Zackrisson has put together some tips on the right equipment and driving technique in the winter months.

1. The right equipment

Modern skis have little in common with the simple wooden boards of the early days. With the “AK Rocket Lab” model from Saab’s partner Salomon, Zackrisson can really do his stuff in the deep snow. The 2.05-meter skis give him a relaxed surfing feeling thanks to the wide contact surface, the excellent stability at speed due to the torsional rigidity of the spaceframe construction, and the ability to turn quickly in deep snow through the dovetail geometry of the ski ends. Zackrisson: “They are designed like a speed surfboard for big waves. That means they are strong and give total control at high speeds and up in the air.”

The Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon offers similar characteristics. Its 185 kW/250 bhp turbo-charged engine provides an impressive experience of acceleration not unlike the excitement Zackrisson feels as he catapults on skis over a steep 40° mountainside. Front wheel drive, the sports chassis as standard, and modern dynamic driving systems like the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Traction Control System (TCS) help to keep the car safely on track even in poor road conditions. And just as freeskiers always carry a personal avalanche-tracing unit for an emergency, drivers get that feeling of security from the Saab’s high level of standard safety equipment, including the Saab Active Head Restraint system (SAHR) which reduces the risk of serious neck injuries (for front-seat passengers) relating to whiplash in rear-end collisions by as much as 75 percent.

But you can only rely on the material – however good it is – if you check it regularly before use. Blunt edges and uneven surfaces, as we all know, greatly impair the enjoyment of skiing. A car check is also highly advisable as winter approaches. The following points should be checked:

· Winter tires:Four millimeters of tread are the minimum. Apart from that, the tires should not be older than four years, because the rubber compound hardens with time and adhesion suffers.

· Engine cooling fluid: The addition of anti-freeze guarantees that the cooling fluid doesn’t freeze at low temperatures and damages the engine.

· Battery: The battery has particular problems in the cold season because it takes a lot of power to start the cold engine with high-viscosity oil. When checking the voltage, also check the acid level.

· Windscreen washers: Anti-freeze additives prevent the water freezing on the cold windscreen and also stop the windscreen washer nozzles and pipes from freezing up.

2. The right driving technique

As Kaj Zackrisson races down the steep mountain on his skis, it looks almost playful: The skis lift effortlessly off the ground, and the snow flies up in the air with every turn and breaks over the skier’s head. It looks so easy, but, of course, skiing in deep snow is a question of technique. Upright body position, legs bent ready for movement, weight spread evenly on both skis and a rhythmic style are the main elements. “Don’t travel too slowly,” says the Swedish freeskier. “Above a certain speed, the skis ‘skim’ over the snow which makes turning much easier.”

Traveling at the right speed applies not only to two skis, but also to four wheels. Like skiers who change from prepared slopes to deep snow, car drivers also have to change their driving style when winter comes. Some tips:

· Keep your distance: Because the braking distance on snowy, icy or leaf-covered roads is much longer, in winter it is more important than ever to keep your distance from the vehicle in front. When safe to do so, test the brakes to get an idea of the road conditions.

· Drive off carefully: On icy or snow-covered roads, don’t accelerate too hard to prevent the wheels from spinning. It is sometimes better to move off in second gear.

· Avoid abrupt steering movements

· Brake carefully: When driving downhill, brake if possible only with the engine. On icy roads, release the clutch to brake.

· Keep to main roads: They tend to be cleared or gritted first.

3. Keeping fit

It is not only newcomers to the art of skiing in fresh powder snow who experience that feeling of utter exhaustion after a long day in the mountains. It is then, when your energy and concentration begin to wane, that the risk of an accident is particularly high. Kaj Zackrisson goes out of his way to make sure he prepares himself thoroughly in the summer for the next skiing season – sometimes on two wheels: “Of all the sports I’ve tried, motocross is the one that comes closest to skiing, so it’s good preparation for me in the summer months. That’s why I have a dirt bike.” Golf (he has a handicap of 3!) and skateboarding are also included among Zackrisson’s summer activities.

On the road, too, fitness and alertness are vital. The “feel-well” atmosphere in Saab cars makes it easier for the driver to keep fit and attentive over longer distances. Among the many convenient details the Swedish car manufacturer has incorporated in its Saab 9-5 series to increase alertness are the standard automatic air-conditioner, ventilated and heated seats, windscreen wipers with rain sensor, navigation system, hands-free system for a phone, automatic anti-glare interior and exterior mirrors, and the so-called “night panel”. This enables you, when driving through long winter nights, to fade out all the instruments apart from the speed indicator – a further help for the concentration.

There are also a few things the drivers can do to enhance their physical and mental well-being in winter:

· Listen to the weather reports and road news in good time: If you know what conditions await you on the road and at your destination, you won’t be surprised by bad weather and long traffic jams. That reduces stress.

· Take a rest: Regular breaks avoid overtiredness, which is a particularly important aspect in difficult driving conditions and poor visibility.

· Eat right: Light meals, plenty of fruit and vegetables and frequent drinks help keep you alert.

· Wear comfortable clothing: Take off thick jackets and coats before taking the wheel. It’s not only more comfortable, it’s also safer because the seat belts have less slack, and it also gives you room to move in an emergency.

· Have a blanket and emergency rations on board: In case you get stuck in a long traffic jam.

Kaj Zackrisson

Kaj Zackrisson, born on November 3, 1973, in the Swedish town of Uppsala, is nicknamed the “Flying squirrel”. He first got on skis at the age of five and was trained by his mother at the local ski club. He later attended a ski boarding school for four years and, up to the age of 22, competed in races organized by the international ski federation, FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski).

His first Big Mountain competition in 1998 kindled his enthusiasm for freeride skiing. Among his biggest successes were winning the Swedish Big Mountain Championship and his first place at the X Games Ultracross, both in 2003.

Apart from his sporting career, the 31-year old makes films and markets trendy, self-knitted “Beanie” hats. He spends the summer months in the Swedish town of Rättvik and in the winter, travels from his base in Chamonix to the various competitions.

Film Credit: Saab History

On Sunday, January 13th, 2008 during the North American International Automobile Show, I got the opportunity to interview Kaj Zackrisson, a professional Skier from Sweden who is sponsored by Saab Salomon.

This interview explores Kaj’s response to the new Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept as well as some nice demonstations of how this integrated ski system works.

I really like this system and hope to see it continued as-is directly to the production version, of course with a snowboard option as well.

A thank you to Kaj Zackrisson for the nice interview, Saab Automobile & General Motors getting me to the auto show and of course my sponsor enabling me to film this interview, Saab Colorado, Inc..