Saab Extends Flex-Fuel BioPower and Two-Stage Diesel Across the Range

MORE: VIDEO: Saab BioPower Unveiling-Geneva 2008

MELBOURNE, Australia – February 25, 2009: “With Saab BioPower –the first vehicle to run on E85 in Australia, combined with a powerful and economical diesel - Saab really does deliver on our promise of performance with responsibility” said Director of GM Premium Brands, Parveen Batish.

The performance and economy of the Aero TTiD is among the best in its class, the Saab TTiD engine meets a growing demand from drivers unwilling to sacrifice performance in the interests of fuel economy.

Another example of Saab’s advanced technology initiatives are the recently released 9-3X and 9-3 diesel models in Europe which now also offer reduced CO2 emissions and improved fuel consumption.

European manual Linear and Vector specification Sport Sedans, powered by the 150 hp/110 kW, single turbo or the 180 hp/132 kW, two-stage turbo 1.9-liter engine, can now produce just 139 gm/km CO2 and impressive fuel consumption of 5.3 l/100 km over the combined cycle. The SportCombi’s figures are also improved to 144 gm/km and 5.5 l/100 km.

In terms of CO2 grams per horsepower, the two-stage turbo models (badged 1.9TTiD) are now among the top performers in their class.

To continue Saab’s efforts to build awareness for the importance of alternative fuels, Saab has provided a BioPower 9-3 Sport Sedan to the Department of Tourism, Industry and Regional Development in Queensland to use as a promotional vehicle for a 12 month period.

To date – the vehicle was a feature of Greenfest, Australia’s largest free green festival, in October 2008 which had over 35,000 in attendance over three days. Promoting ethanol blended fuels and environmentally friendly vehicles, Saab and the Queensland Government will be a central highlight of Greenfest 2009 in June.

The Saab BioPower 9-3, which has gathered 3,000 kilometres to date, is also helping to spread the word on the benefits of biofuels by inclusion in TAFE presentations to mechanical students where they are learning about the flex-fuel technology and also dispelling any myths on the impact of ethanol fuel on engines.