A 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine offers important performance advantages. With four valves for each cylinder instead of the usual two, the engine breathes better -- combustion of the fuel is optimized and performance is improved without sacrificing fuel economy.
The new Saab Turbo develops 160 horsepower and an impressive 188 foot-pounds of torque. Peak power and torque are delivered at low engine speeds for quick engine response, whether driving on the open road or in city traffic.
The 1985 Saab line also includes the 900 and the more luxurious 900S models, powered by Saab's 2-liter fuel-injected engine and available in two body styles: three-door hatchback or four-door sedan.
Focus on Man
As has been the rule for all Saabs since 1949, when Svenska Aeroplan AR (SAAB) started manufacturing automobiles, the 1985 Saabs were designed with the driver in mind. "Getting people from one place to another is not enough," said Saab's design chief Bjorn Envall. "We want people to enjoy driving their car."
The 1985 Saab epitomizes this philosophy of building front-wheel drive cars with good roadworthiness, comfort and utility, safety and high performance.
"Driving pleasure begins with control," Mr. Envall said. All Saabs use front-wheel drive and display excellent directional stability and resistance to crosswinds. The Saab 900 this year is equipped with new low-pressure gasfilled shock absorbers for improved handling. The 1985 Saab 9005 and Turbo models continue to use high-pressure shock absorbers of the type used in competition.
"Shock absorbers serve an important function," Mr. Envall said. "They hold the tires to the road by damping out vibrations in the springs."
The 1985 Saab satisfies stringent demands on ergonomics and focuses on the driver. The cockpit of the Saab was designed as a workplace. The dashboard is asymetrically curved to put all controls within easy reach. The controls and instruments are grouped in zones and logically arranged to avoid mistakes.
Research conducted by the Saab Car Division in coop-eration with the Saab Aircraft Division -- which manufactures the supersonic Saab Viggen fighter -- has confirmed that a comfortable driver is a better and safer driver than one who sits in austere surroundings. Electrically-heated front seats, air conditioning and inside-adjustable side mirrors are standard on the 1985 Saab.
"Functional Comfort
Saab designers and engineers approach problems in their own special way with the help of unconventional but rational solutions. Their approach to comfort is no exception and, to the traditional notions of comfort, Saab adds another dimension. Bjorn Envall calls this "functional comfort."
The 1985 Saab is unique in its class in being a prestigious car with space for five passengers one minute -and the next minute an equally elegant car, but now with the luggage compartment converted into a massive cargo space. With the back seat folded down, the Saab has a cavernous load-carrying capacity: 56 cubic feet on the three-door hatchback models and 53 cubic feet on the four-door sedans. This holds true even for the high-performance Saab Turbo.
Mr. Envall credits the Saab's ability to be used for long journeys at high average speeds, while carrying five passengers and a large amount of luggage, to a careful combination of features: front-wheel drive, a compact and lightweight engine with power to spare, and a safe and consistent road behavior.
Built-in Safety
Saab was a safety pioneer and the 1985 models follow that tradition. The passenger compartment is surrounded by steel members that form a protective cage. The brakes are discs on all four wheels with a dual-diagonal circuit that ensures good braking should one system be damaged. Saab is one of the few manufacturers to use large 15-inch wheels, which help give the car excellent grip, especially under adverse conditions. The roof is lined with a molded fiberglass inner roof for impact protection and heat insulation.
The Saab 900 is the least expensive model for 1985, yet it was designed along the same fundamental principles as the 900S and Turbo. A result of these principles is the 900's extensive list of standard equipment. In addition to air conditioning and heated front seats with lumbar support and adjustable headrests, the list includes power steering, halogen headlights, tachometer, rear window defogger and bronze tinted glass.
The Saab 9005 adds power windows, central locking system, sunroof, lightweight alloy wheels, and electrically-operated exterior mirrors to the well-equipped basic model. New equipment for 1985 on the Saab 9003 includes a four-speaker sound system, cruise control and time-delayed shut-off for the courtesy lights.
The 1985 Turbo has high-performance tires, reflecting the top speed of some 130 miles per hour, and new alloy wheels with large ventilation holes for the brakes. All Turbos
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