PERFORMANCE AND VALUE DRIVE 1997 SAAB NEW MODEL LINE Continuous Improvement is Hallmark of Saab Success NORCROSS, Ga. - Since the first Saab automobile was unveiled 50 years ago by the Swedish Aircraft Company, specific design parameters were established and adhered to for each and every Saab car through the decades. These parameters specified that a Saab must be both aerodynamic and light-weight for efficiency. To optimize foul-weather driveability and maximize interior room, Saabs should utilize front-wheel drive. The Saab should be safe, not only in terms of surviving accidents, but in avoiding them as well. Finally, the Saab should be timeless car, one that doesn't simply follow conventional automotive fads and fashions, but one that sets its own high standards for utility, performance and innovation. These requirements, originally outlined in 1947, are as applicable to the 1997 Saab 900 and 9000 lines as they were to the first Saab 92. Each year since the prototype 001 was unveiled, Saab cars have evolved and improved, including the latest new Saabs for 1997. Performance is the driving force behind each model in the 1997 line-up, with larger brake discs and calipers for the 900 and a number of other refinements to enhance appearance and passenger comfort. The color palette for the 1997 Saab 900 and 9000 adds new special-process Mica metallic paints: rich Midnight Blue and vibrant Cayenne Red. These optional paint finishes offer a high metallic flake content that diffuses reflected light, producing an unusually deep color and lustrous shine. The 1997 Saab 900 Convertible will be available in two limited-edition colors: Mica-metallic Amethyst Violet and Monte Carlo Yellow, a vivid color popularized on a first-generation Saab 900 Convertible special edition (these cars were affectionately dubbed "bumble bees" by enthusiastic owners). All models also sport new badging below the rear right taillights identifying the powerplant type and size. 1997 Saab 900 Offers Larger Brakes, Sports New Wheel Designs Three distinct body styles, two trim levels and three engine choices comprise the popular Saab 900 model line. Each model - five-door, Coupe or Convertible - delivers sporty styling, strong performance and a long list of standard equipment for high value. The Saab 900 line receives new, more powerful brakes with larger brake discs and calipers for enhanced brake feel and shorter stopping distances. Larger brake disc diameters allow the brake pads to be positioned further away from the disc center for more braking torque. In addition, the useful life of the brake pads is extended by about 15 percent, thanks to a new friction material and larger contact area. The brake system continues to include a four- channel ABS system with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which precisely controls the braking pressure between front and rear wheels, regardless of the car's load. The larger brake hardware necessitated new wheels for all 900 models. The 900 S sports an attractive new three-spoke alloy wheel with exposed lug nuts and Saab UGriffinr center emblem. The 900 SE models are equipped with the sporty "Viking Aero" light-alloy wheel, with a revised, more aggressive appearance. In the cabin of the 1997 Saab 900, a revised manual transmission gear shift mechanism improves shifter feel. Front seats have been slightly elongated and reshaped to provide a more supportive and comfortable seating position. Deeper side bolstering provides more lateral support. Flexible storage pockets are now provided at the forward edge of both front seats for added convenience. A new luxury velour seat upholstery, with an elegant quilted, coarse-weave pattern, graces the interior of the well-equipped 900 S models. The high-value 900 S models are powered by Saab's dual-cam 1 50-hp 2.3L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, available with a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. Saab's best seller is the roomy 900 five-door, a sports sedan that combines the driving excitement of Saab's potent 2.0L 185-hp turbo engine, 2.5L V6 or dual-cam 2.3L naturally aspirated four-cylinder with the practicality and convenience of four doors and a cargo- consuming hatchback. By folding the rear seats, the Saab 900 five-door or Coupe can handle an impressive 49.8 cubic feet of cargo. However, as in every Saab, utility and high performance are not mutually exclusive. The 2.0L Turbo engine benefits from a collective group of technological features known as Saab Ecopower: intercooled turbocharger, four valves per cylinder and award-winning Trionic engine management. Saab's advanced Ecopower engines are engineered for environmental responsibility, but still deliver dynamic performance that will put a smile on any driving enthusiast's face. The turbocharged Ecopower engine is available in all three 900 SE body styles, along with a lowered sport suspension and 1 6-inch Z-rated radial tires mounted on newly styled "Viking Aero" wheels. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while an electronically controlled four-speed automatic is optional. The refined 170-hp 24-valve V6 engine, with automatic gearbox and electronic Traction Control TCS), is optional on the five-door and convertible 900 SE models as well. Luxurious Saab 9000 Defines Versatility Saab owners appreciate comfort and elegance, but they also demand everyday utility in a vehicle. The five-door Saab 9000 line meets a variety of practical requirements with its hatchback design and enormous carrying capacity. Its trunk holds 23.5 cubic feet of luggage, easily more generous than most other cars in its class. When an owner needs to haul even larger loads, the Saab 9000's rear seat folds down to expand the cargo capacity to 56.4 cubic feet, rivaling many sport utility vehicles for useful space. Three distinctive five-door models -- the 9000 CS, 9000 CSE and the performance powerhouse 9000 Aero -- each with unique powertrains, comprise Saab's line of "Large Cars." All feature Saab's full complement of active and passive safety equipment, including daytime running lights, dual air bags, three-point safety belts with front pretensioners, anti-lock brakes and safety cage construction with front and rear crumple zones. The popular 9000 CS is the value leader in the 9000 line, powered by a 1 70-hp, 2.3L four-cylinder with Saab's innovative Light Pressure Turbo (LPT) technology. Introduced by Saab for the 1995 model year, the LPT powerplant was named one of Ward's Auto World's Top Ten Engines for two consecutive years. Featuring a longer list of luxury features, the Saab 9000 CSE is offered with a choice of powerplants: the full-boost turbo performance of the standard 200-hp 2.3L Turbo engine or the refined smoothness of a 3.0L four-cam V6. The 9000 CSE Turbo, matched with either a five- speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, features sporty three-spoke light alloy wheels. The optional 21 0-hp V6 features a Saab-designed three-stage variable intake manifold (VIM), electronic traction control (TCS) and automatic transmission. The V6 version of the 9000 CSE features a stylish new 1 5-inch eight-spoke light-alloy wheel, finished in a highly polished light silver. Saab's ultimate performance sedan, the 9000 Aero, quickens the pulse of driving enthusiasts with its awesome 225-hp 2.3L Turbo engine, sport suspension and aerodynamic ground effects. The 1997 Aero's aggressive torque curve peaks with 252 ft.-lbs. at a low 1,800 rpm, delivering acceleration and top-end performance with unmatched gusto. While excelling as a sports car, the Aero also offers unparalleled roominess, comfort and versatility. The cabin is trimmed in polished California burl walnut and sumptuous leather. Distinctive body- contoured sports seats further highlight the Aero's performance potential. All 1997 Saabs are also backed by Saab's no-deductible, bumper-to-bumper four- year/50,000-mile warranty, including 24-hour roadside assistance. A six-year perforation warranty with no mileage limit is also included. Saab's first scheduled maintenance at 5,000 miles is performed free of charge.
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