1997 SAAB 900 CONVERTIBLE CAN'T BE TOPPED FOR ALL-SEASON PERFORMANCE Sporty, Stylish Saab Soft-Top Has a Practical Side, Too NORCROSS, Ga. -- Few cars offer as much driving enjoyment as a convertible, especially one with the Saab 900's inimitable blend of sports car performance and luxury appointments. Engineered in Sweden, a country better known for harsh winters than balmy summers, the 1997 Saab 900 Convertible is designed for year-round enjoyment. With its triple-layer top up or down, equipped with one of three distinctive powerplants and featuring a comprehensive list of standard equipment, the Saab 900 Convertible delivers value and driving exhilaration any time of year. No competitor can match the Saab 900 Convertible's sheer utility, starting with a unique fold-down rear seatback that sets a new standard for storage capacity among soft-top cars. With the rear seat unlocked and folded forward, and the top raised, a pass-through opening to the trunk accommodates the necessities of an active lifestyle, such as skis or snow boards. Getting to the ski slopes, or just to the grocery store following a winter storm, won't present a problem either. The front-wheel-drive Saab's renowned foul-weather driveability plus standard heated front seats, ensures motoring in confidence and comfort in sleet, snow or sunshine. Refinements for 1997 For 1997, the Saab 900 Convertible continues to offer four-seasons comfort, sports car performance and a comprehensive list of standard features for exceptional value. Naturally aspirated, turbocharged or sporting six cylinders, Saab's 1997 models appeal to a variety of open-air driving enthusiasts. Several performance and comfort enhancements make the 1997 models even more desirable. Braking performance and brake pedal feel is improved as a result of larger brake discs and calipers, and a repositioning of the pad for greater braking torque. Front brakes are 13.5 percent larger and rear brakes increase size by 5 percent. Ten percent larger front brake pads are composed of a new friction material, extending their useful life by about 15 percent. Further braking security continues to be provided by Saab's four-channel anti- lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which precisely controls the braking pressure between the front and rear wheels, regardless of the load in the car. Wheel width has been increased to 6.5 inches for the 1997 Saab 900 S Convertible, which sports an attractive new wheel design. A new three-spoke 1 5-inch wheel, light alloy with visible lug nuts and a distinctive Saab Griffin center emblem, is standard on the 900 S Convertible, giving it an even more aggressive appearance. The 900 SE Turbo Convertible is fitted with revised "Viking Aero" 1 6-inch light- alloy wheels, also with exposed lug nuts and Griffin center emblem. Tires are low- profile, high-speed-rated radials. Saab has consistently placed great emphasis on a well-designed cockpit and ergonomic controls. Revisions to the gear shift mechanism on manual transmission allow more positive, precise gear changes. Front seats of the Saab 900 models have been slightly elongated for better thigh support, and are 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. Other changes for 1997 include three new paint choices and rear badging that identifies the engine type and size. Rear fog lights, standard on all Saab cars, have been redesigned to tum off automatically when the ignition is switched off, so they won't inadvertently be left on when the car is restarted. Engineered as a Convertible From Soft-Top to Chassis Saab Convertibles have always been assembled on a dedicated production line. Because they are engineered and factory-built as true convertibles, Saab 900 soft-tops boast an immediate advantage in the areas of structural integrity and quality. Rather than ''chopU the top off a coupe, the Saab Convertible has been engineered and factory-built as a true open-top car. Today's Saab 900 Convertible shares only its front- end design and lower side door assemblies with the Saab 900 Coupe. Unlike conversions, every inch of the 900 Convertible's chassis has been optimized to compensate for the lack of a hard roof structure. For example, Saab engineers added heavy reinforcements at crucial stress points, such as the base of the windshield and the door sill, and the car's A pillars are formed by a continuous G- shaped member that runs from the screen header rail, down the hinge post and into the sill. These designs add to an already rigid chassis, without adding weight. Although the current generation 900 Convertible weighs less than its previous design, it is 73 percent stiffer in torsion. Structural integrity and safety go hand in hand, and the Saab 900 Convertible, like all Saabs, combines both beautifully. Dual air bags, ABS, daytime running lights, industry-leading 5-mph self-restoring bumpers, side impact reinforcement and Saab's renowned safety cage construction with front and rear crumple zones are all part of the standard Saab safety package. Ready to Drive All Year Round Both trim levels of the 1997 Saab 900 Convertible -- S and SE -- offer a long list of premium equipment and amenities for a superb price/value relationship. Both models offer a microprocessor-controlled power top that can be quickly raised or lowered at the touch of a button. Six electric motors, eight microswitches, three potentiometers and a trunk-mounted electronic control unit ensure that the top operates with a minimum of owner effort. All four windows can be lowered with a single push of an "express-down" switch in the center console, and after unlatching two header clamps, a button initiates the top's choreographed disappearing act. The folded top is concealed under a hard boot, which opens and closes automatically to maintain the Saab's aerodynamic profile. The Saab 900 Convertible's rugged top ensures that owners enjoy their soft-top regardless of weather conditions. The durable top material, called Twillfast lll, consists of a special blend of colorfast polyacrylic fibers, a waterproof rubber middle layer and cotton inside layer. An additional fabric headliner traps about an inch of air space to ensure the interior is well insulated against extreme temperatures. A glass rear window with electrically heated demisting, as well as heated front seats and outside mirrors, keep the 900 Convertible well equipped for winter weather. And, a CFC-free Automatic Climate Control System (ACC) on the 900 SE delivers the perfect level of occupant comfort year-round. A special thermal sensor override initiates a manual temperature zone setting program as soon as the convertible top is lowered. Practicality is engineered into every Saab, including the Convertible. The top stowage well in the trunk is constructed of a flexible material. With the top up, the well can be hooked upward, expanding cargo volume from 10 cubic feet to 12 cubic feet. Saab then goes a step further than its competition by also integrating a fold-down rear seat and pass-through opening. Three Enaine Choices for Maximum Versatilitv Three powerplant options -- a 1 50-hp naturally aspirated 2.3L four-cylinder, a sporting 1 70-hp normally aspirated 2.5L V6 and a potent 1 85-hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder-- each provide a distinct driving character. The Saab 900 S Convertible is equipped with the naturally aspirated 1 6-valve four-cylinder with counter-rotating balance shafts for smoothness, matched to either a five-speed manual or electronically controlled four-speed altomatic transmission. Luxury features abound, even on this lowest-priced of the Saab soft-tops. In addition to a power top and leather upholstery, the 900 S Convertible is equipped with a lengthy list of standard features including a premium stereo, power windows, CFC-free air conditioning, attractive new 15-inch alloy wheels and remote locWalarm. The sophisticated alarm system includes an engine-immobilizing feature and intrusion sensors for the doors, hood and trunk. Saab's powerful 2.0L Turbo, one of the automaker's Ecopower engines, is the standard powerplant on the Saab 900 SE Convertible. Like all of Saab's turbo Ecopower motors, the key features of the 2.0L four-cylinder are four valves per cylinder with center-located spark plug, intercooled turbocharger, Saab Trionic electronic engine management, preheated oxygen sensor and a catalytic converter moved closer to the engine for quick warm-up. Ecopower advantages include high torque at low engine speeds, high power with low exhaust emissions and low fuel consumption. The Turbo engine is offered with a manual five-speed transmission or four- speed automatic. The Saab 900's automatic transmission features three electronic shift modes: normal, sport and winter. Saab's sporty 2.5L V6 is available as an option on the 900 SE, matched to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with traction control. The smooth V6, with 24 valves and four overhead camshafts, provides generous torque at low engine speeds and plenty of smooth power for responsive highway acceleration. The SE model's dashboard is trimmed with genuine California walnut, crafted from trees that are specially cultivated for this purpose -- a reflection of Saab's commitment to environmental consciousness. Other standard features on the 900 SE Convertible include Automatic Climate Control, 1 60-watt stereo system with trunk- mounted six-CD changer, power seats and 1 6-inch tires mounted on three-spoke alloy "Viking Aero" wheels with a revised style for a sportier appearance. New Mica Metallic Paint Two lustrous Mica-metallic paint finishes are available on the Saab 900 Convertible -- Cayenne Red and Amethyst Violet, both offered with a Sand Beige leather interior. Mica paints contain a high metallic flake content that diffuses reflected light, producing a deeper luster and richer color. A limited run of Monte Carlo Yellow 900 Convertibles will make a special appearance later in the model year. Monte Carlo Yellow last appeared on a special edition 1991 Saab Convertible (these cars were affectionately dubbed "bumble bees" by enthusiastic owners). Other colors include metallic Sky Blue (a Convertible exclusive), Citrin Beige, Scarabe Green and solid colors Cirrus White, Black and Imola Red. The top color on all models is black. Like every 1997 Saab, the 900 Convertible is backed by Saab's four-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, including 24-hour roadside assistance. In addition, the first maintenance service at 5,000 miles is performed free of charge and all 1997 Saabs are protected by a six-year perforation warranty with no mileage limit. Drop-top Motoring from Saab for More than 40 Years Saab's open-top heritage dates back to 1956. The first top-less Saab was a low- slung roadster called the Sonett Super Sport, hand-crafted as a prototype rally car. Only six of the three-cylinder, two-stroke cars were built in 1956 before unexpected changes in rally rules made the project unnecessary. However, that sleek two-seater created quite a commotion on the international auto show circuit. Almost thirty years later, another Saab convertible, a pearl-white Saab 900 Turbo "design study," stirred up the automotive press when it was unveiled to rave reviews at the 1983 Frankfurt Auto Show. The enthusiastic response to the innovative new car was so overwhelming that Saab drew up plans for production immediately following the show. The concept of a four-passenger luxury European convertible was conceived by Saab in the United States, where the early 1 980's marketplace was virtually devoid of drop-top cars. The stunning Saab 900 Convertible was perfect for the American market and its pent-up demand for wind-in-the-hair motoring. Although competitors eventually followed Saab's lead, sales of the svelte Swede soared and remain strong to this day, especially in the U.S., Saab's largest market. In fact, almost a quarter of Saab's total sales in the U.S. in 1995 and 1996 were 900 Convertibles.
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