Saab 900 |
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Wikipedia: Saab 900
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Saab 900 page on 21 August 2019, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations. The first generation from 1978 to 1993 is known as the "classic" and the generation from 1994 to 1998 is known as the "new generation".
The "classic" Saab 900 was based on the Saab 99 chassis, though with a longer front end to meet U.S. frontal crash regulations. The 900 was produced in 2- and 4-door sedan, and 3- and 5-door hatchback configurations and, from 1986, as a cabriolet (convertible) model. There were single- and twin-Zenith carburettor, fuel injected, and turbocharged engines, including both Full Pressure Turbo (FPT), and, in European models during the early 1990s, Low Pressure Turbos (LPT).
The Saab 900 is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact car with a longitudinally mounted, 45-degree slanted, inline four-cylinder engine, double wishbone front suspension and beam-axle rear suspension. It was originally introduced on 12 May 1978, for the 1979 model year. Sales commenced in the fall of 1978.
Like its predecessor the 99, the 900 contained a number of unusual design features that distinguish it from most other cars. First, the B-engine, that was installed "backwards", with power delivered from the crank at the front of the car. Second, the transmission, technically a transaxle, bolted directly to the bottom of the engine to form the oil pan (albeit with separate oil lubrication). Thus, power from the crank would be delivered out of the engine at the front, then transferred down and back to the transmission below, via a set of chain-driven primary gears. In similar fashion, Minis also had their gearbox mounted directly below the engine; however, the Mini gearbox and engine shared the same oil, whereas the Saab 900 (and 99) gearboxes contained a separate sump for engine oil.
Refined over several decades of two-digit Saab models, the 900's double wishbone suspension design provided excellent handling and road feel. The rear suspension comprised a typical beam axle design, stabilized with a Panhard rod. However, the attachment points between the axle and chassis made up an unusual configuration that, in essence, consists of two Watt's linkages at either end of the axle: A lower control arm attaches the axle to the bottom of the vehicle, while an upper link attaches at the top but faces towards the rear, unlike a typical four-link design with both lower and upper links facing forward.
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Abandoned 900C Photo by Hans Eiskonen View photo of Abandoned Saab 900C - 919KB |
| Date | Document Name & Details | Documents |
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| classified date 1990 | FRC On-Site Air Bag Deployment Investigation Fleet - 1990 Saab 900S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |  PDF - 22.9MB - 161 pages |
| Model | Turbo | |
|---|---|---|
| 0-60 mph* | 13.8 seconds | 10.0 seconds |
| 80-0 mph* | 286 feet | 274 feet |
| Cornering Capability* | 0.724g | 0.774g |
| Interior Noise @ 70mph* | 74 dBA | 74 dBA |
| Fuel Economy* | 22.0 mpg | 22.5 mpg |
