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Edmunds article on Saab's Bio-Power 9-5 Aero... Posted by Mi-Roger [Email]  (#882) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Mi-Roger) on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 03:28:47
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I apologize if this is an old article, but I found some portions informative. Particularly the MPG difference when using E85, and the market penetration of the current Bio-Power in Sweden.
"Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept
edmunds.com
By Erin Riches
January 2006
If you live in the Midwest, you're undoubtedly familiar with ethanol or its most common blend, E85 – 85-percent ethanol, 15-percent gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable alcohol fuel produced from corn or sugar cane, and as such is very popular among Midwestern corn growers.
However, the average consumer has had little reason to get excited, especially since "flex-fuel" vehicles actually return lower mileage numbers when they run on E85 versus straight gasoline.
But Saab has found a way to take advantage of ethanol's higher-octane rating to improve performance, and the company put that to work on the 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept wagon shown here in L.A. You see, E85 comes in at 104 octane, and this allowed Saab engineers to advance the ignition timing and increase the turbo boost by 20 percent on the Saab 9-5's 2.3-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Hardware modifications include more durable valves and valve seats, and a modified fuel pump, tank and lines.
The result is 310 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque when the 9-5 BioPower runs on E85, compared to 260 hp and 258 lb-ft on gasoline. Additionally, the 9-5 wagon's 0-to-60-mph time drops from 6.9 seconds to 6 seconds flat.
"The 9-5 BioPower can also run on any mixture of ethanol and gasoline," said Jan-Willem Vester, corporate communications manager for Saab Cars USA. If you can't find a gas station with E85 on tap, you just fill up with the regular stuff and the engine management system adjusts the timing and boost accordingly. Mileage is approximately 30-percent worse on ethanol," Vester concedes, "but ethanol is typically 20-30 percent less expensive [at the pump], so for customers it's budget-neutral."
Other advantages to ethanol include the fact that countries can produce it at home, rather than depending on the depleting reserves of far-flung neighbors. Advocates also point out that, at least indirectly, ethanol helps stabilize carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere as vehicle emissions are balanced by restorative photosynthesis as corn crops are grown.
Saab's timing couldn't have been better for the unveiling of the Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept, as GM announced this morning it's teaming up with the state of California, Chevron and Pacific Ethanol to supply the California Department of Transportation with a fleet of E85-fueled vehicles. California has been slow to embrace ethanol, as some studies have suggested higher blends might increase evaporative emissions.
If you want your friends to know you're a serious environmentalist, buying a hybrid is the way to go. Trouble is, hybrid technology costs more and for smaller marques like Saab, it simply isn't feasible. So GM's Swedish branch is pinning its hopes on ethanol. The good thing is, this time there's actually a performance benefit to filling your tank with E85.
Saab is calling the 9-5 Aero BioPower a concept, but it's merely a larger-engined version of the 9-5 2.0t BioPower already on sale in Sweden. The company reports that the BioPower accounts for 70 percent of Swedish 9-5 sales. We think it's likely the 9-5 Aero BioPower will soon go into production for the U.S. market."
posted by 198.208.25...
_______________________________________ Saabs owned: 2008 9-5 Aero Sedan, sold at 227K miles 2006 9-3SC 2.0T - Wife's daily driver 2000 Viggen Convertible - Sold May, 2022 1964 Quantum IV Formula Car - Retirement project 2000 9-5lpt Sedan, sold at 318K miles
, Mon, 23 Jan 2006 03:28:47 <-- Viewing This Message
, Mon, 23 Jan 2006 07:26:35
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