This engine was, I believe, developed by the Opel/Vauxhall arm of GM. I can't comment on the 2.5l version, but my '96 9000 handbook claims 210hp for the 3.0l version, which is more than any 9000 other than the manual Aero (which is damned quick - I own one).

I don't think it's the V6 that is the problem when it comes to tuning, so much as that it isn't turbocharged. Adding horsepower to a turbocharged engine is easy and can be achieved simply by a software upgrade or other electronic tweak in the first instance. This makes it easy to sell at a high margin (but development is an expensive overhead) and therefore an attractive proposition for tuning companies. Try finding tuning parts for any normally aspirated 4-cylinder Saab and I think you'll have the same trouble as for the V6.

Since this engine appears in other European GM cars, including the Vauxhall/Opel Vectra V6 (Vectra is the NG900/9-3's cousin, since these Saabs were built on the Vectra chassis), I'd be surprised if some European tuners didn't have tuning parts for it - camshafts, etc. You've probably made a good start with the air filter and exhaust. I don't know much about the control system for this engine (is it Motronic?), but it may be similar to the Vectra and may respond to the same tuning (GM transplanted the Vectra engine, they probably did it complete with control system). These days, upgrading the electronics goes largely hand-in-hand with the mechanical upgrades, to accommodate the modified performance characteristics. Expect, naturally, the usual tradeoff between low-end torque and high-end power that has always been a consideration when tuning normally-aspirated engines.

I can't agree about the sound of a V6, but can respect your taste. I like the engineering finesse of a turbocharged installation, but that's the engineer in me and it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.

• N/A vs. Turbo...(long), V6 RULES!!, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:03:36
  • I'd respect the V6 a little more IF..., Jeff Cunningham, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 15:22:35
    • Re: I'd respect the V6 a little more IF..., Aeronaut, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 15:32:42
      • Yep...Those TT RX-7's are awesome!, Jeff Cunningham, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 16:00:28
  • I'm with you., CS, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 10:46:01
  • Re: N/A vs. Turbo...(long), PO, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 09:07:57
  • This is a GM engine..........., SteveW, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 23:05:53
    • Nice!, NL, Fri, 3 Aug 2001 03:46:05
  • mY two pence, chaz, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:47:15
  • Re: N/A vs. Turbo...(long), rodel, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 17:20:27
  • Re: N/A vs. Turbo...(long), Mathias, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:43:43
  • Re: N/A vs. Turbo...(long), V6 Eater, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:38:59
    • Saab didn't drop it as such ..., BillJ, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:47:36
      • Agreed!, GM, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:56:37
  • German/British, not American, but good point., BillJ, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:32:06 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: N/A vs. Turbo...(long), Vince T, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:31:56
  • Hmmm..., Cutic, Thu, 2 Aug 2001 16:24:23

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