SAAB 9-5 SEDAN BALANCES PRECISE CONTROL WITH RIDE COMFORT
NORCROSS, Ga. - The Saab 9-5's chassis has been designed to provide the driver with optimum control at all times - regardless of the driving situation, the load in the car, or external conditions. In addition, the car has been designed to provide unprecedented levels of comfort.
Saab engineers have discovered that it is possible to combine excellent handling characteristics with good ride comfort - if the time is taken to get the suspension kinematics correct. These engineers optimized the stiffness characteristics to provide the best of both worlds - soft in the longitudinal direction to absorb wheel shocks and provide comfort, stiff in the lateral direction to accurately control wheel geometry and provide precise handling.
Chassis Features Isolated Sub-Frames
The Saab 9-5 Sedan's chassis utilizes isolated front and rear sub-frames to
effectively attenuate disturbances and significantly upgrade its driving
refinement. MacPherson struts are retained for the front suspension and a
multi-link independent suspension is used in the rear. The springs, roll
bars and shock absorbers have been calibrated to retain good handling
properties and excellent ride comfort. In addition, the power-assisted
steering rack is mounted on the rear of the sub-frame to operate with short
tie rods and provide very precise wheel control, creating high levels of
response and steering feel.
Standard ABS Brakes Incorporate EBD
The Saab 9-5 Sedan is equipped with standard front and rear disc brakes
with a diagonally split hydraulic system and electronically controlled ABS.
The car is also equipped with acoustic pad wear indicators that warn the
driver when the brake linings are nearing the end of their life.
The ABS system incorporates electronic brake distribution (EBD) and an integrated electronic traction control system (TCS). As with all Saabs, the ABS system is lightweight and compact with four-channel operation triggered by four individual wheel sensors.
EBD comes into effect under hard braking before the ABS is activated. This balances the friction available at each wheel with the braking forces being applied. It automatically provides optimum retardation and the shortest possible stopping distance.
Standard Saab Traction Control System
For 2000, Saab's Traction Control System (TCS) is standard on all 9-5
models. TCS works in conjunction with the engine management system to
prevent the driving wheels from spinning if tire grip is lost. The system
operates on the front brakes individually, to transfer torque to the wheel
with the most available grip. When appropriate, it also signals the engine
management system to reduce engine torque by over-riding the electronically
activated throttle. A warning light on the instrument panel illuminates
when the TCS is operating, to warn the driver of slippery conditions.
The TCS system is fully automatic in operation, and is functional at all road speeds, but includes an "off" switch for special circumstances (such as if the driver needs some wheelspin to cut through heavy snow, or when snow chains are fitted). The off-switch will only deactivate the system at low speed (below 40 mph).
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