Automotive News
The centerpiece of Saab's Frankfurt auto show exhibit will be the limited-edition Turbo X, a variant of the 9-3 that harks back to the Saab 99 and 900 "Black Turbos."Saab is being as mysterious about the Turbo X as the name would suggest. It has yet to offer detailed specifications or discuss what it calls the "innovative features" of the "new Saab 'Black Turbo.'"
"This ultimate expression of the new 9-3 range will deliver standard-setting levels of performance for the brand," Saab said in a statement on Friday.
The Turbo X celebrates the 30th anniversary of the debut of Saab's first turbocharged model, which was unveiled in Frankfurt in 1977. The 99 Turbo has been described by Saab as "one of the most emblematic cars in Saab's history." The launch car was finished in Pearl White and is part of the Saab AB factory collection in Trollhättan, Sweden.
The original four-cylinder 2.0-liter Turbo engine delivered 135 horsepower, compared with 115 for the standard engine. However, torque was bumped up dramatically. Saab said it was the first to offer a turbo tuned for low-speed torque in a sedan for daily driving, as opposed to "high-speed power in a pure sports car such as the Porsche 911," according to the book Saab 60th Anniversary Edition. A four-speed manual transmission was standard.
A total of 10,607 Saab 99 Turbo vehicles were built, starting with 100 test fleet cars in 1977 and continuing through 1982. The 99 Turbo three-door hatchback was sold in the U.S. only during the 1978 model year. It was replaced by the larger Saab 900 Turbo three- and five-door hatchback in 1979.
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