Saab will give green motoring a performance boost at next month's Geneva Motor Show when it unveils its latest BioPower development.
The Saab BioPower 100 Concept showcases the first production-based engine to be optimised for pure bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is a level of performance never seen before from a road car using this fuel.
To be shown as an exciting evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportEstate, this latest BioPower concept demonstrates the great performance potential of bioethanol.
In combining Saab turbocharging expertise with the use of high octane E100 fuel, the optimised 2.0-litre engine from the 9-5 range develops 300hp (224kW) maximum power.
Peak power is complemented by a substantial 400Nm of torque, giving the engine the power characteristics of a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre engine. This is reflected in strong performance, the Saab 9-5 BioPower 100 Concept achieving zero to 100km/hour acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and 80 to 120km/hour (fifth gear) in an even more impressive 8.2 seconds.
The Saab BioPower 100 Concept being shown at Geneva features exterior and interior styling elements supervised by GME Director of Advanced Design, Anthony Lo, who penned Saab's award-winning Aero X Concept, which was also premiered at Geneva last year.
Saab already markets Europe's best selling flex-fuel vehicle, the Saab 9-5 BioPower, and the Saab BioPower 100 Concept will extend its leadership position in the development of bioethanol technology.
"Bioethanol is a potent, high quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us," says Kjell ac Bergstrom, President and CEO at GM Powertrain - Sweden, who has led the Saab BioPower 100 engine development team.
"As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run smaller engines that give relatively high power, with and without hybrid technology. This concept car shows that bioethanol can play a key role in this 'rightsizing' process, while also minimising fossil fuel emissions."
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