THE SAAB 900 TURBO: A BRIEF HISTORY OF A LEGENDARY CAR
The Saab 900 Turbo was released way back in 1978, but its history stretches far beyond that. It was a car of many names and even more accolades, including being named “European Car of the Year” in 1985. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the Saab 900 Turbo and how it achieved its well-deserved reputation as one of the greatest cars ever produced.
The Saab 900 was produced from 1978 to 1993 and was available in several body styles, including a 3-door hatchback, 2-door coupe, 5-door wagon, and 4-door sedan. It was powered by either a naturally aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged version unsurprisingly became known as the “Saab 900 Turbo” and made its debut in 1978 with an impressive 177 horsepower—a figure that would remain unchanged until 1993 when it increased by 3 massive horses to 180 horsepower.
The Saab 900 Turbo won numerous awards over the years, including being named European Car of the Year in 1985. This award is given each year to the most outstanding vehicle introduced on the European market during that calendar year. At its peak popularity, more than 60% of all Saabs sold were equipped with turbochargers.
In addition to its performance capabilities, the Saab 900 Turbo also offered excellent fuel economy. In fact, it was one of the first cars to feature an adjustable idle speed control which allowed drivers to adjust their car’s idle speed for better fuel efficiency. This feature helped increase overall fuel economy by up to 10%. Personally I don’t know if any other car that offers adjustable idle speed in 2022.
The Saab 900 Turbo is truly a car for the ages; it achieved legendary status among car enthusiasts thanks to its impressive performance capabilities, stylish design and excellent fuel economy. Its long production run spanned 15 years and saw numerous awards during that time—including European Car of the Year in 1985—making it one of the most successful cars ever produced. If you’re looking for a classic car with modern features and plenty of performance potential, then you can’t go wrong with a classic Saab 900 Turbo!