Diesel Power Added To Saab 9-3 Convertible Range
Published: 12th January 2006
Saab 9-3 Convertible
- State-of-the-art 1.9 TiD common rail, direct, multiple injection engine
- 150 bhp and 320 Nm torque for sporty performance
- Excellent refinement and economy, 44.8 mpg combined, with low 169 g/km CO2
- Competitive pricing, from only £25,370 on-the-road
- Close-ratio, six-speed manual gearbox as standard
- Six-speed auto option with Saab Sentronic manual selection
- Advanced, maintenance-free particulate filter as standard
Swedish premium car maker Saab today (Tuesday 10 January) unveiled the new 9-3 Convertible 1.9 TiD turbo diesel variant at the Brussels International Motor Show.
The introduction of this powerful yet frugal turbo diesel engine substantially broadens the appeal of the Saab 9-3 Convertible range. Available in Linear and Vector specifications, the 150 bhp, 16-valve 1.9 TiD unit is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or optional automatic transmissions.
This common rail, direct and multiple injection engine, successfully launched already in the
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon and SportWagon ranges, is distinguished by a level of refinement as impressive as its strong performance. An advanced, maintenance-free, exhaust particulate filter is fitted as standard.
In the Saab 9-3 Convertible, this engine is offered only in its most powerful configuration. That means 150 bhp maximum power generated at 4,000 rpm. But, even more importantly, it offers a wide spread of strong pulling power, with 90% of maximum torque available all the way from 1,750 to 3,250 rpm. The maximum value of 320 Nm, between 2,000 and 2,750 rpm, is exceeded only by the 350 Nm of the top-of-the-range, 250 bhp, 2.8 V6 Turbo petrol engine.
Sporting Performance
On the road performance is equally impressive, with the engine's distinctly sporty character further narrowing any perceptible difference between diesel and petrol performance levels - except in the frequency of visits to the filling station.
In-gear acceleration, most important for everyday driving, is on a par with the 210 bhp petrol engine (50 to 70 mph in fifth gear taking 8.7 seconds, vs. 9.3 seconds), while the zero to 60 mph dash is accomplished in just 10.0 seconds (11.2 seconds for the automatic).
The driving experience is notable for a level of smoothness and refinement, together with a progressive torque build-up, that belies the presence of compression ignition. Calibrating the movement of the electronic throttle to deliver a response similar to Saab's petrol engines had helped achieve this. And the process is optimised by a low-inertia Garrett turbocharger, operating at 1.35 bar boost, with variable vane geometry (VNT), allowing the pitch of the turbine blades to be electronically adjusted for a quick pick-up at low engine speeds.
With combined cycle fuel consumption of 44.8 mpg (6.3 litre/100 km)(automatic 38.2 mpg; 7.4 litre/100 km) showing a 25 per cent gain over the 150 bhp, 1.8t petrol engine, the new Convertible 1.9 TiD offers an appealing combination of performance, refinement and economy. CO2 levels are a low 169 g/km for the 6-speed manual, and 199 g/km for the automatic.
Sophisticated Architecture
The 1.9 TiD engine consists of a four cylinder, cast-iron block and an alloy cylinder head, accommodating two, chain-driven, overhead camshafts with hydraulic tappets. It has a steel crankshaft and connecting rods, a dual-mass flywheel, a weight-saving pressure cast aluminium intake manifold and electronically-controlled exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) for quick warm-up and low emissions.
Common rail technology provides consistently high injection nozzle pressures of 1,600 bar, independent of the prevailing engine speed or load. This allows the use of small, multiple injections of fuel, between two and five, to release as much energy as possible from a given amount of fuel.
The Bosch ECM continually adjusts the number, frequency and size of the injections according to three main parameters: current engine speed, the requested throttle setting and engine coolant temperature. Each injection pulse may be separated by as little as 150 microseconds, delivering a quantity of fuel as tiny as one cubic millimetre.
Saab 9-3 Convertible
Our Saab 9-3 Convertible Guide lists the full specification of the current UK 9-3 Convertible range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £25,980 - £34,595
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 12
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
