**Saab Joins Supercar Saloon's**

[alex_gt]

Well we've seen the :bmw: :m:'s, :audi: RS6, :vw: W12, :ford: ST220, :jaguar: S Type R, Various :mercedes: AMG, :mg: Z's and probably a few others.

Now :saab: Have joined the Club in this R3 tuned by Abbott Racing

Abbot Racing breathe on new 9-3

Saab tuning specialists Abbott Racing are to produce a high performance version of Saab's newly announced 9-3 sports saloon.

The 220bhp, 2.0 turbo Abbott Racing 'R3' will be an evolution of the standard factory 'Vector' specification. Modifications include an ECM power upgrade from 175 bhp with peak torque raised to 300 Nm at 1,900 rpm; lowered sports-tuned suspension; front bumper extension, rear lip spoiler and side skirts; 18 inch Speedline alloy wheels and a larger, stainless steel rear silencer/tailpipe.

Target performance figures are zero to 60 mph in 7.0 secs and a top speed of 150 mph. The R3 is expected to be priced at about £25,495.00 for a complete car, or about £3,495.00 as a customer upgrade. Prices will be confirmed at start of sales on 1 November.

"The R3 is intended for enthusiastic drivers who want to take the standard car a step further in terms of even sharper handling and acceleration," said Abbott Racing's Managing Director, Ed Abbott. "The new 9-3 saloon gives us an accomplished starting point and the R3's chassis will be carefully tuned so that the ride composure and NVH qualities of the standard car are not compromised."

The R3 will be the first in a series of AR products for the new Saab 9-3. "We will be developing separate enhancement packages including suspension, engine and bodystyling components," added Abbott. "This is in addition to our current products for the 9-3 hatchback, 9-5 and 9000 ranges."

Abbott Racing will supply a complete car direct or customers can arrange for their own cars to be modified at AR's workshops in Wix, Essex, including collection and delivery www.abbotracing.com

Not bad eh? What's everyones thoughts on this Swedish Powerhouse :home:?

 

[Jordan]

Wow! Has SAAB ever been on the track before?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

You see, there's the rub. 220bhp driving the front wheels gives a 0-60 of 7 seconds, whereas, say, an Impreza Turbo, with 215bhp and 4wd can do it in 5. When will manufacturers learn that high-power front drivers are a waste of time? It doesn't matter that it can do 150mph, when out of a wet roundabout it's just sitting there, wanking, spinning the inside front! Grr!

 

[mr_pushrod]

I agree with Giles. Is this going to be like the Saab 9-3 Viggen, a 220bhp torque steer machine?

 

[Deathhawk]

I happen to like the Viggen! Are they offering a LSD with it or not? Otherwise it will be a waste of time.

And how is that a 9-3? It should be a 9-5...

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Deathhawk
I happen to like the Viggen! Are they offering a LSD with it or not? Otherwise it will be a waste of time.

And how is that a 9-3? It should be a 9-5...

Don't get me wrong, I like the Viggen too. It's just that since the 9-3 is based on the Cavalier floorpan, which had a 4wd variant, the choices look stark to me.

As to the availabilty of an LSD, I would have to say that it would be bad. An LSD will not adequately compensate for the inherent lack of traction in a FWD car.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Deathhawk
And how is that a 9-3? It should be a 9-5...

My sources say that there is a 300bhp 4wd 9-5 running out there somewhere with a projected engine life of 150,000 miles. Whether GM/Saab have the guts to build/sell it is another matter.

 

[b0rderman]

why do you guys rip on front wheel drive cars, saabs are made for high altitude driving or rally driving, JORDAN, saab has been racing rally for a while, i own a viggen and i don't see what is the problem with them, they offer me the luxury to drive to and from work and on long trips, and have the ability to tear it up a bit, and look good doing it, i just recently bought a mini cooper S with sport and luxury packages and that is a car that is made to turn, even tho its front wheel drive

 

[Talentless]

forgot this pic was here.

good headlights on the saab.

 

[alex_gt]

GG and Pushrod, your behind the times :clock: if you put down FF Cars :shakehead.... These days electronics keep torque under control so Torque Steer isn't much of a problem....:burnout:

I'll go see if I can find out were :saab: Race Jordan

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by alexy2k
GG and Pushrod, your behind the times :clock: if you put down FF Cars :shakehead.... These days electronics keep torque under control so Torque Steer isn't much of a problem....:burnout:

I'll go see if I can find out were :saab: Race Jordan

Electronics can't overcome the fact that a 4wd car has twice the contact patch of a 2wd car, plus, they can't sort out the fact the front wheels are trying to drive and steer, thus creating a conflicting pair of friction coefficients. In a RWD car, the weight transfer under acceleration assists the acceleration, rather than in FWD, where the weight transfer is against the acceleration.

I'm afraid that it's not just me against FWD, it's physics.

As for where Saabs race, Per Eklund is running a 700bhp 4WD 9-3 in Rallycross.

 

[Deathhawk]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
Don't get me wrong, I like the Viggen too. It's just that since the 9-3 is based on the Cavalier floorpan, which had a 4wd variant, the choices look stark to me.

As to the availabilty of an LSD, I would have to say that it would be bad. An LSD will not adequately compensate for the inherent lack of traction in a FWD car.

They had a 4wd variant?!!?! Well, another shaft for the can/am market...

Have you driven a car with a quaife lsd? it handles MUUUUCHHH better.

GG and Pushrod, your behind the times if you put down FF Cars .... These days electronics keep torque under control so Torque Steer isn't much of a problem....

You obviously havnb't driven any high horsepower front drive cars... Test drive a Saab Vigen (convert or coupe) and you will see massive tourque steer.

 

[mr_pushrod]

FF cars can indeed be fun but they are also handicapped when given lots of power. This is why a 150bhp, RWD Lotus Sunbeam takes less than 6 seconds to get to 60 whereas a 200bhp Civic Type R takes over 7. While I don't know exact figures, I should imagine power to weight would be similar, the difference coming from the Sunbeam having more traction.

 

[alex_gt]

I'm don't want to argue :argue: about the facts, your all right about the science :magnify:

I suggested electronics kept Torque steer under control, not eliminated it If it was that bad it wouldn't be on the Market.....

 

[mr_pushrod]

Originally posted by alexy2k
I'm don't want to argue :argue: about the facts, your all right about the science :magnify:

I suggested electronics kept Torque steer under control, not eliminated it If it was that bad it wouldn't be on the Market.....

And I won't argue with that. Electronics keep it under control yes, but what I am saying is that they don't cure it.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
You see, there's the rub. 220bhp driving the front wheels gives a 0-60 of 7 seconds, whereas, say, an Impreza Turbo, with 215bhp and 4wd can do it in 5. When will manufacturers learn that high-power front drivers are a waste of time? It doesn't matter that it can do 150mph, when out of a wet roundabout it's just sitting there, wanking, spinning the inside front! Grr!

There's a number of factors that create different 0-60 times. Besides the previously-mentioned FWD/RWD/AWD physics debate -- which is a major factor -- the Impreza's low gearing limits its top speed to somewhere around 120 MPH. This Saab should be good for more than 150. Further, it really only launches in around 6.0, not the 5.5 Subaru is advertising. On Sunoco 95 or 100-octane race gas, 5.x seconds may be possible, but my car surely isn't an E46 M3-challenger.

As for Saab's famed torque steer, I think you should try driving a Viggen and you will see the true definition of torque steer. If ever there was a poster child for Quaife....

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Hooligan


There's a number of factors that create different 0-60 times. Besides the previously-mentioned FWD/RWD/AWD physics debate -- which is a major factor -- the Impreza's low gearing limits its top speed to somewhere around 120 MPH. This Saab should be good for more than 150. Further, it really only launches in around 6.0, not the 5.5 Subaru is advertising. On Sunoco 95 or 100-octane race gas, 5.x seconds may be possible, but my car surely isn't an E46 M3-challenger.

You're right about the different factors, but when I had a UK-spec Impreza, running on 95 octane (the lowest you can get in the UK), it was definitely a 5.5 second car to sixty, and while I wouldn't want to admit to such badness, I can also confirm that it's geared for about 160, although you need a very long piece of road to get it there. It runs into an aerodynamic wall at about 110, but I had 146 out of mine before I ran out of courage.

 

[Deathhawk]

Of course you actually get the P1 and such Impreza's. We get the watered down variants, that's why these arguments presist.

You also get the good gas, we only get watered down 92 Ocatane....

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Deathhawk
Of course you actually get the P1 and such Impreza's. We get the watered down variants, that's why these arguments presist.

You also get the good gas, we only get watered down 92 Ocatane....

Yeah, but you get to not have to pay for your petrol! Given that it's nearly $7 per gallon here, it'd better be bloody good stuff!

 

[mr_pushrod]

I stick Shell Optimax in my Citroen GSA at 5p a litre more, the car needs all the help it can get to do 0-60 in under 16 seconds!

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
You're right about the different factors, but when I had a UK-spec Impreza, running on 95 octane (the lowest you can get in the UK), it was definitely a 5.5 second car to sixty, and while I wouldn't want to admit to such badness, I can also confirm that it's geared for about 160, although you need a very long piece of road to get it there. It runs into an aerodynamic wall at about 110, but I had 146 out of mine before I ran out of courage. [/B]

Are you talking about the standard WRX or the STi version? If you mean the standard version, I'm going to have to find better gas stations. I guess an extra 3 points on the octane scale really do make a difference.

 

[Deathhawk]

We have a detuned version... Don't even try to match power figures.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Hooligan


Are you talking about the standard WRX or the STi version? If you mean the standard version, I'm going to have to find better gas stations. I guess an extra 3 points on the octane scale really do make a difference.

It was the UK standard car at the time, official power was 215bhp, but I knew a guy who'd dynoed his unmodified car at 230bhp.

 

[Deathhawk]

As I said. We get wattered down POS here.