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Saab vs WYSIWYG
What you see is what you get. A rather unimaginative way of looking at the world. Take the Saab 9-5 wagon. On the surface, a cargo carrier. But look under the hood. A turbocharged engine that generates enourmous amounts of torque. The car's versatility is evident: Cargotracks for securing loads, an optional sliding floor to make loading easier. But what about the torsionally rigid body construction that gives the car handling characteristics similar to a sports sedan? Can you see that?

Saab vs Vivaldi

Can a car compete with a music composition? The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi is as good a test as you'll get. Concerto No 1 - Spring. The top of the Saab 9-3 convertible comes down. Summer arrives and calls the road to come play. The turbo engine proves more than its equal. Fast forward to Autumn. An aerodynamic body keeps the wind at bay. Winter comes on with a vengeance. Front wheel drive responds. The triple-layer insulated top, heated front seats and heated glass rear window all do their jobs. Vivaldi meets his match. Let the music play.

Saab vs Symmetry

A turbocharger is placed on one side of the engine. Conventional balance is upset. And the world's first asymmetrically turbocharged V6 is born. Unique in the realm of V6's. Exclusive to the Saab 9-5. The goal was to design a 3.0 litre engine both powerful and efficient. By channeling exhaust gases from three cylinders to boost six, torque was maximised in a lighter engine. Acceleration is quick and smooth. Power is abundant. Ironically, balance is achieved.

Saab vs the Supermodel

For some car manufacturers, a beautiful woman leaning on the hood is a standard feature. Not so in a Saab advertisement. In place of the supermodel a 9-5 Wagon has SAHR, the world's first active head restraints designed to reduce whiplash. There is a turbocharged engine. A torsionally rigid body shell. Head and chest side airbags. Cargotracks to secure any size load and an optional sliding floor to make unloading easier. Saab believes these are the things that should attract you to a car. Not a perfect smile.

Saab vs Steriods

Anabolic steroids build muscle mass. More mass increases strength. In car terms this means a bigger engine. More horsepower. But this is not the essence of a car's acceleration. Torque is. The pulling strength that gets the mass moving. Through turbocharging, the Saab 9-5's engine delivers maximum torque at low and medium rpm. The range where most driving takes place. Performance is boosted without bulk. Less becomes more.

Saab vs Saab

Two high performance Saab vehicles. Each has its advantages. Yet are they more similar than different? Car and driver, like pilot and plane, are designed to perform as one. Saab's philosophy of human centred design places controls and instruments where they are intuitively accessible. Time requirements to act and react are thus shortened. Like the Saab Viggen fighter, the new Saab 9-3 Viggen is powerful, generating 252 ft-lb of torque. Yet brute force was never the intention, rather a calculated use of thrust. Whether engaging the turbocharger or the afterburner, it is the man, not the machine, in control.

Saab vs Revolution

Call it the 'phoenix' school of thought. The notion that beofre designing something, its precursors must first be reduced to ashes. Nothing could be further from the way we approach things at Saab. Since 1947, we have shunned revolution in favour of evolution, building on the same aircraft inspired principles embodied in our very first car. A synthesis of safety and performance. And a very Scandinavian devotion to functional, aesthetically pleasing design. To our mind, qualities worth keeping.

Saab vs the Puritans

It is sinful to seek any form of pleasure. Overt joy is to be avoided. Do not drive a Saab 9-3 convertible. Is this how the Puritans would instruct today? Would they shun the 9-3's turbocharged engine for the fear of enjoying the 194 ft lbs of torque? Surely the Saab's aircraft-inspired cockpit would be too much for them to take. In fact, just looking at the car's sleek shape could be considered lustful. Be careful modern day Puritans. Who knows what this car could lead to?

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