2011 Saab 9-3 Diesel

The Swedish, or Dutch, company Saab announced that the 2011 9-3 will come with new diesel engines capable of delivering outstanding fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

Just to realize how good they are here’s some figures: 62.8 mpg and 119 g/km Co2!

The 1.9-litre diesel line-up now comprises a 130 hp TTiD unit (replacing the previous 120 hp TiD engine), a 160 hp version (replacing the 150 hp TiD engine) and a range-topping 180 hp/400 Nm variant. Apart from the sedan, the SportWagon variant will do 61.4 mpg and 122g/km and the convertible 54.3 mpg and 137g/km.

Achieving these astonishing numbers is not easy! Here’s what Saab engineers had to do in order to come up with such efficient engines:

• Recalibrated engine management with improved fuel injection and combustion control
• Revised gear ratios to match new power and torque characteristics
• Improved electrical power management, including sophisticated alternator control when battery charging is not required and more efficient electro-hydraulic power steering assistance
• Low rolling resistance tires for reduced road friction
• Improved aerodynamics, with rear underbody deflector blades
• Reduced weight through lighter construction and sound-deadening materials
• Revised torque converter for automatic transmission with  optimised shift programming.