Saab 900


The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations. The first generation from 1978 to 1994 is known as the "classic" and the generation from 1994 to 1998 is known as the "new generation".
The "classic" Saab 900 was based on the Saab 99 chassis, though with a longer front end to meet U.S. frontal crash regulations. The 900 was produced in 2- and 4-door sedan, and 3- and 5-door hatchback configurations and, from 1986, as a cabriolet model. There were single- and twin-Zenith carburettor, fuel injected, and turbocharged engines, including both Full Pressure Turbo, and, in European models during the early 1990s, Low Pressure Turbos.

Saab 900 "Classic"

Overview

The Saab 900 is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact car with a longitudinally mounted, 45-degree slanted, inline four-cylinder engine, double wishbone front suspension and beam-axle rear suspension. It was originally introduced on 12 May 1978, for the 1979 model year. Sales commenced in the fall of 1978.
Like its predecessor the 99, the 900 contained a number of unusual design features that distinguish it from most other cars. First, the B-engine, that was installed "backwards", with power delivered from the crank at the front of the car. Second, the transmission, technically a transaxle, bolted directly to the bottom of the engine to form the oil pan. Thus, power from the crank would be delivered out of the engine at the front, then transferred down and back to the transmission below, via a set of chain-driven primary gears. In similar fashion, Minis also had their gearbox mounted directly below the engine; however, the Mini gearbox and engine shared the same oil, whereas the Saab 900 gearboxes contained a separate sump for engine oil.
Refined over several decades of two-digit Saab models, the 900's double wishbone suspension design provided excellent handling and road feel. The rear suspension comprised a typical beam axle design, stabilized with a Panhard rod. However, the attachment points between the axle and chassis made up an unusual configuration that, in essence, consists of two Watt's linkages at either end of the axle: A lower control arm attaches the axle to the bottom of the vehicle, while an upper link attaches at the top but faces towards the rear, unlike a typical four-link design with both lower and upper links facing forward.
Early models did not have sway bars; they began appearing on certain models in 1985, and, in U.S. and possibly other markets, became standard on all trim levels by the late 1980s. The sway bars decreased body roll, but at the expense of some ride comfort and when driven aggressively, increased inside wheel spin. The front and rear bars' diameters were unchanged throughout the model's run.
The 900 utilized a deeply curved front windshield, providing the best driver visibility, calling attention to the marque's aircraft legacy. Also underscoring their aircraft lineage, the 900's dashboard was curved to enable easy reach of all controls and featured gauges lit up from the front. Saab engineers placed all controls and gauges in the dashboard according to their frequency of use and/or importance so that the driver need only divert his gaze from the road for the shortest possible time and by the smallest angle. This is why, for example, the oft-used radio is placed so high in the dashboard. In keeping with the paradigm of its predecessor, the 99 model, the 900 employed a door design unique in automotive manufacturing, with an undercutting sweep to meet the undercarriage, forming a tight, solid unit when the door was closed. This feature also eliminated the stoop in the cabin at the footing of the door, as seen in automobiles of other manufacturers, thereby preventing water and debris from collecting and possibly entering the cabin or initiating corrosion, as well as enabling passengers to enter and exit the cabin without need to step over several inches of ledge.
The 900 underwent minor cosmetic design changes for 1987, including restyled front-end and bumpers that went from a vertical to a more sloped design; sheet metal body parts were unchanged. Being a small car factory, for economic reasons, Saab kept the basic undercarriage more or less unchanged throughout the 900's production run.
The Saab 900 could be ordered with different options. One highly sought-after option was called the Aero or, as it was known in the U.S. "Special Performance Group". The Aero/SPG incorporated a body skirt; a sport-suspension that included shorter, stiffer springs, stiffer shocks, and sway bars; leather seats; premium stereo; and air conditioning. Each of these features could, of course, be ordered independently from Saab's Accessories Catalog for fitment to standard models.
Another desirable UK option at this time was the fitment of very distinctive Minilite alloy wheels. Initially these had the words 'Minilite' and 'Saab' cast in raised lettering. Power output varied by model year and market, but 900S and 900 Turbo models produced after 1985 were fitted with a 16-valve engine, while the basic 900 kept the earlier 8-valve engine.
A 1989 Saab 900 SPG owned by Peter Gilbert of Wisconsin, was driven over a million miles, before being donated to The Wisconsin Automotive Museum. Peter Gilbert claimed a million miles out of the turbocharging unit in addition to the engine itself. Saab gave Mr Gilbert a Saab 9-5 Aero.

History

The 1979 900 was available in three versions of the B-engine: The GL had the single-carb engine, the GLs had twin carburetors for, the EMS and GLE had fuel injection for, and the 900 Turbo produced. The only bodywork originally available was the three or five-door hatchback style, which was seen as more modern at the time. The EMS was only available with three doors while the automatic-equipped GLE was only offered with five. Saab's model years were generally introduced in August/September of the preceding year.
The Turbo had a different grille from the naturally aspirated models, which received a design with a hexagonal central element. For the 1980 model year, all versions received the sleeker turbo-style grille. The 1980 900 also received larger taillights rather than the earlier 99 units, as well as lower, adjustable headrests up front. 1980 was also the first year for a five-speed gearbox, originally only available in the EMS and the Turbo.
The four-door 900 sedan was introduced in Geneva 1980, as a result of dealer pressure. This introduction corresponded with the phase-out of the old Saab B engine in favor of the lighter Saab H engine. In the early 1980s, most 900s were produced in Trollhättan. However, coinciding with the production of the 9000, more 900's were produced elsewhere. The Valmet plant in Finland, referenced below under the [|900c], also produced regular 900s, a total of 238,898 examples. The plant in Arlöv, near Malmö, also produced some 900s. For 1981 all models except for the GL three-door received a considerable boost in equipment, as well as broader side trims, larger luggage compartments and fuel tanks. The spare tire was moved to underneath the floor, rather than standing upright in the luggage compartment. The GLE was now only available as a four-door sedan.
A big change for 1982 was the introduction of Saab's Automatic Performance Control, a.k.a. boost controller. The APC employed a knock sensor, allowing the engine to use different grades of gasoline without engine damage. Another new feature that year was the introduction of central locking doors. The long-wheelbase 900 CD was also introduced. Asbestos-free brakes were introduced in 1983, an industry first. The front discs were semi-metallic while the rears were made from silica. The GLE and EMS models gained a new central console, while the decor strips on the bumpers of all models were made wider. A new luxury package was made available on Turbo cars, while the EMS gained new wheels, a front spoiler, a sunroof, and a sport steering wheel. It was only available as a three-door hatchback in silver metallic. A new model also appeared during that year in Sweden — the five-door GLi, which used the fuel injected engine.
Model year 1984 saw the introduction of the 16-valve DOHC B202 engine in Europe. With a turbocharger and intercooler, it could produce 175 hp/129 kW in the Turbo 16 model. The Turbo 16 Aero had a body kit allowing the car to reach 210 km/h. A different grille and three-spoke steering wheel appeared across all models. The connection between the side strips and the bumpers was changed, EMS and Turbo hatchbacks received a black trim piece between the taillights, and the GLi began replacing the twin-carburetted GLs. At the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show a two-door sedan was shown; it went on sale in January 1984, initially only as a GLi. The two-door sedan was only ever built at the Valmet plant in Finland.
The dual-carb model was gone for 1985. Now, the base 900 had the single-carburetor engine, while the 900i added fuel injection. Two turbocharged models were offered: The 900 Turbo had the 8-valve engine, while the Turbo 16 had the 16-valve intercooled unit. Wheel trims and alloys were redesigned, and the Turbos also received chromed grilles. The 8-valve turbo received an intercooler for 1986, bringing up power to, while the 16-valve cars had hydraulic engine mounts. The eight-valve Turbo was also available as a two-door. Side marker lights at the rear of the front fenders were also added, while the 900i gained new interior fabrics. The new Saab-Scania badge was introduced, placed in the steering wheel, on the bonnet, and on the bootlid. 1986 also marked the introduction of the 16-valve 900i 16 and 900 convertible, both only for North America initially.

1987 facelift

A new grille, headlights, front sidelights and so-called "integrated" bumpers freshened the 900's look for 1987, though the sheet metal was largely unchanged. Several common parts for the 900 and 9000 were introduced for 1988 model year, including brakes and wheel hubs. This also meant that Saab finally abandoned the use of parking brakes which acted on the front wheels. Power steering was added on the 900i. The base 900, available with two or four doors, kept the pre-facelift appearance for 1987. Also new was the carburetted 900c. The Aero model received slightly bigger fender extensions so as to accommodate larger wheels, while the window trim was blacked out on all models. For 1988 catalyzed models of all fuel injected engines became available to European buyers, all with cruise control as standard to further help lower emissions. A water and oil cooled turbocharger was also introduced to improve the unit's durability.
In each of the seasons 1987 and 1988, there was a special 'one-make' race series, in the UK, called the Saab Turbo Mobil Challenge, sponsored by Saab Great Britain and Mobil. It was run by the BARC.
The eight-valve engines were phased out in 1989 and 1990, with the turbo versions having been removed in North American markets by the end of 1984; North American 900S models received the non-turbo 16-valve engine for 1986. A non-turbo 16-valve engine replaced the 8-valve FI unit in the 900i as well, while the carbureted engines were dropped. In Europe the eight-valve Turbo dropped out with the 1989 model year, with the limited production 900 T8 Special built to celebrate this. 805 were built for Sweden, featuring Aero trim and equipment. The 900i 16 arrived in Europe, with. Anti-lock brakes were introduced as well, and were standard on Turbo models. High-mounted rear brake lights appeared during 1988, and power of the catalyzed Turbo 16 Aero jumped from.
Larger pinion bearings were fitted to manual gearboxes for 1989 to improve their strength and reliability. For 1990 eight-valve engine were taken out of production while a low pressure turbo engine with was available in European markets. ABS brakes and driver's side airbags were standardized for all North American market cars beginning with the 1990 model year. In the spring of 1990 the naturally aspirated 900i 16 Cabriolet was added.
A 2.1 L engine was introduced for 1991. This engine was available in the United States until the end of the original 900, but in most of Europe, this engine was replaced a year later with the earlier B202 because of tax regulations in many European countries for engines with a displacement of more than 2000 cc. Front seats from the 9000 were standard from 1991 on and electronically adjustable ones were available as an option. Airbags became available as an option in Europe as well, while there was also an Aero version of the Cabriolet. The Saab 900 no longer offered the mesh wheels. There was also a change in the door locks, which carried over to the 900NG.
For 1992 there were mostly equipment adjustments, with ABS brakes finding their way into most of the lineup everywhere. 1993 brought no changes, and "classic" 900 production ended on 26 March 1993, with a new GM2900 platform-based 900 entering production shortly afterwards. The final classic convertibles were still sold as 1994 models, with the Special Edition commanding top dollar in the resale market even today.
In all, 908,817 Saab 900s were built, including 48,888 convertibles.

Convertible

In the mid-1980s, the president of Saab-Scania of America, Robert J. Sinclair, suggested a convertible version to increase sales. The first prototype was built by ASC, American Sunroof Company. Similarly, Lynx Motors International Ltd produced two "convertible" models, just prior to the official 1986 launch.
The Trollhättan design department, headed by Björn Envall, based its version on the 3-door hatchback while the Finnish plant used the sturdier 2-door version, which also looked better and was therefore selected for production. The initial production was not planned to be large but the orders kept coming in and a classic was born.
The new car was shown for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the autumn of 1983. The first prototype aroused enormous interest and in April 1984, Saab decided to put the car in production at Valmet Automotive in Finland. The production of the first 900 convertible started during the spring of 1986.
The convertible usually had a 16-valve turbocharged engine, some with intercooler, but it was also offered in certain markets with a fuel-injected 2.1 L naturally aspirated engine from 1991 on.
Influenced by General Motors, in 1994 the New Generation 900 SE, based on the Opel Vectra chassis, was introduced. While this design contained styling cues reminiscent of the classic 900, the GM 900 was fundamentally a different car. For many fans of the marque, the GM 900 marked the end of Saab's technology-driven design philosophy and, in their view, the beginning of the dilution of the Saab brand.
The cabriolet/convertible, however, was made on the 'classic' chassis for an additional year. This model is affectionately known as "The Goose", as, in some markets, the emblem on the back of the SE version reads "Saab 900 SE", which looks a bit like "GOOSE".
In US and Canadian markets, commemorative versions were produced for 1994 featuring special charcoal metallic "Nova Black" paint, a wood dash, black leather piping on the seats and higher-performing engines.

Engine development

Saab introduced a turbocharger in 1978 in its 99 Turbo with the B engine. This engine was also used in early 900 Turbo models.
For 1981 the B-engine was re-designed as the H engine, which was used through to 1993. Unlike the earlier version, the H-engine is very durable. Saab used Bosch-made mechanical K-Jetronic continuous fuel injection in the fuel injected and 8-valve turbocharged versions, and the Bosch LH 2.2, 2.4 and 2.4.2 and Lucas Automotive electronic fuel injection systems were used in the 16-valve versions. The 2.1 L inline-four 16-valve engine used the Bosch LH 2.4.2 EZK electronic ignition system with knock sensor. 1981 was also the first year that the Turbo was available with an automatic transmission. The four-speed manual option disappeared after this year.
What set the 900 Turbo apart from its turbo-equipped competitors, especially in the early- and mid-1980s, was the development and use of the Automatic Performance Control boost controller from 1982. The system allowed the engine to run at the limits of engine knocking. The system had a knock sensor attached to the intake side of the motor block and if knocking of any kind was present, the APC-system would decrease the charge pressure by opening a wastegate, a bypass to the exhaust. This enabled the use of various octane fuels and also made the use of the turbocharger safer for the engine. Some 900 Aeros, Carlssons and Commemorative Editions had special APC controllers in red and black enclosures that provided more boost and increased power to or without a catalytic converter.
At first, Saab used a Garrett turbocharger, which was oil-cooled. From 1988 through 1990, water-cooled T3s were fitted. In 1990, Saab fitted Mitsubishi TE-05 turbochargers in the SPG models only for the USA; for other countries, and for the US from 1991, all 900 Turbos were fitted with the TE-05. Also water-cooled, the TE-05 was slightly smaller than the Garrett T3s, providing improved throttle response and quicker spool-up. The TE-05's exhaust inlet flange utilizes a Garrett T3 pattern.

Engines

;Notes on specifications
The tire supplier varies by market and model year. In 1982, the US market was supplied with Pirelli Cinturato P6 195/60HR15 tires for the 900 turbo and Pirelli P8 185/65SR15 for the 900 and 900S. Aero and SPG models, as well as vehicles that were delivered from the factory equipped with red-box APC systems were shod with 195/60VR-15 tires. In 1990, the US market 900 was supplied with Pirelli P8 while the 160 HP 900 turbo 16-valve cars had Michelin MVX 185/65 HR-15 tires. In 1992, there were several tire suppliers and at least one US market brochure stated that the US distributor cannot allocate cars by tire manufacturer.

Special models

900 GLi Gold

The Gold special edition was available in the UK in 1981 as the first 900 4-door saloons; these had Turbo Spec Velour Interior finished in either blue or black with gold pinstripes, twin air vent bonnet and fuel gauge showing tank contents in litres.

900 Tjugofem

The Tjugofem Saloon was released in a batch of 300 to celebrate Saab's 25th year in the UK. These had the 1985cc 8-Valve engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection. Interior trim was blue turbo velour with a special gear knob with the car’s number. Exterior the model was a standard non-turbo apart from alloy wheels, Tjugofem pinstriping and Turbo style rear spoiler.

900c

900c was built in Uusikaupunki, Finland and in Arlöv, Sweden just outside Malmö, was a late 1980s carburetted model. It used an eight-valve B201 engine with a single carburetor producing and included power steering as standard equipment.

900 Aero or 900 SPG

In 1984, Saab introduced a high performance model known in Europe as the Aero. In North America, the model designation became SPG due to a model and trademark conflict with GM. The Aero/SPG was the first Saab to be delivered with the 16-valve turbo motor. The concept Aero/SPG vehicles were met with huge acceptance by the motoring community.
There were many differences between the regular 900 turbo and SPG, Most notable was the body kit that wrapped around the car and the specialty rims. The engine was tuned to put out higher hp, some have reported that the engines internals were different and that Saab used better materials to withstand the higher output. The SPG also had a lowered and stiffer suspension.
These prototypes were painted a mother of pearl white and had red leather interiors with matching Colorado Red dashboards. Unfortunately, in testing, the pearlescent white was found to be too difficult to repair in terms of color, and as such, this color was never offered to the public for sale. Only 29 of these prototype Aero/SPGs were manufactured and are considered quite rare by collector standards. The factory retained, and subsequently crushed, 22 of the white prototypes. The remaining seven vehicles were employed as press vehicles for the series launch. Four of the prototypes were sent to the United States. One was wrecked in 1993. The other three are owned by collectors in California, New York and Rhode Island. The three European SPG vehicles are also collector owned, one of which receiving a comprehensive restoration between 2007-2010. Hällberga bildemontering Sweden junked one in 1999.
In 1984, the first year of consumer production, the Aero/SPG was delivered in black and in silver. In Australia the 1985 silver models had a dark red interior, including full red leather. In the US the black cars were featured with tan leather interiors. In Canada and in the rest of the world, the cars were black with red leather interiors. In the US market the SPG was offered in; Black in 1985, Grey in 1986 - 1987, Grey, Black and Silver in 1988, Grey and Black in 1989, Red and Black in 1990 and Red, Black and Beryl Green in 1991. Production of the SPG was extremely limited and paint color availability varied by year. The final year of production was 1991 in the USA. In total, over the course of six years, 7,625 SPGs were built and imported to North America. In the rest of the world, Aeros were equally rare—especially those loaded with leather interiors, A/C and other luxuries considered standard by upscale North American consumers. The SPG is fondly regarded by car collectors and Saab enthusiasts.

900EP (900S)

The EP was a special Ecopower model for the Italian market. It uses a 16 valve low pressure turbo engine and has a pre-heated catalytic converter. It was sold outside Italy with a 900S badge.

900 CD

In 1977 Valmet Automotive had created an elongated executive model of the 99 combi coupé named Finlandia. With the introduction of the 900, the concept was transferred onto the new chassis. The Finlandia was 20 cm longer than standard, by adding 10 cm to both front and rear doors, but only the rear leg room was larger. The idea behind the car was to produce an executive car which would appeal to the Nordic market as an option to big German and US sedans. The first cars were sold as the Saab 900 Finlandia. These cars made between 1979 and 1982 were combi coupés, and did not have the 'CD' designation. Very few examples of these early models were exported. After the more representable 4-door sedan was introduced, the CD designation replaced the nickname and the Swedish Saab headquarters started to officially offer the car for export. The 900 CD was made at the Valmet Automotive factory in Uusikaupunki, Finland. At least in the domestic market the cars were essentially built to the buyers wishes. The list of optional extras for the CD included a leather interior, reading lights, rear blinds, footrests, and even an in-car telephone. However, due to the cars special nature and demanding customer base, the trim and technical specifications of some examples can be unique. The Uusikaupunki factory clearly had high aspirations for the car. Valmet Automotive even developed a prototype of an even longer, seven seat limousine as a concept car of an official state car. These aspirations were moderately met, although the Finnish government didn't actually ever commission Saab to build such a car, the Saab 900CD was favoured as an official executive vehicle for several local municipalities such as The City of Oulu. And by several larger corporations in the wood and paper industry and electronics manufacture industry. It was also used by the Finnish government as the official state car of the Prime Minister during The Second Government of Mauno Koivisto between 1979 – 1982. He was particularly fond of its performance as it was equipped with a turbocharged engine, and he could thus out-run his bodyguards Saab 900's which were naturally aspirated. In total 579 cars were built between 1979 and 1986.

900 Springtime in Sweden SIS

In 1988, Saab commissioned 288 special convertibles, one for each of its United States dealers, as part of the 1988 Dealer Meeting in Sweden. Dubbed the Springtime in Sweden, or "SiS" model these cars are differentiated by their Aero/SPG-like bodywork and 3-spoke wheels. Each car was painted black, with buffalo grey leather interiors and black convertible roofs. Each car was marked with a special "Springtime in Sweden" emblem that was attached to the lower left of the glove box door. The emblems were all identical and are not serialized. All were Turbo models. Of the 288 built, four were automatics and the remaining 284 had 5-speed manual transmissions. Emblems on the exterior body were deleted in the scheme of the SPG, with only the word Saab and the Saab-Scania roundel on the trunk appearing on the car. The car was fitted with the standard Saab grille for the period, but did not feature the miniature "turbo emblem." The SPG suspension was not fitted, and aside from the SPG body fairings and dash emblem, the SIS is identical to a standard 1988 900 Turbo Convertible in the black/grey color combination. The cars were sold, one to each dealer, however some dealers used the opportunity to trade their SiS convertible with other dealers in an effort to get other car models for sale. Contrary to popular belief, the SIS was not given to the dealers for free. Dealers paid for their own car, the invoice price even reflected the increased cost of the SPG bodywork. Each dealer did however receive an Orrefors crystal vase, engraved with the Saab-Scania logo, packed in the trunk when the SIS was delivered stateside as a surprise gift. Please note: Some individuals in an attempt to portray provenance of their vehicles, point to a sticker behind the driver side door card, that reads, in part, "AERO" and "CABRIO". This sticker was at one time affixed to ALL c900 convertibles and does not designate the vehicle as being of the SIS series. The only true/false indicator of an SIS is the inclusion of the glove box badge and/or the original window sticker.

900 Enduro

The Enduro was a special version of the 1980 900 Turbo assembled by Saab Scania Australia Pty. Ltd.; only eleven 900 Enduros were made along with a full body kit as a spare. Ken Matthews Prestige were originally commissioned by Saab Australia to oversee the design and implementation of the overall engineering package, with the body modifications themselves designed and built by Purvis Cars of "Eureka" fame.
The package consisted of large fibreglass wheel arches to accommodate the extra track width front and rear, front air dam and rear fiberglass spoiler fully wider than normal 900 Turbo of that year. Extra gauges were mounted where the radio usually was. The radio was moved to a new lower centre console that was not fitted to the 1980 model as standard. It was Eurovox MCC-9090R cassette player and radio with Voxson VX-89 graphic equaliser powering 6 speakers - 2x4" full range front, 2x1" dome tweeter overhead and 2x6" tri-axial rear. Apart from this, the car had a standard turbo version interior with green seats and triangular center steering wheel.
The cars were fitted with either gold or black-centred Simmons 'P-4' 3-piece composite alloy 7.5x15" wheels with polished lip. The overall outside edge-to-edge distance is wider at the front and at the rear over a 900 Turbo of the day - mainly to decrease the roll centre height and improve turn-in response. Tyres were 225/50VR15 Pirelli Cinturato P7 units in both the front and rear. Spare wheel was a full size steel rim 5x15" with Michelin 175/70HR15 tyre.
Suspension was improved with 290 mm by 17 mm 368 lb 7.1 turn springs up front and 300 mm by 16 mm 484 lb 9 turn springs at the rear. Steering caster was set to +2.25 deg +/-.25 deg, camber to -1.75 deg +/-.25 deg and toe in was 2.5 mm +/- 0.5 mm.
To increase performance, the waste gate was set at 17 psi, which delivered a claimed from its 8-valve B201 slant-4 engine. Upstream water injection came standard.
Paint was a 2-pack Dulux Acran enamel and came in at least four known colours: 137B "Aquamarine Blue Metallic" and a very light green referred to as 152G "Marble White". There was at least one Enduro painted in 121B "Solar Red" and a fourth in 148B "Acacia Green Metallic". The hood, side window frames and rear deck were painted in Dulux GT Satin Black. Large "ENDURO" stripes were emblazoned on the hood, the rear deck and along both sides at sill level, although not all vehicles were treated to the "Enduro" hood graphics.
None of the cars are known to be ever exported from Australia, but it's believed that no more than 6 examples survived to this day, with only 3 of them actually known. 2 of those were already extensively modified over the years, one awaiting full restoration. Some of the cars had the wheel centre replaced from Simmons P-4 to deeper dish V-4 version. There is also known a "half-Enduro" car, now owned by a real Enduro owner. The Saab dealer in Adelaide did the same Enduro fiberglass bodykit for their showcar and advertised the conversion option for $5000. This was quickly put to an end as the dealer chose not to risk his dealership agreement with Saab.

900 Lux

The Lux was a special model available 1983 and 1984. It came in a two-tone paint, usually Slate Blue metallic on top and silver below.

900 SE

The SE model was produced in May 1990 and came with 5-doors Iridium Blue with blue pinstripes down the sides. The car also featured multi-spoke alloys, full electrics, grey leather seats, and wood effect as standard. Only 300 were originally made for the UK market, with a choice of either a 2.0L N/A engine or 2.0L LPT version. Later more SE versions were made, e.g. the 3-door LPT 900 SE Aero. However, these were not part of the original limited run.

900 Carlsson

The Carlsson was a special edition 900 produced in honour of Erik Carlsson, of which only 600 examples were sold in the three years it was in production and only available in the UK. It is thought by most that there were only 200 examples sold but in fact there were 200 examples sold for each of those three years. So it would be more probable that there are 200 examples of each of the three colours, which were, Black, White and Red. All 900 Carlssons were 3-door hatchbacks, had a body coloured AirFlow body kit, were fitted with twin chrome exhausts, whaletail rear spoiler and were powered by the 1,985 cc turbocharged engine with an upgraded APC producing. The 900 Carlsson was also equipped with the "Type 8" primary gear set.

1993 and 1994 Commemorative Editions

314 Commemorative Edition 900 Turbo 3-door Hatchback Coupés were made for the U.S. market in 1993. All the cars were painted solid black with a tan leather interior and had 5-speed manual transmissions. The horsepower was increased to by outfitting the cars with the "red box" APC controller, a 2.8-bar fuel pressure regulator, and a distributor with enhanced vacuum advance. The cars rode on the SPG suspension. The interior was further embellished by a walnut dash facia and a leather gear knob and gaiter. The wheels were 15" directionals painted medium-gray metallic units with a polished lip. Each Commemorative Edition was shipped with a small brass plaque indicating its number in the series. The plaques were serialized to indicate its number out of 325. However, only 314 were actually built. In addition, 15 identically equipped cars were shipped to Canada, and were equipped with metric speedometer instruments.
500 Commemorative Edition 900T convertibles were delivered to the U.S. market in 1994. They were the last 500 classic 900 convertibles to be built. They had the same performance modifications as the 1993 Commemorative Edition vehicles with the exception of the lower SPG suspension. They all had the 5-speed manual transmission, and came with the same uniquely styled wheels, walnut dash facia, and leather gear knob and gaiter. The tan leather interior was further enhanced with black piping, which was exclusive to this model. The cars were all painted Nova Black Metallic and had tan canvas tops. 500 identically equipped cars were shipped to Canada but have metric instruments. The 1994 CE vehicles did not have a plaque designating or celebrating the series. The VIN numbers do however run sequentially which, along with the Ruby, were the only Saab special edition series to do so.

900 Ruby

Only available in the UK, the Ruby had the 'Carlsson' engine but no body kit. All were in 'Ruby' Red and can be distinguished from other 900s by the colour-coded bumpers and grey alloy wheels. They also had the unique air-conditioned interior of buffalo leather with Zegna pure wool inserts in the seats and door panels. There were 150 examples and were the last classic style 900s sold in the UK.

Swedish Special Edition

15 rarer LHD "Ruby" versions were also produced. 8 were made available to the Swedish market, known as the "Swedish Special Edition" and the rest were scattered in Europe. They were identical to the UK spec but had a more refined lower dash or knee guard and electric front seats.

Conversions

Some Saab dealers made special models. Saab Wimbledon made the Sprint and the Sport. The Sprint had a special body kit, lower, stiffer springs, and Pirelli Cinturato P7 on 7"x16" wheels. It also came with an intercooler, full colour-coding and 3-spoke leather steering wheel. The Sport had alloy wheels, full colour-coding and spoilers, uprated suspension, 3-spoke leather steering wheel, Clarion stereo and an electric aerial. Heuschmid GmbH offered options such as tuning, intercooler, suspensions tweaking and custom alloy wheels. EIA Motors of France made a series of 100 naturally aspirated 16 valve tuned to. Lynx Motors in the UK made a short run conversion of the two-door 900 shell to a convertible. The Winchester edition was a 4-door slate blue sedan and blue velour interior and wood trims.
Saab A.I.M of the Netherlands made two special models. The Red Arrow: a red 900 Turbo 8V two-door with a grey AirFlow body kit and a whale tail spoiler. 150 were made, 100 with whale tail and SuperInca wheels and 50 without whaletail and with 15-spoke Turbo85 wheels instead. Tan cloth interior with Carlsson steering wheel, bit manual mirrors, window and lacking air-conditioning. And the Silver Arrow : Metallic silver 900 Turbo 8V sedan with special red/anthracite side striping, wooden four-spoke steering wheel and gear knob, aubergine velvet interior, with only manual windows and mirrors. The engine featured an intercooler and produced . 200 Silver Arrows were made. Both Arrows have a special plate on the dashboard with a unique number 1-150 and 1-200 and also nice logo on the sides of the hood - above the fenders and on the back. It is however believed that none of Arrows actually reached planned numbers for the limited production run - highest Red known is 138, Silver is 186. There are also few convertible versions styled as the Red Arrow, with no special version designated to it. Red Arrow is sometimes referred as "poor man's Carlsson" because while using the same body kit, it was not colour-coded, only equipped with tan velour interior instead of leather and used the outdated 8-valve turbo engine - this was later described as an attempt of the dealer to make last 8-valve versions appealing and somewhat special to make some profit. This was similar to the Swedish 900 T8 Special.

Saab 900 NG (1994-1998)

The second or 'new' generation Saab 900 was built on GM's GM2900 platform as a replacement for the "classic" first-generation Saab 900. This all-new 900 was produced in 1994 through 1998 model years. In mid-1998 it received over 1100 individual improvements, and was renamed the Saab 9-3.

Variants

Variants included 900i, S and SE models in three-door, five-door and convertible body styles. For 1997 and 1998 only, there was also a Saab 900 Talladega, after a record-breaking endurance test in 1996, on the Talladega Superspeedway.
Trim levels in "S" and "SE" models varied greatly in the models although in general SE models included Automatic Climate Control, leather interiors, wood-trimmed dashboards, and 16" wheels.
Depending on market, the NG900 was available with a choice of 2.0 L or 2.3 L Saab 16-valve DOHC engines in naturally aspirated or turbocharged form, as well as a 2.5 L version of GM's European 54° V6 engine. Engine management for the turbos was by Saab Trionic 5 with Direct Ignition and Automatic Performance Control, and for non-turbos by Bosch Motronic fuel injection. A distributor-operated ignition system was provided for naturally aspirated engines in some markets.
In contrast to the 'classic' Saab 900 with its longitudinally mounted engine and front-hinged hood, the NG900 had a more-common transversely mounted engine with rear-hinged hood.
The convertible variant was introduced in 1995. Convertibles were produced at the Valmet plant in Finland. Convertibles were available in both "S" and "SE" trim levels.

Sensonic

The 'Sensonic' clutch variant provided a manual gear lever as in a standard manual transmission car but omitted the clutch pedal in favor of electronics which could control the clutch faster than an average driver, automating the manual transmission.
When a driver started to move the gear shift knob/gear selector lever, a computer-controlled actuator operated the clutch. With the car in gear but stationary, the clutch was released only when the throttle was applied. If neither brake nor gas pedal was depressed, a warning tone sounded and a message flashed on the on-board display, and if no action was taken after 7 seconds, the engine was shut off.
Printed in error, a "Hill Start" function for Sensonic-equipped cars was intended to assist in getting underway on hills to prevent rolling forwards or backwards. However, this feature was not implemented on any production unit.
The 'Sensonic' clutch ceased production when the 900 model was replaced in 1998.

Saab Information Display

The NG900 introduced the Saab Information Display, or SID, which gave the driver real-time information while driving, such as fuel efficiency and outside temperature. Base specification cars had a digital clock in place of the SID and a non-digital instrument panel with a mechanical odometer. The SID also controls other vehicle components, including but not limited to audible warnings for turn signals and the vehicle's horn.

NG engines

One Saab innovation, inspired by the company's roots in aeronautics, was the 'Black Panel' feature available in classic models through the turn of the panel dimming knob, and subsequently available, through the touch of a button on the SID digital panel, which extinguished most instrument panel lights, to eliminate distraction from dash lights during night driving. While active, the SID activated feature permitted darkened instruments to re-illuminate themselves when they required driver attention — if for example, the engine speed increased alarmingly or if the fuel level should drop below. This feature was later renamed 'Night Panel' in Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 models. In the later Night Panel version, the speedometer is only illuminated up to the 87 mph/140 km/h mark. The remainder of the scale will only be illuminated if the speed of the car exceeds 84 mph/135 km/h.

900i

Under the leadership of General Motors, Saab was re-branded as a luxury maker. This meant that the NG900 would be positioned, and priced, above the Opel Vectra, with which it shared its chassis platform. It would also make the bottom-of-the-range 900i more expensive than the Vectra. This led to cost-reduction measures for the 900i. The 900i would lose its rear-window wiper, the exclusive Saab Information Display, and would utilize a different instrument layout with a mechanical odometer instead of a digital one, first versions were even lacking tachometer. The NG900i would also lose its rear spoiler. Some 900i was later equipped with a standard instrument cluster and the basic SID.
The 900i was only available in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan as a three-door or a five-door with a choice of a 2.0 or 2.3 L engine. It did not sell very well in the UK and Australia, where the S and SE models were popular with Saab drivers. It was, however, popular as a cheaper alternative to the S and SE models.

Special models and limited editions

Below are few special limited versions of NG900 derived from 900 SE 2.0 Turbo with that are specific to some countries, as some local dealer produced them, or specific to the tuner that made them when ordered by dealers or Saab itself. None of them is recognizable by the VIN, all are decoded as a standard 900 SE.

R900

1996 - Germany. R900 was the first special model of NG900, produced as a civil version of Group A race car for SAAB Germany by a tuner Uli Weinmann in Upper Franconia as an upgraded 900 SE Coupe. It was limited to 200 pieces, with some special features.
In the interior, front seats only were replaced by foldable fully leather Recaro sport seats, dashboard fascia was covered by carbon fiber and sporty metal pedals were added.
The exterior was painted pearl black metallic with R900 decals on the rear hatch, but also front fenders above turn signal lights. Color-coded mirror covers and front/rear spoilers by Zender were added, which later found their way to other limited editions and the Talladega version as a standard.
The suspension was lowered by 30 mm for exceptional handling, and 3-inch diameter stainless steel exhaust was added to provide some sporty sound. 6-spoke 17" ATS Type 10 wheels in matte silver used for NG900 first time approved 245/35 tires, or optional 225/45 16" version approved as well, described on a sticker on the driver's side B column.
The performance was left unchanged at, as manual, automatic, and also Sensonic transmissions were used. Later some R900 cars were upgraded by Hirsch Performance to Stage 1, producing and 310 N⋅m with a manual or 275 N⋅m with an automatic transmission. Acceleration from 0–100 km/h was reduced by this from 8 to 7.4 seconds for automatics and from 9.5 to 9 seconds for manual-equipped cars. While no hardware was actually replaced on the car, this ECU modification cost around 2000 CHF at the time.
It is believed that R900 influenced the SVO project and later the Viggen model development. Many of those cars no longer exist, however, there is a discussion board that tries to keep track of some 30 cars that remained registered in Germany, but there are known examples in the Czech Republic, Baltic countries, and even Iceland.

SUN Beach

1996/1997 - Switzerland. SUN Beach by RINSPEED was produced for Swiss importer Scancars, limited to only 70 pieces. 900 SE Convertible was used as a base and again, changes were mostly cosmetic, since the performance was the same at. Price was set to 70 000 CHF at the time.
Most changes were done in the interior. All headrests were in turquoise color with the SUN Beach logo embroidered. Turquoise carbon fiber trim could be found on dashboard fascia, above the glove box, on-air vents, over the SID, radio, ashtray but also on the windows controls, even on door handles. The shifter lever gaiter and knob were also finished in Turquoise. Armrest was added to the equipment.
The exterior was painted in Neptune Turquoise Metallic color with color-coded front Zender spoiler and rearview mirrors, it was pearl effect paint shimmering between purple and green or blue. The car was lowered by 30 mm using Eibach springs and yellow Koni shock absorbers. To take further advantage of upgraded suspension, and also add to the look and style, chrome versions of wider 5-spoke 16" Moda M1 by BBS wheels were used with 225/45 tires. Since wide tires are not optimal in winter conditions, each original buyer also received a set of original 16" alloy wheels, which were fitted with 205/50 winter tires. Many of these cars are known to be equipped with Sensonic transmission.
Apart from headrests, the SUN Beach logo was also on a sticker below the outer right rear light and just above the strip on the rear quarter body panel by the door gap. It was on the wheels hubcaps too. These models are now registered in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and even Norway.

Aero

1996/1997 - Italy. There is no official Aero version of the NG900 compared to 9000, 9-3, or 9-5. This special version was created by the SIDAUTO dealership, then belonging to Odoardo Pagani. The actual production number of such versions is unknown, it is believed to be originally set on 200, while it is also known that not all body kits were used. No upgrades were done to the performance as well, apart from sports suspension, everything stayed the same as 900SE / 900 Talladega. All are equipped with the manual transmission, as the automatic was lacking the true sportiness.
Car was only made as a Coupe, in silver metallic or solid black, while silver is believed to be far more common. Both color versions, however, used that Odoardo grey body kit, which is a tribute to the Classic 900 SPG / Aero with a similar AirFlow body kit. Therefore, also front and rear bumpers are grey. The front bumper and rear hatch had Zender spoilers, both were color-coded together with mirrors. Metallic silver wheels were used of rather standard SAAB 3-spoke design, known from 9000 Aero version, made by RONAL as SuperAero 16" running also standard 205/50 tires. In the interior, standard black leather seats were used, some of them perforated. The same leather was used on door card inserts. Other than the carbon fiber trim on the dashboard, the interior was also standard.
The body kit consisted of a side skirt, which was one piece together with front and rear fender panels and a separate door panel. There was a SAAB name logo inserted in front fender panel, below the turn signal light. This version actually carried Aero badge, placed after the 900 model designation on the rear hatch. Some of the body kits produced were never mounted on the Aero version and were used by individuals on Talladega Coupe, R900, or even Viggen and 93 Convertible models. Last such body kits were sold as late as 2004. Not many of NG900 Aero models are still registered, for example, a handful of silver and black are known to still be in Italy, two black are in Poland, two black also in Sweden, few silver ones in the Czech Republic, one black is also in Belgium, Slovakia, and Latvia.

Mellow Yellow

1997 - SAAB Europe version. Presumably, 350 yellow SAAB NG900 Convertible models were made, of which 32 were exported as US models. Of the rest, 210 were converted to the limited edition by Rinspeed. Many sources claim there were only 150, which is known to be untrue due to special reason. An unusual accessory was supplied - wristwatch MARK XII of the Swiss brand IWC. Of course, the automatic watch was similar in appearance to the convertible. The case and dial were titanium-colored, the leather strap lights up in a rich yellow.
The watch model was slightly different than standard MARK XII, for example instead of the words "MARK XII AUTOMATIC" the watch bore the words "SAAB AUTOMATIC". It was made in a limited number of 210 pieces. The price of the watch is now similar or even higher than the car itself. At the time of release, the car with a wristwatch as a gift accessory cost around 74 000 DM.
The car itself is mostly a standard NG900, painted in Monte Carlo yellow solid color as a tribute to much liked Classic 900 Convertible of the same color. In addition to that, it had some details in dark grey, or rather metallic titanium, like stripes on the bumpers or seat belt reel dome cover. The same color was used on the 3-spoke 17" Antera 145 wheels, with 215/40 tires, utilizing the sport suspension. There was also sporty chrome round exhaust tip in the back. The performance was again the same as the standard 900 SE Turbo, with. Apart from above mentioned special versions, there was no spoiler used on the front or the back here. Half of the cars were supposedly equipped with manual transmissions, while the other half were automatics. Sensonic was no longer used.
Mellow Yellow by Rinspeed logo was on hubcaps of the wheels, under the outer rear left light, on the seat belt reel dome but also in the center of the gauge cluster, where all illumination was yellow instead of the original green.
The only other change in the interior is metallic titanium trim over the SID, radio and climate controls, as well as over the windows controller. Many of those cars are still registered across Europe, some are known to be heavily tuned. Out of all mentioned, it is probably the best known NG900 special version amongst the Saab community.

Awards and achievements

1998
1996
1995
1993 and 1994
In January 2010 General Motors confirmed it was selling the intellectual property rights of the New Generation 900 along with the pre-2010 Saab 9-5 and pre-2002 Saab 9-3 to the Beijing Automotive Group for US$197 million. The package included three vehicle platforms, two transmission systems, and two engine systems.