Thirty years ago, Saab chose the Frankfurt auto show to unveil a new
performance model. That car was the Saab 99 Turbo, Saab's first
attempt at using turbocharging to pump up engine performance, and it
gave the little hatchback more than 140 horsepower. Limited color
choices for the 99 Turbo and its successor, the 900 Turbo, meant the
cars became known as the "Black Turbos."
Ever since, the Swedes have used turbocharging to boost performance
throughout their model range, and Saab has emerged as GM's center of
expertise for boost. So it's fitting that Saab would use this year's
Frankfurt show to pay homage to the cars that started it all.
Read and image full here
http://www.zone-car.com/?2008-saab-turbo-x.php
Roger Blake - 08 Oct 2007 14:22 GMT
> throughout their model range, and Saab has emerged as GM's center of
> expertise for boost. So it's fitting that Saab would use this year's
> Frankfurt show to pay homage to the cars that started it all.
Actually while the 99 was Saab's first turbocharged car, the technique
was used by other manufacturers much earlier. GM was selling turbocharged
cars back in the early 1960s.

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hls - 08 Oct 2007 20:28 GMT
>> throughout their model range, and Saab has emerged as GM's center of
>> expertise for boost. So it's fitting that Saab would use this year's
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> was used by other manufacturers much earlier. GM was selling turbocharged
> cars back in the early 1960s.
Was the Corvair their first? I can't remember one before that.
Roger Blake - 09 Oct 2007 05:31 GMT
> Was the Corvair their first? I can't remember one before that.
I think they had an Oldsmobile model that went on sale with a turbocharger
a few months before the Corvair. This was around 1962 as I recall. People
sometimes forget that the early 1960s actually saw a lot of technological
innovation from Detroit.

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