Saab 90
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Uusikaupunki (Nystad) , Finland |
| Products | Saab 90 (assembled) |
The Saab 90 was a family car model produced by Saab between September 1984 and 1987. Assembly took place in Uusikaupunki (Nystad), Finland, at the plant operated by the joint venture known as Saab-Valmet, a collaboration with Finnish company Valmet.[1] Essentially, the Saab 90 was an evolution of the Saab 99, combining the front section of the latter with the rear portion of a Saab 900 sedan. Although its construction was simpler than that of the Saab 99, it still demanded more labor compared to the more contemporary Saab 900.[2]
History
Following the conclusion of the Saab 96 production run in 1980, Sten Wennlo, who led Saab's passenger car division, faced considerable pressure to develop a new entry-level vehicle tailored for the European market. Concurrently, concerns arose within Saab-Valmet about the future of the Saab 99, given that its entire manufacturing process was based in Nystad. The initial approach from Saab-Valmet in 1983 involved merging the front end of a Saab 900 with the rear end of a Saab 99. Upon reviewing this concept, Wennlo acknowledged its merit but felt that it resembled the Saab 900 too closely.[3]
Wennlo proposed reversing this design approach and in March of 1984 commissioned Rony Lutz, then an illustrator at Saab, to digitally combine images showing the front section of a Saab 99 with the rear of a Saab 900 sedan.
Following this visualization, sheet metal workers at Saab-Valmet in Nystad physically joined two body shells in this manner. Only after this step was the prototype presented to Björn Envall, who was serving as Saab's design manager at that time.
The decision to rename the model from "99" to "90" was motivated by a desire for greater alignment with existing models such as the Saab 900 and the newly introduced Saab 9000.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Model overview
The Saab 90, introduced in 1985, was exclusively offered as a two-door sedan, equipped with the 2.0-litre Saab H engine delivering 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp).
Customers could choose between four- and five-speed manual transmission options. The five-speed variant featured closer gear ratios, aerodynamic front and rear spoilers, and lower profile tires.[1] Additionally, the transmission was updated, and with the redesigned rear section, the fuel tank capacity increased along with the luggage space expanding from 320 to 377 liters. The vehicle also adopted a modern rear-wheel suspension system that reduced production costs.
Valve seats were hardened to enable operation on unleaded fuel. Improvements included a new starter motor, and the steering wheel position was adjusted to be more upright compared to the Saab 99's design.
In 1986, the model received subtle styling updates such as an optional radio and side-mounted turn indicators. The four-speed version gained wider 5.5-inch rims and upgraded shock absorbers.[4]
For 1987, modifications were made to the Zenith carburettor to facilitate easier cold starts.
Saab 90 Lumikko
A special edition called Saab 90 Lumikko[lower-alpha 1] was produced exclusively for Finland. Finnish company Scan-Auto assembled ten units in 1985. This edition featured Saab’s Airflow kit, a spoiler, wheels from the Saab 900 Aero, a sunroof, a center console with additional gauges, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and factory-installed Saab speakers. All exterior components including rims, bumpers, grille, side mirrors, spoiler, and door handles were painted white. No engine modifications were applied.[3]
All ten 90 Lumikkos participated in Scan-Auto’s 20th anniversary event held in Tampere during November 1985 and took part in the city parade.[3]
Currently, only three functioning 90 Lumikkos remain, all owned by the Finnish Saab club.[5]
Sales, reception and legacy
A total of 25,378 Saab 90 units were produced. Sales were confined to select European markets. Manufacturing was exclusively handled by Valmet Automotive in Nystad, Finland.
Approximately 10,000 vehicles were sold within Sweden. Template:Fix/category[citation needed] In the Netherlands, a total of 1,154 units were distributed: 446 in 1985, 451 in 1986, and 257 in 1987.[6] Germany received around 600 units during its production run.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Due to declining sales figures, investing in fitting a catalytic converter was deemed unfeasible. Consequently, production ceased after the final model year of 1987. The last vehicle rolled off the assembly line on July 1st and was promptly delivered to the Saab museum located in Trollhättan.[2]
Notes
- ↑ Lumikko means least weasel (Mustela nivalis) in Finnish, also known as Snow weasel across Scandinavia.
References
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