Saab Shows Hotter BioPower at LA

Saab's ethanol-fueled BioPower models are a hit in Europe. In Sweden, for instance, the 9-5 2.0t BioPower currently accounts for 70 percent of all 9-5 sales. This model's 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine raises power from 150 to 180 bhp when running on E85 - a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline - without raising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. At this month's Greater Los Angeles Auto Show Saab unveiled the 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept, an even more powerful BioPower version of its top-of-the-line 2.3-liter, 9-5 Aero model. Significantly, the concept hints at a potential BioPower model for the power-hungry North American market.

Like the smaller 2.0-liter, the 2.3-liter engine makes more power when running on E85 than on gasoline because ethanol's higher octane rating allows the ignition timing to be advanced without harming the engine. Horsepower is up nearly 20 percent - to 310 from an already impressive 260 - and torque is improved by 25 percent to 325 lbs-ft. More power means better acceleration; Saab expects zero to 60 mph times to drop to under 6 seconds from the gasoline model's 6.9 seconds. Saab's Trionic engine management system automatically adapts to E85 and/or gasoline fuel in any combination. With a reinvigorated push for ethanol coming from General Motors - Saab's parent company - and a limited but growing infrastructure already established in the U.S., a stateside BioPower introduction in the near future is a distinct possibility.