Saab Vehicles

Overview

    Saab was originally a Swedish aerospace concern, and in fact the name was originally an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget. It began manufacturing automobiles in 1947, in a new division called Saab Automobile. Originally independent, Saab was bought in two phases during the 1990s by General Motors. Just like Volvo, Saab prided itself on safety, but cultivated a unique image with its styling, technical innovation, and sporty yet staid vision. For many years, the most common descriptor of Saab automobiles was "quirky." An early proponent of turbocharging, Saab put turbocharged engines into most of its cars, in a wide variety of engine configurations such as the V-4. They also used 2-stroke engines for many years, despite the widespread acceptance of 4-stroke motors. Saab also was an early adopter of front-wheel drive to mainstream sedans, which were found to be well-suited to snowy climes. They were also pioneers of heated and ventilated seats, cabin air filters, active head restraints, seatbelt pretensioners, direct ignition, and side-impact door beams. Saab has long been associated with hatchback sedans, although they built many conventional sedans and wagons as well. One of the most universal features of Saab vehicles is the center console ignition switch, located to prevent the driver's knee from striking the key during a frontal impact. Safe, but quirky.

CARS

CROSSOVER VEHICLES

SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES