SAAB 9000 V8
Posted: 04 Apr 2010, 16:25Sadly, this never came to be but some test engines and a fully functioning prototype was build.
The Saab engineers in Sweden had said that making a V8 fit the engine bay of the 9000 was impossible. The people at Uusikaupunki didn't buy it and in 1988 produced a prototype of a V8 engine by combining two 4 cylinder Saab engines. The 4 litre Valmet TF (Twin Four) V8 engine put out almost 300 horsepower and it was mounted sideways under the bonnet of a Saab 9000. No body modification was necessary, the engine fit right in.
The engineers at the factory said that the V8 9000 was "a hoot to drive". This is evidently backed up by the several speeding tickets that were gathered during the road tests.
Unfortunately GM didn't find it necessary to further develope the V8 as they already had a lineup of V6 engines that Saab could use. The prototype 9000 is currently on display at the Uusikaupunki Saab Museum.
The Saab engineers in Sweden had said that making a V8 fit the engine bay of the 9000 was impossible. The people at Uusikaupunki didn't buy it and in 1988 produced a prototype of a V8 engine by combining two 4 cylinder Saab engines. The 4 litre Valmet TF (Twin Four) V8 engine put out almost 300 horsepower and it was mounted sideways under the bonnet of a Saab 9000. No body modification was necessary, the engine fit right in.
The engineers at the factory said that the V8 9000 was "a hoot to drive". This is evidently backed up by the several speeding tickets that were gathered during the road tests.
Unfortunately GM didn't find it necessary to further develope the V8 as they already had a lineup of V6 engines that Saab could use. The prototype 9000 is currently on display at the Uusikaupunki Saab Museum.