20 - Friday, March 31, 1989 - North “hore News

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SUNDAY - WEDNE:

THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

SDAY + FRIDAY

WHEN IT was ail over, the three Saab cars had set two
world and 21 international records for speed and distance —
a remarkable feat for standard production cars.

Three Saab 9000 Turbo sedans,
picked at random from Saab’s
tegular production line, were driv-
en at full throttle for 20 days and
nights, achieving speeds of 240
km/h.

The test, dubbed The long Run,
was held fast October at Talladega
Alabama‘s International Motor
Speedway. With fuel stops, driver
changes and servicing factored in,
the fastest car averaged 213.299
km/h over 100,000 km to establish
a new world record for standard
production cars.

Fach car lapped the trioval
Talladega track 23,500 times — a
distance equal to 2% laps around
the earth at the equator.

The test was unique in that The
Long Run marks the first time a
world record has ever been set by a
standard production car. These
Saab 9000s were submitted to the
most strenuous endurance and
quality control test ever — @ Lest
no other car manufacturer has ever
publicly attempted.

But the test was not run just to
set world records.

“The main purpose was to

gather technical experience for the
further development of Saab
cars,’” said Olle Granlund, project
leader for The Long Run.

**Among other things we have
been able to show the performance
and consistency of a modern tur-
bocharged passenger car under the
most severe conditions. | must say
that our accomplishment is a trib-
ute to the high state of automotive
technology embodied in the Saab
cars."

“Whar the Long Run was all
about,” said Sten Lundin, presi-
dent of Saab-Scania Canada Inc.,
“‘was endurance —- the chance to
show that the Saab 9000 aould go
the distance, and more important-
ly, was that all three cars finished
the run...in absolutely remarkably
good condition."”

According to Lundin, another
important fact is that the reliability
and durability shown by these
Long Run cars is the same that is
available in the 1988 Saab 9000
Turbos and 9000s that Saab is im-
porting into Canada.

“‘Coupled to the reliability and
performance of the Saab 9000, the
introduction of the ABS ¢ 3,

- . aa -
OPTIONS FOR the 1988 Saab 9000S, one of the roomiest imports on the North American market, inciude leather upholstery, fog lights and four-speed automstic transmission.

High state of automotive
technology in Saab 9000s

tad

THE 1988 Saab 900S four-door is a well-equipped European performance sedan, featuring deluxe veloar ap-
holistery, tinted windows, electronic cruise control and a fuel-efficient, naturady-aspirated 16-valve cagine.

Saab's unique anti-lock brake
system for the 1988 model year,
maintains the 9000's position as
one of the most advanced perfor-

mance sedans imported into
Canada today,"’ he said.
At Saab, high performance does

not mean sacrificing comfort. The

co

9000 series cars still provide more
interior and cargo space than ary
other high-performance car in
North America.

see page '\25

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