Delta II engineered accept hybrid engines from day one

[Flybrian]

SAAB 9-1 Hybrid Available From Day One
Delta II first GM platform designed to accomodate hybird from the start

Link to Original Article @ TrollhattenSAAB

According to information from GM, the new Saab 9-1 will be available as a hybrid from day one. The new smaller Saab goes into production after 2010. Saab in Trollhättan now wants all GM hybrid cars in Europe.

According to auto industry paper Automobilwoche, GM’s new Delta platform is being developed to accept a hybrid powertrain. The paper cites sources inside GM who state that both Opel Astra and Saab 9-1 from day one will be available as hybrids. This is especially important for the US market, where Saab is marketed under it’s own brand name while Opel Astra is marketed within the Saturn brand.

The Trollhättan plant is one of four plants in Europe to produce the smaller GM cars developed on the Delta platform. The others are located in the UK, Germany and Poland. GM has decided to invest about 4 billion USD to adapt the plants for the new platform.

There is no information yet about the breakdown of the investment between the factories, but either way most of it will be used to make production of hybrids possible. There is a big difference between a hybrid powertrain and powertrain with a more common engine. The batteries are one such thing.

The Trollhättan plant will not only build the Saab 9-1 on the Delta platform, and the people at Saab have their sights set on the hybrids.

“We would love to take on the whole production of GM’s new hybrids in Europe,” said Stig Nordin, then Executive Director Technical Development, Saab Automobile, in an interview with Ny Teknik earlier this year. “Our strength is the flexibility. The engineers in Trollhättan have contributed with several key technologies in the development of the Delta platform’s hybrid capabilities.”

For some time now, there has been a mock-up of a lightly disguised Opel Astra hybrid at Saab’s hybrid center in Trollhättan. There, engineers have tried to fit the technology in the car. Thought has also gone into how the car will be produced.

“Our production line can easily adjust to hybrid cars,” says Stig Nordin. “We have the knowledge and the capacity to do it. In a long-term perspective, I can see Trollhättan as a pure hybrid plant.”

The Delta platform is the first one that from the start has been developed for a hybrid powertrain with a compact combustion engine and a powerful electric engine. The developers target a modular construction, where the the combustion engine can be a diesel, petrol or ethanol engine depending on the market.

The electric motor is used when starting the car and in acceleration. Saab has also developed an extra motor for the rear axle as an option for those who want some more power. To store the energy, lithium-ion batteries using nano phosphors technology are used. They are more durable and fireproof than “ordinary” lithium-ion batteries.

A few days ago, Stig Nordin left Saab for a top position at the Italian auto maker Iveco. His successor is yet to be announced. But according to Christer Nilsson, Press Relations Manager at Saab Automobile, the work with hybrid technology continues in Trollhättan.

“Absolutely. Saab and turbo and hybrids belongs together, and that is something you will see a lot of in the future."

[PurdueGuy]

that's pretty cool. Wonder what mpgs we'll see out of 'em.

[ZL-1]

Cool!

EDIT - I hope the 9-1 doesn't look like that sketch

Edited October 1, 2007 by ZL-1

[pow]

Makes sense. Electric motors can help with the lag of a turbo-powered car.

I hope Delta II is as flexible as Epsilon II, which will offer different levels of suspension sophistication (double wishbones for Saabs, struts for Opels/Saturns, etc). Likewise an Astra can have a cheapo twist-beam while the 9-1 can have an full IRS.

Delta II *does* seem flexible already, as it will handle both hybrids and EV cars (Volt).

[thegriffon]

Word is IRS will be available on Delta II, as with C1 platform, Civic sedan and more expensive Toyotas.

[regfootball]

plug in?

dual mode?

turbodieselhybriddualmodeastra.

me like.

[silverss/sc]

Does the Cobalt fall into this mix at all ? The small bits that are popping up about Delta 2 have yet mention Cobalt .

thegriffon - There were already 2007 Astra mules with IRS , so Im gonna assume here the twistbeam is on life support .

[VenSeattle]

I'm beginning to wonder if Cobalt will go on a stretched Gamma... leaving Delta II reserved for premium FWD compacts... Saturn, Opel, SAAB, & Buick?

[Flybrian]

I'm beginning to wonder if Cobalt will go on a stretched Gamma... leaving Delta II being reserved for premium FWD compacts... Saturn, Opel, SAAB, & Buick?

I was just thinking that myself since there is no Delta II production slated for NA aside from the specialty Volt.

[haypops]

In one respect Sweeden seems an atypical choice for an electric (hybrid) car. Battery power drops rapidly in cold climates doesn't it?

[jbartley]

I'm beginning to wonder if Cobalt will go on a stretched Gamma... leaving Delta II reserved for premium FWD compacts... Saturn, Opel, SAAB, & Buick?

cobalt is going to gamma, and gamma is getting a litttttle bigger.

[ZL-1]

In one respect Sweeden seems an atypical choice for an electric (hybrid) car. Battery power drops rapidly in cold climates doesn't it?

Since there's a hydroelectric powerplant just outside the Innovatum Area in Trolhättan and plenty of hydroelectric power generation capacity throughout Sweden, maybe they have more sockets to compensate?

[pow]

Word is IRS will be available on Delta II, as with C1 platform, Civic sedan and more expensive Toyotas.

And MKV Golf.

[Gumbercules]

And, for that matter, the MK1 Focus.

SVTF Foeva!

Chassis competence trumps all!

Why wont you make another SVTF Ford?

Why do you hate freedom so?

[bobo]

This is a Saab that I may be interested in, even with the funky looks. I haven't liked any Saabs since the bathtub-like 900's of the '80s.

[Northstar]

I'm pretty sure the Cobalt is staying on Delta. It's a global product...