Posted on 01. Jan, 1972 by Ryan in 1970-1979, 96, 97 (Sonett II & III), 99, Orange, Connecticut

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: LEN LONNEGREN

72 SAAB MODEL FEATURES

ORANGE, CONNECTICUT — Saab offers new safety, comfort features for 1972 : impact absorbing bumpers, heated seat.

Continuing its efforts to provide the most advanced in comfortable and safe transportation, Saab for 1972 incorporates two new features, unique to the entire automobile industry.

The 1972 Saab 99E model s are the first producti on passenger cars offered anywhere in the world with impact absorbing bumpers, able to withstand barrier impacts up to 5 mph without any damage whatsoever.

Both the Saab 99 and the smal ler Saab 96 sedan and the Saab 95 station wagon are equipped with an electrically heated driver’s seat, a seat that will automatically and quickly heat up to comfort temperatures as soon as the ignition is turned on.

These two features are among a number of modifications and improvements on all the 1972 Saab models: the 99 two and four-door sedan ; the 96 two-door sedan; the 95 station wagon; and the Sonett III sports coupe.

For the Saab 99E, the changes also include a larger engine, increased for 1972 to 1854 cc (113. 1 cu. in.) and equipped with an electronically controlled fuel injection system for better performance at all speeds and lower exhaust pollution.

The new Saab 99 bumpers are the first in the entire automobile industry that have been certified as capable of withstanding 5 mph front and 2-1/2 mph rear end impacts in an SAE barrier without sustaining any damage whatsoever, the 1972 thus exceeds the Federal bumper regulations for 1973 model automobiles.

Although several auto makers have introduced new bumpers for 1972 only Saab has yet been certified through independent laboratory tests as being able to withstand the SE barrier impacts without damage. Tests of the Saab bumpers have been conducted at an independent automotive safety laboratory in this country.

The Federal safety authorities, as well as the insurance industry have long asked that automobile makers develop and install new and more sturdy bumpers. Test crashes conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that repair costs for domestic 1971 model cars after a 5 mph front end impact averaged $331.69. For the 1972 Saab 99 , such a collision will cause no damage whatsoever.

The Saab bumper consists of a U-shaped steel profile in which are located energy absorbing cellular plastic blocks, which absorb the impact and quickly return to their original shape, even after repeated crashes. The exterior of the bumper is faced with a rubber covering and a decorative metal strip. Points where the bumpers are attached to the car body have been strengthened to prevent body damage.

The electrically heated driver’s seat, standard in both the Saab 99 and 95 and 96 models, is another exclusive Saab feature for 1972 . Built into the seat pad and backrest of the seat, the system heats up automatically and quickly when the ignition is turned on and the interior temperature is below 58 F. A thermostat turns off the heat when the seat temperature reaches 82 F.

The heating system is completely safe from electric shock and is not affected by dampness or water that might come in contact with it.

The Saab 99 E is powered by an in-line four cylinder overhead cam engine, with electronically controlled fuel injection. An electronic computer metering system monitors engine speed, inlet manifold pressure, throttle position and temperature and controls magnetic valves at each injection point to deliver to each cylinder the exact amount of fuel needed for any driving condition. For 1972 the engine size has been increased to 1854 cc and the power output is now 95 net horsepower (SAE), compared to 87 for 1971.

The Saab 99E is available either with a four-speed manual transmission or with a three-speed automatic transmission.

Saab has long been an industry forerunner in the automotive safety design field and has utilized safety construction and front wheel drive since the first Saabs were produced in 1949.

One of the first auto makers to offer a dual braking system, now required by law on all cars, Saab as early as in 1963 introduced a dual diagonal system, which is still unique in the industry.

The 1972 model Saab with the new impact absorbing bumpers is further evidence of the constant effort to offer the best in automotive transportation. Of course, retained in the 1972 models are such Saab features as the front-wheel drive, the dual diagonal braking system and the roll-cage construction which has been tested by dropping a Saab 99 upside down from a height of nearly seven feet onto a concrete floor with an impact velocity of 25 feet per second. Repeated tests of this type have proven that the passenger compartment will remain intact even after this kind of an impact.

Other special features on the Saab 99 Include:

Fully adjustable front seats with infinitely adjustable rake of the backrest for both driving and resting and independent seat pad controls for the driver, allowing him to raise or lower the front and rear edges of the seat.

Special doughnut shaped “see-through” head restraints on the front seats.

The convertible rear seat — also standard on the Saab 96 sedan — that can be folded down to open up some 67 inches of metal floored baggage area from the trunk opening to the back of the front seats.

Individual heat controls for the rear seat passengers, located on a console between the front seats and easy-to-reach for passengers in the back seat.

The aerodynamically designed and wind tunnel tested, body that has an air resistance coefficient of only .37 — compared to the normal of .40 and .60 for standard automobile — which increases fuel economy even at very high speeds and assures exceptional stability under severe side wind pressure.

Two new colors will be offered in the Saab 95, 96, and 99 models for 1972: Verona Green and Amber Yellow. The other colors for 1972 are Polar White, Toreador Red, Tyrol Green, Blue and Black. Upholstery, of nylon velour material with vinyl reinforcements, is color matched to the various exterior colors.

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