The car has been lowered on H&R springs and rolls on 19-in. BBS Challenge wheels showcasing four-piston Porsche brake calipers up front and a Speedparts setup out back. Braided, stainless-steel lines contain Castrol racing brake fluid, and Bridgestone's S-03 Pole Position tires cordon the BBS wheels.
Racing is what comes to mind when you take this four-door for a spin. You know you are in for something, because after letting the engine come up to temp as we wended our way out of BSR's industrial neighborhood, Edstrand suddenly shifted his weight to brace himself against the Viggen seat covers. Launching the car with start-line authority, he showed his utter confidence in the larger shafts and racing clutch. Acceleration is honestly brutal, and Edstrand simply slammed the car into the next gear, the "on/off" sintered clutch delivering a concussion of turbo power with zero slip or lag. It was awesome and violent, with a significant change in pitch out of the 3-in. exhaust system.
Though Edstrand admitted that front-drive Saabs are not in their element at the dragstrip, the SQR 9-5 has managed a 12.85-sec. quarter-mile at 121 mph, and he's not done yet. He plans to get boost back up to previous half-shaft levels (32 psi), and rework the cylinder head with stronger valve springs, solid lifters and a different grind on the cams. He'll then rebuild the turbo to match the engine changes, all aimed at shifting the powerband farther up the rpm range. A large benefit for longevity, this reduces excessive, low-rpm cylinder pressure.
When that's completed, Edstrand explained, he also plans to add a nitrous system for a 150- to 200-bhp boost. "It's a large, four-door sedan that I drive every day," he offered. "I have to have it for all the weight..."
So it's likely to work out for Joachim, because Dad has provided sufficient argument-settling thrust to go with the subtle but cool cosmetic add-ons. Sometime around the fifth grade, Joachim's buddies are almost certain to come around, sooner if the SQR 9-5 gets more time in the soccer carpool. Edstrand's daughter Jennifer, however, is another story. She thinks the 9-5 is too loud and doesn't like that wherever she goes, the car gets all the attention instead of her. She's only 10. We have no advice but will offer Edstrand lots of luck on that front.
S For Sport, Style And SophisticationAutobahn Designs' Up-Market Foray With A Svelte M-B S50Autobahn Designs has recently expanded into high-end German performance and styling, continuing a bold progression upmarket.
The company, which began tuning Volkswagens and more recently Audis and MINIs, has brought the prestige of Mercedes-Benz to the franchise. Its latest work includes this svelte Mercedes-Benz S500.