SAAB V4

Backstory

Back in 1964, a very similar Skunkworks team had been assembled to evaluate 7 different four cylinder engines**  to replace the venerable 2-stroke and allow the SAAB 96 to compete equally with the VW Beetle, Austin Minicooper, Renault Dauphine, and a few other European makes in North America and other global markets; particularly those like the USA where 2-stroke fuel was not widely available at the pump. All of the engines tested were too heavy for the little SAAB 96 and the engine choice made (Ford V4) was a huge technical compromise; being best in a field of not very suitable engines.  The Volvo B18 engine they had tested was the most durable, but at 150Kg (330 lbs) was significantly heavier than the 113Kg (250 lb) Ford V4. Lancia’s aluminum V4 was lighter but had ceased production in 1976. Additionally, supply and quality of Lancia’s V4 engine was questionable.   Ford was in an awkward situation having cancelled the car program (Cardinal) their chunky cast iron V4 had been designed for.  They did try it in another European Ford (Taunus) but that car program was not very successful so the V4 was passed along to the Industrial Engines Division.  When SAAB came along and showed some interest, Ford was tripping over themselves to supply their largely obsolete V4 engine to SAAB.  The deal was one that SAAB, with its limited resources, could not refuse.  Some SAAB engineers strenuously objected to the heavy V4 that radically altered the weight distribution of the SAAB 96 from 50/50 to 60/40 and caused understeer and braking problems.  Although the SAAB 96V4 entered production and many thousands were built, SAAB Engineering knew a lighter engine would have been much better suited to the SAAB 96. 
​**  Engines Tested:  Volvo B18, Ford V4, Triumph 1300, Lancia V4, Opel, VW, Hillman

Lancia V4 in a SAAB