Earlier in the week, it was confirmed that that Saab and BMW were in talks regarding component sharing. It has now been confirmed that Saab will indeed buy BMW engines, presumably for the next-generation 9-3 sedan or the upcoming 9-2.
Starting in 2012, Saab will use a BMW-sourced turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder engine. These units are currently used by the entire Mini lineup. Of course, the engines are expected to receive plenty of tweaks before being applied to any Saab model, but additional specs have yet to be announced.
Announcing the deal, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson said: “It gives me great pleasure to confirm this exciting new relationship. BMW’s engines and their fuel savings innovations are widely regarded as a benchmark in the premium segment. We look forward to integrating this technology into our next-generation vehicles in a true Saab way.”
Contrary to earlier reports, which suggested the new engines will be used for the 9-3, other reports suggest they will be used exclusively by the compact 9-2.
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