Four days of events and festivities will culminate in a huge gathering of historic Saabs outside the Saab Car Museum on Sunday, 10th June – exactly 60 years to the day after the first Saab car was revealed.

Back in 1947, Saab was known only as an aircraft manufacturer - the name is an acronym for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget AB, or Swedish Aircraft Company Limited. That first car, the Saab 92 (image of the 1947 Saab 92 Prototype shown), looked like no other with its streamlined shape and innovative engineering. Hardly surprising, since it was conceived by a team of aircraft engineers not bound by the conventional automotive design wisdoms of the day.

Now, more than four million cars later, Saab is established as a global premium car brand selling in more than 60 countries around the world, many represented by enthusiasts coming to Trollhättan (Saab’s home town). Much has changed in the automotive industry since those post-war years, but the same spirit of innovative, independent thinking behind the Saab 92 continues to inspire the Saab brand and the development of its products today.

It is a perspective driven forward by a unique brand heritage, reflecting the values of Scandinavian culture and Saab’s roots in aviation. It was Saab who pioneered numerous advances in car safety, good driver ergonomics, environmental responsibility and, of course, enhanced engine performance through turbocharging.

Today, while most manufacturers have followed Saab’s lead in adopting turbocharging, the company has again ‘moved the goal posts’ with its innovative BioPower technology. This unleashes the potential of turbocharging to deliver more performance, as well as greatly reduced fossil-based CO2 emissions, when using E85 fuel (85% bioethanol/15% petrol). It is technology that has propelled Saab to the forefront of Europe’s emerging market for ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles.

Turbocharging is typical of the ‘less is more’ Scandinavian mind-set and, in an era when the need to save energy and achieve improved efficiency has never been greater, it continues to be a cornerstone of Saab’s future development.