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Kalle Uhr’s 450HP Saab 90 RWD Monster: A 10-Year Journey to Perfection

Pushing the limits of what a Saab 90 can become – rear-wheel drive, 450 horsepower, and a decade of dedication.

Kalle Uhr's 450HP Saab 90 RWD project in action: a decade-long masterpiece of engineering and automotive passion.

A Saab 90 Like No Other

Kalle Uhr, a name well-known in Saab circles, has taken the classic Saab 90 and transformed it into a rear-wheel-drive powerhouse with an incredible 450 horsepower and 600 NM of torque. This is not your average Saab project; it’s a 10-year labor of passion and precision that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with the Saab 90 platform. In Snooken Recordings latest YouTube video, titled Kalle Uhr’s Saab 90 RWD 450HP, 600NM || 10 års projectet klart,” Kalle showcases the fruits of his dedication, making this project one of the most talked-about Saab transformations to date.

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The Road to Rear-Wheel Drive

One of the most striking aspects of Kalle’s project is the conversion to rear-wheel drive (RWD). Typically, Saab 90s are front-wheel drive, but Kalle saw an opportunity to break the mold. Using a BMW 520 rear axle, he made a complete transformation. This wasn’t a simple swap – Kalle meticulously modified the car to accommodate the multilink rear suspension for superior handling and adjustability, something rarely seen in Saab builds. His choice to use this rear axle over more common, rigid solutions shows his attention to performance and precision.

Powering the Beast

Under the hood, this Saab 90 is far from stock. Kalle equipped the car with a Garrett GT30 turbocharger, helping boost the engine’s output to an astonishing 450 horsepower. The custom-made exhaust manifold and turbo setup are just a few of the performance modifications Kalle made, with a focus on delivering consistent power while maintaining reliability. The combination of a 2.3-liter Saab 9000 engine with 2.0-liter pistons provides a higher compression ratio, making the car more responsive. This ingenious engine setup is a true testament to Kalle’s skill in tuning Saabs.

Kalle Uhr's Saab 90 RWD build in motion: 450 horsepower tearing up the streets in this unique, rear-wheel-drive powerhouse.
Kalle Uhr’s Saab 90 RWD build in motion: 450 horsepower tearing up the streets in this unique, rear-wheel-drive powerhouse.

A Custom Build Like No Other

Kalle’s Saab 90 is not just about raw power; it’s a holistic build with attention to every detail. The fuel system features a 30-liter fuel cell, with Bosch 040 pumps feeding fuel through a catch tank to the engine. Everything from the ZF transmission to the shortened driveshaft has been modified to handle the massive increase in power. Kalle also custom-built the car’s shifter and handbrake systems, giving the interior a raw, race-ready feel. Inside and out, this is a car that’s been transformed from the ground up, yet retains the essence of what makes a Saab, a Saab.

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The Challenges and Triumphs of a 10-Year Project

While the project took over 10 years to complete, much of that time was spent balancing life and work, with the actual build taking around two years of dedicated effort. As Kalle explains, personal life events slowed down the process, but in the end, it was worth every minute. The result is a car that not only showcases Kalle’s expertise but also highlights the resilience of the Saab 90 as a platform for tuning. For Kalle, the hardest part wasn’t the technical challenges, but finding the time to perfect every aspect of the build.

From Concept to Street-Legal Beast

Unlike many extreme builds, Kalle’s Saab 90 is fully street-legal in Sweden, making it a true rarity. With its massive power output and RWD setup, it stands apart from other Saab 90s, many of which stop at much lower horsepower levels. This build could easily remain a track-only vehicle, but Kalle took the extra steps to ensure it could be driven on public roads, adding a level of practicality to this monster of a car.

The Saab Community Reacts

Since releasing the video, Kalle has garnered significant attention from the Saab community and beyond. Comments on his YouTube video reflect admiration for his dedication and the sheer power of the finished product. Many enthusiasts were impressed by how he was able to retain so much of the Saab’s original design while pushing the limits of what the platform can do. Others noted the BMW elements in the build, such as the rear axle and suspension components, which have sparked conversations about how Saab and other automakers’ technologies can blend in innovative ways.

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What’s Next for Kalle Uhr’s Saab 90?

While Kalle is undoubtedly proud of what he’s achieved, he’s not ready to call the project complete just yet. In the video, he hints at further upgrades, potentially pushing the car to 550 horsepower. For a car already producing wheelspin in first, second, and third gears, the idea of adding more power is thrilling. Kalle’s commitment to pushing the envelope means we may see even more mind-blowing upgrades in the future, ensuring his Saab 90 remains one of the most exciting builds in the Saab community.

The Ultimate Saab 90 Transformation: A Decade of Ingenuity and Power

Kalle Uhr’s Saab 90 RWD project is a testament to the passion and creativity that Saab enthusiasts bring to their builds. This isn’t just another modified Saab – it’s a remarkable engineering feat that took over a decade to complete, with attention to every detail and a relentless pursuit of perfection. With 450 horsepower under the hood, BMW components for rear-wheel drive, and a custom-built interior, Kalle’s Saab 90 stands as a unique example of what’s possible when you combine ingenuity with Saab heritage.

For anyone interested in following the project or learning more, check out Kalle’s YouTube video, and be prepared to witness the future of Saab tuning.

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Goran Aničić
the authorGoran Aničić
For over 15 years, Goran Aničić has been passionately focused on Saab automobiles and everything related to them. His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced. At that moment, he was captivated by the car's Scandinavian design logic and top-notch engineering, and everything that followed stemmed from that first encounter. Later on, through his work at the editorial team of the Serbian automotive magazines "Autostart" and later "AutoBild," he had the opportunity to engage more closely with Saab vehicles. In 2008, he tested the latest Saab cars of that time, such as the Saab 9-3 TTiD Aero and Saab 9-3 Turbo X. In 2010, as the sole blogger from the region, he participated in the Saab 9-5ng presentation in Trollhättan, Sweden. Alongside journalists from around the world, he got a firsthand experience of the pinnacle of technological offerings from Saab at that time. Currently, Goran owns two Saabs: a 2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sportcombi with a manual transmission, and a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin Sport Sedan from the last generation, which rolled off the production line in Trollhättan in December 2011.

3 Comments

  • That’s nothing, look up SAAB 99 Quattro for a real mean machine. It’s old now, although still very very impressive.
    AWD and it still torque steers 😆

  • Well that defeats the purpose of FWD which I have been using in NH USA since 1969 with a 1965 Saab 96 3 banger. Passed all the 2 wheel rear drives and 4 wheels that were barely moving or off the road in snow storms

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