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The Griffin, that mythical monster that has graced the powerplants of World War II fighter planes and the corporate crest of Swedish auto maker Saab, plays a new role in the affairs of the car manufacturer in 1992.

Saab will produce a special 1992 Griffin Edition, with owners possessing a model that truly does stand apart from the regular run of Saab motor cars.

The mythical Griffin, which has the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, is a first class sort of monster as such things go. And Saab intends to apply the same concept of first class to its limited production Griffin Edition sedan.

“I haven’t seen it as yet,” said Robert Falcone, president of the local Indy Saab agency. “But we expect to receive one by the end of this month.”

The limited production vehicle actually is based on the Saab 9000 CD Turbo, quite an upscale model in its own right. But the Griffin takes the next step forward, both in technical amenities and price.

The CD Turbo itself is no econobox, having a tag of $36,695. But the Giffin goes by that number like the midnight express through Hayseed Junction. It is stickered at $42,195.

“For what you’re going to receive,” Falcone said, “it’s going to be an outstanding automobile.”

In parting with 42 big ones for a set of wheels, an owner has a right to expect a lot in return. Saab feels he or she will get it in what the company regards as its gold card type of automobile.

The car comes complete with every amenity that Saab offers, including an actual Gold Card that authorizes free maintenance for the first three years or 40,000 miles at any Saab dealership. Accompanying the card is a toll free “800” number for service, a Taupe leather document organizer for the car’s service records, and an ongoing list of standard safety and consumer features.

TIn respect to the safety and consumer features, the Griffin gets the full treatment, with horsepower, roadability, comfort and convenience.

The engine is Saab’s 2.3-liter, dual cam, 16-valve four-cylinder motor that runs a water cooled turbocharger. Water cooling is not unexpected, as the boost from the turbo manages to produce 200-horsepower from 140-cubic inches of engine displacement. That’s almost 1 1/2 horsepower per cubic inch, and calls for flowing a lot of air through those four valves per cylinder.

To hook the power to the ground, the Griffin has an ATC (automatic traction control) system that essentially operates in reverse of the sedan’s ABS (anti-lock brake) system. ATC controls wheelspin under slippery conditions, just as wheel lockup is controlled by the anti-lock brakes.

“From my viewpoint,” Falcone said, “the traction control is the most attractive feature of the car.

“I’ve tested the system on ice, and the computer took over and controlled the throttle. It kept the car under control, with good, steady acceleration.”

To keep everything on the road when flying low on dry pavement, the four-door stands on Michelin 15-inch tires that carry light alloy, cross-spoke wheels. That puts a lot of rubber on the pavement to assure maximum control under all driving modes and weather conditions.

An estimate is that a Griffin with a four-speed automatic transmission is going to have a 0-60 miles per hour acceleration time of about 7 seconds and a top speed of around 145-150 miles per hour.

“Engineering manuals put the top speed at 154,” Falcone said.

If the front-drive Griffen follows the traits of the 9000 CD Turbo, the person behind the wheel will find it quite adequately fills the roll of a driver’s car. However, there are those motorists who just want to look like they are going fast. About 65 mph will do just fine, thank you.

For them, the luxury accouterments of the car will be its most appealing feature, and there are virtually innumerable items which are appealing.

There is, of course, full power, leather,a separate air conditioning system for rear seat occupants, burled walnut, custom carpeting, an audio s ystem with a CD player and graphic equalizer, a portable cellular telephone with a hands-free microphone, a power/sliding moonroof, and the industry’s only all-window de-misting system. All this is just sort of the highlights.

According to Saab, the interior of the Griffin is rated by the EPA as a large car. That is based upon its EPA Car Line Interior Volume Index, which is 120.4 cubic feet. Body/chassis specifications, however, would seem to be more on the top end of mid-size.

The wheelbase is 105.2 inches, and the overall length is 188.2 inches.

Demographically, a Griffin buyer falls into the affluent professional category, with family orientation.

“I think they will be repeat Saab customers,” Falcone said. “Someone who has owned a (Saab) 900 or a 9000. We have a strong, loyal following among Saabs in general, and whenever we get something new or in limited edition we usually have a lot of activity.”

The Griffin made its world debut at the International Motor Show at Frankfort, Germany, last September, and was described by European auto industry observers as redefining Saab’s elegance and exclusivity.

“It’s going to enhance Saab’s image,” Falcone said. “And that also is outstanding.”