the Speedparts ECU is designed to provide increasing torque through the revs range rather than trying to match the fairly flat, typical SAAB torque curve. The remapped ECU actually provides almost standard levels of torque around the 2,000rpm range but this is followed by a noticeable power surge in the 3-4,000rpm range. The advantage here is that you are not killing your gearbox with hugely increased torque in normal driving conditions but when you want the power, for example, when overtaking, the power is there.
Fitting was simple and in about an hour the APC solenoid and its hoses were hooked up and the ECUs swapped. I took the car out for an adaptation run or three (basically stressing the engine for more than 5 seconds in the 3-4,000 rpm range) and ‘Presto!’ one transformed motor car. Power is up to the 235bhp mark and torque now stands at 401Nm.
That said, if driven “normally”, i.e. as if it was still a LPT, there is little change to the car’s characteristics. If anything it’s smoother and quieter at low revs. I was worried it might have turned into some unwieldy monster but it’s just as happy as ever. First and second gear acceleration is stronger than before but it’s when accelerating in third and fourth the difference is really felt. The power is not brutal, just very, very smooth. Owing to the relatively small size of the standard turbo unit, there remains no real turbo lag. [/b]