Kettenblitz 900SE
It was the small hours of February 19, 1989, and Angela Wagner was considering quitting Saar-Kraftig. Her fourteenth proposal on the exterior design of the new Andante was rejected, citing increased manufacturing costs. She was forty-one, and she already hated the idea of leaving nothing but easy to produce front quarterpanels behind, as far as her career was concerned. Instead of giving up, however, she fetched another pot of coffee, and sat down to work. Under her hands, the classic form language almost sketched itself onto the sheet: a car that was small, friendly, and didn’t care to be anything but the joy of driving at the limit. The next afternoon, she met up with some fellow designers, and founded the unofficial Kettenblitz Einteilung. They worked in the off-hours, during lunch breaks, with no definite goal in mind, just the desire to create something more than yet another bargain bin sedan. There seemed to be no chance of their car being made at this company, especially since news of binning the prestigious GSi trim level arrived.
The rogue design group was found out after almost a year of secrecy. In a rare moment of sensibility, Saar-Kraftig’s leadership decided that firing such a dedicated and talented team of designers might be a bad move, and instead begrudgingly made the group official. Kettenblitz Einteilung received proper funding, and time on the clock to create the car they so desired. The only stipulations were that they couldn’t run late, and couldn’t run overbudget.
At the very least, that is how the legend goes.
The vehicle was laid down on an entirely new floorplan, with a wheelbase of just 2190 mm. It allowed for an FR layout, as well as a special, double wishbone front, pushrod rear suspension setup, which granted the car its characteristic tight handling, even with uncomplicated springs and dampers. The goal was to keep the weight low, and a generous amount of aluminium was used for paneling. Due to time and manpower constraints, an older GSi engine was upgraded for the project. Turbocharged, with modern MPFI and VVT, the 1.8 liter SOHC-4 alloy unit, designated KB16B-1800TL, produced 106 kilowatts at the flywheel. The drivetrain used a regular 5-speed manual transmission, and an open rear differential powered the 195/50R16 wheels, while a vented front disk, drum rear setup, along with TCS, ensured braking performance. All this was adequate for a 6.8 second 0-100 sprint, a 200 km/h e-limited top speed, and 1.10 G cornering. The two-seat interior was kept rather basic, with just cloth and polymer used throughout, and the subcompact-tier high-lipped trunk and low ride height immediately demolished any hopes of practicality. The tightness of the budget and schedule start to show on the barely adequate safety even for the era, and the lack of proper rustproofing, making the car these days something of a rarity in good condition.
The exterior of the 3850 mm body was composed of soft, sweeping lines, with a friendly face and glossy black trim - the design intended to evoke a mischievous partner-in-crime, rather than an aggressive animal.
The 900SE (which stands for 900 kg Sportentwicklung) was finally released in 1991, badged Kettenblitz, both to avoid Saar-Kraftig’s ever plummeting reputation damaging sales, and a potential failure affecting the parent company. These concerns were proven baseless, as the car sold remarkably well even at the initial $16k price point, satisfying the market desire for a cheap, uncompromising track car, or a toy to take to work that didn’t take up much space. The Kettenblitz SE series remained a integral part of the standard lineup, until its sudden cancellation in 2019.
Not everyone can afford to keep an SE, despite the reasonable price tag. It’s too much of a compromise to even consider for everyone but the most dedicated. Those with one in the garage, however, are incredibly enthusiastic about their plaything. They call it “puppydragon”, allegedly the name of the animal on the badge, designed by Ms. Wagner’s daughter, and they’ll talk your ear off explaining the importance of a pushrod suspension and low weight. They’ll tell you that you’ll only understand once you’re behind the wheel, and that much is all truth.
