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The Saab 9-3 (pronounced ''nine-three'') is a
compact executive car A compact executive car, also known as a compact luxury car, is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car. Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification. A ...
initially developed and manufactured by the Swedish
automaker The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % suc ...
Saab. The first generation 9-3 (1998-2003) is based on the
GM2900 platform General Motors introduced the mid-size transverse engine front-wheel drive GM2900 platform in 1988 with the introductions of the Opel Vectra A and the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk.3 for the 1989 model year. The platform was intended to replace both divisio ...
, changing to the
GM Epsilon platform Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was multi-division project of GM North America, Opel and Saab, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely i ...
with the introduction of the second-generation car (2003-2012). Other vehicles using this platform include the
Opel Vectra The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car ( large family car) that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque ...
, Chevrolet Malibu, and Cadillac BLS. Saab's last owners, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), assembled the 9-3 sedan as Saab's only model.


Overview

The car was badged as 93 starting in the 1998 model year when Saab revised the naming strategy of their small car to match that of their larger 95. The model was marketed as 9-3, pronounced as "nine three.” The Saab 9-3 was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year essentially as a rebadged second-generation Saab 900 (1994–1998 model) and succeeded by a redesigned 9-3 for the 2003 model year. It is not to be confused with the
Saab 93 The Saab 93 (pronounced ''ninety-three'') is the second production automobile that was manufactured by Saab. Styled by Sixten Sason, it was first presented on December 1, 1955. The 93 was powered by a longitudinally-mounted three-cylinder 748&n ...
(pronounced "ninety-three"), a car produced by Saab from 1955 to 1960.


First generation (1998–2003)

The first generation 9-3, an updated
Saab 900 (NG) The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations; the first from 1978 to 1993, and the second from 1994 to 1998. The first-generation car was based on the Saab 99 chassis, though with a ...
, was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year. It is known to enthusiasts as the 'OG' (old generation) 9-3 and internally as body style 9400. Production ended on 8 May 2002 at the Trollhättan plant and 25 April 2003 at the Valmet plant in
Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bot ...
. Saab claimed that 1,100 changes were made between the outgoing NG 900 and the 9-3. Changes included revised suspension, intended to improve the handling characteristics of the car. The 9-3 received revised styling, with some models featuring a rear
spoiler Spoiler is a security vulnerability on modern computer central processing units that use speculative execution. It exploits side-effects of speculative execution to improve the efficiency of Rowhammer and other related memory and cache attacks. ...
, whilst Saab's signature underbody mounted 'snow & gravel flaps' were removed. It was available as a three or five-door hatchback, and as a two-door convertible. It was the last small Saab to use the company's '' H engine''. Further improvements over the
Saab 900 (NG) The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations; the first from 1978 to 1993, and the second from 1994 to 1998. The first-generation car was based on the Saab 99 chassis, though with a ...
included better crashworthiness courtesy of more extensive A-pillar reinforcements, stronger door sills and frames, standard torso/head side-airbags, and
Saab Active Head Restraints Saab Active Head Restraints or SAHR is a system to protect against automotive whiplash injuries introduced by Saab in 1997. It was launched when the Saab 9-5 was released for the 1998 model year and had been part of the standard equipment on the S ...
. Other notable changes included a stronger AC compressor, better ventilation system, and a switch to a hydraulically operated convertible roof rather than an electric powered. The 9-3 was available with a new variant of the B204 engine (B204E, ), a low-pressure turbo (LPT) engine based on the B204L used in the last generation Saab 900. For the U.S. market, all 9-3s received turbocharged petrol engines with the "full pressure turbo" (B204L, ) as the standard offering, and a "HOT" (B204R, 200 hp) variant in the SE models for the 1999 model year. The 2000 model year saw a revision from SAAB's Trionic T5.5 to Trionic 7 engine management system. The T7 based engines were the B205E, the B205L with and the B205R HOT engine with . The first generation 9-3 was also the first Saab available with a diesel engine, a unit also found in the Opel Vectra, Astra G, Signum, Zafira A. Unlike the
Saab 900 (NG) The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile which was produced by Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations; the first from 1978 to 1993, and the second from 1994 to 1998. The first-generation car was based on the Saab 99 chassis, though with a ...
, the 9-3 is fitted with a
CAN bus A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other's applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for m ...
like the Saab 9-5. A Saab innovation is the 'Night Panel', carried over from the Saab 900, which permits dousing of the instrument panel lighting, except for essential information, for less distraction when night driving. A total of 326,370 first generation 9-3s were built. As with the preceding generation, convertibles were built by Valmet in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Valmet was also the only plant assembling the 9-3 Viggen, in all three bodystyles. After production at Saab's main plant ended, Valmet kept producing non-Viggen hatchbacks until 2003. Altogether, Valmet built 7789 Hatchbacks of all models.


Saab 9-3 Viggen

Between 1999 and 2002, Saab offered a limited edition and higher-performance version of the 9-3. The 'Viggen' (English: '' Thunderbolt'') is named after the Saab 37 Viggen aircraft, and was developed by Saab with input from the Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) Group. The Viggen production car draws upon on the earlier Saab 900 Concept Coupe that had been developed by the Saab Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) group. For Saab, the team was led by Peter Leonard and John-Gustav Gudmundsson. Only 4,600 9-3 Viggen specification cars were produced.


Mechanical features

The Viggen is powered by Saab's 2.3 L B235R engine, running at a 9.3:1 compression ratio and fitted with
Nimonic Nimonic is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation that refers to a family of nickel-based high-temperature low creep superalloys. Nimonic alloys typically consist of more than 50% nickel and 20% chromium with additives such as titani ...
valves. Initially rated at , power later increased to on of boost from its Mitsubishi TD04-HL15-5 turbocharger. The cars are equipped with a higher capacity intercooler, performance-tuned ECU, flow-through muffler and tip, stiffer gearbox casing and stronger output shaft, a heavy-duty clutch and pressure plate, stiffened and lowered springs with revised spring rates, firmer dampers, and stronger CV joints and driveshafts. The Viggen is only available with a five-speed manual transmission which features an electronic torque-sensing function to prevent damage to the gearbox. In 1999, the Viggen was the first 9-3 to use Saab's Trionic 7 engine management system. The 2001 model year introduced a
Traction Control System A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...
(TCS). The TCS was later made available in the SE line.


Exterior and interior features

The exterior of the Viggen features a larger rear wing that also located the radio antenna to the rear of the roof, aerodynamically designed bumpers and side skirts, model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, and upgraded brakes. Paint options include Black, Metallic Silver, Steel Grey, Monte Carlo Yellow, Laser Red, and the exclusive Viggen 'Lightning Blue'. The interior offers special bolstered and coloured leather seats and door cards in four colours: black with black inserts ('Charcoal'), black with blue inserts ('Deep Blue'), black with orange inserts ('Flame Ochre') and tan with tan inserts. Other interior features include a CD player with four or six-speaker, amplifier and CD-changer options, power moonroof, and what were initially Viggen-specific motorised and heated leather seats with the Viggen delta logo embossed in the backrest. The Viggen seats later became available in the
Aero Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero ( ...
model (U.S. market 'SE' model) without the embossed Viggen logo. Some colourways feature carbon-fibre interior trim, offered between 1999 and the middle of the 2001 model year. Cars built afterward came with a less expensive printed grey pattern for the dash and standard trim. Buyers of new Viggen models in the U.S. were offered two days of advanced driving instruction at
Road Atlanta Road Atlanta (known for sponsorship reasons as Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta) is a road course located just north of Braselton, Georgia, United States. The facility is utilized for a wide variety of events, including professional and amateur spo ...
and an opportunity to dine with Saab USA executives from nearby
Norcross, Georgia Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 9,116, while in 2020 the population was 17,209. It is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metropolitan statistical area. History ...
.


Production summary

A total of 4,600 Viggens were manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Finland until production ended in June 2002; of which 500 units were produced for the UK market. For 1999, 426 3-door Viggens were imported into the U.S.; of those 420 were blue, 2 were silver, 2 were Monte Carlo yellow, and 2 were black.


Reception

Some journalists have criticised the Viggen, in particular for untamed torque steer in low gears, with Britain's Evo Magazine naming the car as one of its 10 worst cars ever tested. Other commentators, however, have named the Viggen a 'classic'. US reviewers at
Motor Trend ''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949. Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
(writing in 2000) noted the crisp turn-in and grip on offer. Jalopnik has named the Viggen "The Last Great True Saab".


First generation 9-3 engines

All the petrol engines offered in the first generation 9-3 were versions of the Saab H engine. The Saab 9-5 and the first generation 9-3 were the last Saab cars to utilise this all-Saab
DOHC An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...
16-valve fuel injection design. The non-turbo models use a distributor, and leads to each spark plug, while the turbocharged engines utilise Saab's Trionic engine management system with a Direct Ignition Module (or cassette) mounted at the top of the engine, directly connecting to the spark plugs. Trionic 5 was used on the B204 Engines, and Trionic 7 was introduced with the B2x5 Engines. The latter two technologies were migrated into other GM products during the ten years that GM controlled Saab. All of the engines, other than the normally aspirated version and the low-pressure turbo, had high specific power outputs. The B205R generated per litre and of torque. Notes: * Turbochargers used: B204E, B204L: Garrett T25; B204R, B205E & B205L: Garrett GT17; B205R & B235R: MHI TD04-HL15T with 5 cm? exhaust port. * The Primary differences between the B204E and the B204L are with the use of a Boost Pressure Control Valve and the ECU tuning. * The primary differences between the B204L and the B204R are with the
intercooler An intercooler is a heat exchanger used to cool a gas after compression. Often found in turbocharged engines, intercoolers are also used in air compressors, air conditioners, refrigeration and gas turbines. Internal combustion engines ...
and the ECU tuning. * The primary differences between the B205L and the B205R are the upgrade to the TD04-HL15T turbo from the GT17 and the ECU tuning. * B204L with Automatic gearbox has 185hp @ 5500rpm and 250Nm @ 1900rpm * B205R with Automatic gearbox has 205hp @ 5750rpm and 250Nm @ 1900rpm.


Second generation (2003–2014)

The 9-3X concept, a preview of the next-generation 9-3, premiered in January 2002 at the
North American International Auto Show The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
. Originally, the 9-3 was due to début with the
Opel Vectra The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car ( large family car) that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque ...
in October 2001, at the
Frankfurt Motor Show The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility shows. It cons ...
, but in July 2001, it was announced that delays had forced
General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
to postpone the introduction.
The new 9-3 was eventually launched in July 2002 for the 2003 model year. The convertible version of the second-generation 9-3 began with the MY04, and SportCombi with MY05. The new 9-3 remained an exclusively
front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
powertrain at launch. The most significant aesthetic change from the previous generation cars was the elimination of the hatchback design. The second-generation 9-3 was available as a four-door saloon, an estate (introduced in late 2005 as a 2006 model, known as the SportWagon, SportCombi or Sport-Hatch dependent on the market), and a two-door
convertible A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
(introduced in 2004). It included
Saab Active Head Restraints Saab Active Head Restraints or SAHR is a system to protect against automotive whiplash injuries introduced by Saab in 1997. It was launched when the Saab 9-5 was released for the 1998 model year and had been part of the standard equipment on the S ...
(SAHR II) to reduce whiplash and ReAxs, a feature of the rear suspension bushings which changes the toe angle to help reduce
understeer Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Oversteer is what occurs when a car turns (steers) by more than the amount commanded by the driver. Conversely, understeer is what occ ...
under heavy braking. The new 9-3 departed from the Saab H / EcoPower engine used previously for a new 2.0 L
inline-four engine A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
''Ecotec'' engine from
General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
' for the petrol-powered models. There are three different versions of the
turbocharged In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pr ...
inline-four, with the amount of turbo boost determining the power output: 1.8T (112 kW), 2.0t (131 kW) and 2.0T (157 kW). The engines were mated with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed 'Sentronic' which is a traditional automatic, not to be confused with SAAB's earlier 'Sensonic' which was a clutchless manual transmission that retained a conventional H-pattern shifter, but the clutch system was hydraulically actuated. In 2003 models, the standard manual transmission was a 5-speed gearbox with the 6-speed optional. The 6-speed manual was standard on US 2.0T (Vector) models. There were four trim levels: the entry-level Linear, mid-range Vector and Arc (with emphasis on sporty appeal and luxury), and a top-of-the-range Aero model. In non-US markets, any trim level except the Aero (which was exclusively available with the 210 hp 2.0T) was available with any engine the buyer opted for. However, in the US, the Linear was exclusively available with the 2.0t engine, the Arc and Vector trims were exclusively available with the 2.0T, and the Aero model offered more options, such as a sunroof, larger wheels, and a 6-speed manual while retaining the same engine as the 2.0T, the B207R. It would be given a 2.8 L turbocharged V6 in 2006. No diesel models were ever sold in the US, neither were the 1.8T or any BioPower engines. The 9-3 and the
Opel Vectra The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car ( large family car) that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque ...
were the first of the global
GM Epsilon platform Epsilon is General Motors' mid-size front-wheel drive automobile platform. The architecture was multi-division project of GM North America, Opel and Saab, and debuted in the 2002 Opel Vectra and 2003 Saab 9-3. Since this platform falls squarely i ...
, which was then lengthened to accommodate four new cousins, the Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu Maxx, the Pontiac G6, and the
Saturn Aura The Saturn Aura is a four-door, five-passenger front engine/front-wheel drive mid-sized sedan manufactured and marketed by GM's Saturn subsidiary over a single generation from 2006–2009. The car launched one year before the seventh generation ...
. A proprietary fiber-optic electric/electronic system, the possibility of AWD (exploited from 2008 on, dubbed
Saab XWD Saab or SAAB may refer to: Brands and enterprises * Saab Group, a Swedish aerospace and defence company, formerly known as SAAB, and later as Saab AB ** Datasaab, a former computer company, started as spin off from Saab AB * Saab Automobile, a fo ...
), and ReAxs as described above, are just a few of the features exclusive to the 9-3. On 22 February 2012, the final 47 Saabs were built. All the cars were 9-3 'Independence Edition' convertible models built by one of Sweden's largest car dealers, ANA, in
Trollhättan Trollhättan () is the 23rd-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County. It is situated by Göta älv, near the lake Vänern, and has a population of approximately 50,000 in the city proper. It is loc ...
. Of the 47 cars assembled, 21 were LHD, and 26 RHD. The final Saab was a Saab 9-3 Aero Independence Edition TTiD convertible.


Second-generation 9-3 engines

Note: Diesel, biopower, and certain petrol engines were not available in North America. Starting from late 2004, diesel engines are Fiat-sourced common-rail units.


2004

The Vector trim level was replaced with the Aero in the United States. The Arc trim level received the five-speed manual in place of the six-speed. In the UK, the 9-3 Aero 2.0T was made available with a six-speed manual transmission.


2005

The 2.2 TiD engine was replaced with the
common rail Common rail direct fuel injection is a direct fuel injection system built around a high-pressure (over ) fuel rail feeding solenoid valves, as opposed to a low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors (or pump nozzles). High-pressure injecti ...
1.9 TiD engine from
Fiat Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiar ...
. The 1.9 TiD was available both as an 8V version with 120 PS and a 16V version with 150 PS. The 8V version was available exclusively with a 6-speed manual, while the 16V was also available with a 6-speed automatic. The 16V was equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard, while it was optional on the 8V for the 2005 MY. Like the 2.2 TiD, the 1.9 TiD was not available in the US, where demand for diesel engines was not very high. US versions were sold with 16-inch wheels standard (17-inch for the Aero), unlike the 15-inch wheels which were previously found in the Linear version. In the United States, but not in most countries, 2005 was the last year of the Linear and Arc versions. In addition, the 6-speed manual was dropped and both the Arc and Aero received the 5-speed manual.


2006

A new 2.8-liter
turbocharged In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pr ...
V6 engine, branded as 2.8T by Saab, was introduced for the Aero. The 2006 Aero was exclusively available with the V6 in the US, replacing the 2.0T engine. In other markets, the 2006 Aero was available with both the four-cylinder 2.0T and the 6-cylinder 2.8T engine. The 2.0T had 12.3 psi maximum turbo boost pressure and turned out , while the 2.8T had 8.7 psi boost and turned out . In certain markets, like Switzerland, a 230 hp variant of the 6-cylinder was also offered in Vector trim. In the United States, the Linear model and the 175 hp engine was dropped, so that all four-cylinder 9-3 models had the 210 hp engine. The Arc designation also disappeared, replaced by a trim level simply known as 2.0T, which was similar to the 2005 Arc except that Linear wheels were used. A special "20 Years Edition Aero Convertible" for the American market was unveiled at the
Los Angeles Auto Show The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition. It is open to the public for ten days each year, filling of exhibit ...
in January 2006 to celebrate 20 years since the introduction of the Saab 900 convertible. All 20 Years Edition Aero Convertibles were offered in metallic electric blue.


2007

The dashboard was revamped for 2007, with the Saab Information Display moved from its high mounted position to the main instrument binnacle. The button-heavy climate control system disappeared, replaced by the Saab 9-5 climate control system, OnStar was re-introduced and required when Nav was ordered in North America, and the corporate GM head unit debuted, which allowed for satellite radio and MP3 CD capability. The suspension went from harsh to firm, and the cabin was quietened. Steel Gray was also replaced with Titan Gray as an exterior color choice. For the 2007 model year, the 9-3 was also available with Biopower versions of the 1.8t and 2.0t engines, able to run on E85 as well as petrol. In the U.S. market, only the 210 hp 2.0 L 16-valve turbo engine and the 250 hp 2.8 L V6 turbo were available. The manual transmission in the 2.0T model was changed from a 5-speed to a 6-speed. A 60th Anniversary Edition was also offered for the sedan, wagon, and convertible body styles for 2007 to celebrate 60 years of SAAB. The package was available on 2.0T cars and included unique five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, black leather sport seats with grey inserts and SAAB embossments on the front seats, dark walnut trim, black floormats with grey binding, front fog lamps, and a BOSE audio system with 6-disc CD changer and satellite radio. Sedan and convertible models also received trunk-lid spoilers. An Ice Blue metallic paint was offered for the edition, as well as standard SAAB paint colors.


2008 facelift

Saab claimed over 2000 changes were made to the model year 2008 cars. The 2008 range, first presented at the Saab Festival in Trollhättan, Sweden (10 June 2007) included new frontal styling inspired by the
Saab Aero-X The Saab Aero-X is a concept car built by Saab, which was unveiled at the 2006 Salon International de l'Auto. It is powered by a 2.8 L twin turbocharged V6 running on pure ethanol that produces . The 0 to time was predicted to be 4.9 seconds ...
and Saab 9-2X, Saab's first use of LED "signature" lighting in the revised headlamps, new door panels, a new clamshell bonnet, new rear bumper, and frosted "ice block" rear lamps. Black replaced charcoal gray as an interior color choice. Snow Silver became a new exterior color. The 2.8T V6 received a mild output boost from 250 hp to 255 hp. Some additional exterior modifications are available on the limited-edition XWD 9-3 Turbo X, presented at the
Frankfurt Motor Show The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the ''Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung'' (''IAA'' – International Automobile Exhibition), is one of the world's largest mobility shows. It cons ...
(9/07). The Turbo X made its North American debut at the New England Auto show in late November. Saab also released an all-wheel-drive version of the Aero, with the system dubbed "
XWD In the X Window System, the program xwd (X Window dump) captures the content of a screen or of a window and optionally saves it into a file. xwd runs in one of two ways: if a user specifies the whole screen or the name or identifier of a wi ...
", in March 2008. A new twin-turbo diesel engine with 180 PS, dubbed 1.9 TTiD, was introduced. The TTiD engine was also available in Aero trim. The TTiD Aero marked the first time Saab had used a diesel engine in a car with the Aero designation.


Saab Turbo X

Offered in either Sport Sedan, or Sportcombi (wagon) It was made to celebrate SAAB's 30 years of turbocharging. All Turbo X models were offered in metallic jet black with matte grey trim. The Turbo X is SAAB's first production car with the
XWD In the X Window System, the program xwd (X Window dump) captures the content of a screen or of a window and optionally saves it into a file. xwd runs in one of two ways: if a user specifies the whole screen or the name or identifier of a wi ...
all-wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one ...
system from Haldex Traction and eLSD. It is powered by a 2.8 L V6 producing mated to a six-speed
manual Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual An owner's manual (also called an instruction manual or a user guide) is an instructional book or booklet that is supplied with almost all technologically advanced consumer ...
or automatic gearbox. It has larger brakes as well as stiffer springs and shocks. The dash, shift lever, and door panels have a carbon fiber look and the turbo boost gauge draws its inspiration from the Saab 900.


2009

The 2009 9-3 series expands the trim levels while dropping the limited-edition Turbo X saloon and estate from the lineup. The 2.0T and
Aero Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero ( ...
saloon and estate models are now available with Saab's all-wheel drive (XWD). The convertible range lacked the all-wheel-drive option. The 2009 Saab 9-3 was mostly unchanged from the 2008 model, although the Aero trim level came standard with the XWD system, eLSD, and 280-horsepower power increase, all formerly reserved for the discontinued Turbo X. During 2009 the 9-3X was launched at the Geneva auto show. The 9-3X is a four-wheel-drive XUV version of the 9-3 SportWagon. The new 9-3X came with two engine choices: the 1.9 L diesel (producing 180 bhp) and the 2.0 L petrol engine (producing the 210 bhp). Only the 2.0 L petrol engine is equipped with the XWD while the diesel version is available only with front-wheel-drive.


2010

For 2010, the Saab 9-3 Aero's turbocharged V6 was eliminated. All models used the 2.0-liter turbo-4.


Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson

2010 marked the 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson's first win for Saab on the RAC Rally in a Saab 96. A limited-edition of 96
Aero Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero ( ...
Carlsson 9-3 was released. The 9-3 Aero Carlsson featured Saab's cross wheel drive (XWD) system, a turbocharged engine, 2.8 L V6 producing 280 hp, and 400Nm of torque through a 6-speed "Sentronic" hydraulic automatic transmission.


Saab 9-3 ePower

The Saab 9-3 ePower
electric car An electric car, battery electric car, or all-electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using only energy stored in batteries. Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, electric cars are quiet ...
was unveiled at the
2010 Paris Motor Show The 2010 Paris Motor Show took place from 2 October to 17 October 2010, in Paris expo Porte de Versailles. For 2010, the theme of the special exhibition was "The Incredible Collection 2: automobile manufacturers collections and museums." Introdu ...
and became Saab's first electric vehicle. The ePower
concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
is based on the 9-3 SportWagon, has a 35.5
kWh A kilowatt-hour (unit symbol: kW⋅h or kW h; commonly written as kWh) is a unit of energy: one kilowatt of power for one hour. In terms of SI derived units with special names, it equals 3.6 megajoules (MJ). Kilowatt-hours are a common bill ...
lithium-ion battery A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It also s ...
pack, a top speed of , and an estimated driving range of . Saab had scheduled to run a two-year trial with 70 ePower demonstrators in Sweden by late 2011. The new owner of the Saab estate, National Electric Vehicle Sweden, initially stated that they intended to start producing the all-electric 9-3 ePower to be launched in China by late 2013 or early 2014. The production version was slated to be unveiled at the 2014 Frankfurt Motor Show and market launch for 2015. In April 2014, NEVS began production on a batch of 200 units to be tested in
Qingdao Qingdao (, also spelled Tsingtao; , Mandarin: ) is a major city in eastern Shandong Province. The city's name in Chinese characters literally means " azure island". Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, it is a major nodal city of the One Belt ...
, China by mid-2014. After the test, sales are scheduled to begin in Sweden in 2015.


2011

For the 2011 model year, the single-turbo TiD diesel engines were replaced by twin-turbo diesel engines (TTiD), which increased the power output of the 8V version from 120 to 130 PS, and the 16V from 150 to 160, respectively.


2012

The 9-3 received some revisions in 2011 for the 2012 model year. Changes were in the engine range with an overall reduction in diesel and petrol engine fuel consumption of 12% and 7% respectively. An entry-level 163 hp, 2.0 L gasoline/BioPower engine was added for 9-3 saloon, estate, and 9-3X models with Saab XWD. Other changes included rear badging in line with all new Saab 9-5 saloon, 'ice block' style headlights, New bumper design, titanium metallic-effect trim around the instrument panel, gearshift, doors, and glove box. The Aero included graphite fiber effect. Contrast stitching on leather upholstery. In most markets, car was badged 'Griffin'. The three-spoke alloy wheel returned in 16- to 18-inch choices. An "Independence Edition" convertible was released with a total of 366 units to commemorate the first anniversary of the sale to
Spyker Cars Spyker Cars (, ) is a Dutch sports car marque. The modern Spyker Cars held the legal rights to the brand name. The company's motto is "''Nulla tenaci invia est via''", Latin for "For the tenacious, no road is impassable". The marque's logo d ...
.


2014 (NEVS)

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) restarted production of the Saab 9-3
Aero Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero ( ...
Sedan MY14 on 2 December 2013, in Saab's former
Trollhättan Trollhättan () is the 23rd-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County. It is situated by Göta älv, near the lake Vänern, and has a population of approximately 50,000 in the city proper. It is loc ...
assembly plant. The only exterior difference on the MY14 model is the lack of the Griffin badge, to which NEVS does not own the rights. The Griffin is replaced with a badge displaying the Saab
logotype A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordm ...
, as well as new seats. The 9-3 Aero MY14 features a 220-horsepower 2.0-liter direct-injected twin-scroll turbocharged engine and went on sale in Sweden on 10 December. The first cars were to deliver in Spring 2014 as a "Limited Edition" model. Only two colors were available, black and Silver. The 9-3 no longer meets the latest Euro NCAP tests regarding pedestrian safety; therefore, only 1,000 cars of each body model could be sold in Europe, as a low-volume manufacturer. The only other market was China. An electric version was to be launched in spring 2014 in the Chinese market. The updated 9-3 have been tested favourably by motoring magazines. Vi Bilägare wrote that it feels modern and feels sporty yet comfortable. Saab automobile production ended as of May 2014 because Qingbo Investment, one of NEVS shareholders, was not able to reach a financing agreement. By the end of 2014, India's
Mahindra & Mahindra Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai. It was established in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed and later renamed as Mahindra & Mahindra. Part of the Mahindra Grou ...
agreed to buy a majority stake in NEVS. In February 2015, it was announced that the remaining 100 cars that were stuck on the halted production line since May 2014 would be completed. Production of the electric 9-3 in China was started in 2019.


Third generation

Work on a third-generation Saab 9-3 started in 2007, when designers in
General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
facilities in Rüsselsheim and
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began work on a design study. The design language was supervised by Simon Padian, and the design team managed to produce a clay model and several computer models before General Motors announced it had put the Saab brand "under review" in December 2008. After an intended sale of Saab to Swedish supercar manufacturer
Koenigsegg Koenigsegg Automotive AB () is a Swedish manufacturer of high-performance sports cars based in Ängelholm, Skåne County, Sweden. Company The company was founded in 1994 in Sweden by Christian von Koenigsegg, with the intention of producin ...
ultimately failed in 2009, General Motors reached an agreement with Dutch manufacturer
Spyker N.V. Spyker N.V. (formerly known as Spyker Cars N.V. and Swedish Automobile N.V.) was a Dutch automobile company that produced high-end sports cars. It was the holding company of the Spyker Cars marque. In 2010, the company acquired Swedish car manuf ...
in January 2010. The sale of Saab to Spyker was completed in late February 2010 and work on a replacement for the 9-3 was restarted virtually immediately. The new management of Saab, headed by CEO Victor Muller, felt, however, that a new design language was needed to distance a newly independent Saab from General Motors. Muller hired Jason Castriota in June 2010 to work on a scalable car platform that would serve as the basis for future Saabs, beginning with the replacement for the 9-3. In October 2010 a number of prototypes were produced and evaluated against the prototypes made in 2007. Eventually, Castriota's prototype was chosen and the design team was instructed to develop a five-door
combi coupé Combi coupé is a marketing term used by Saab to describe cars with a sloping coupé-like rear hatchback. The term joins the European term "combi" (for an estate car / station wagon) with coupé. The design combines the functionality of a hatchb ...
, a
convertible A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
and a
crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Albums and songs * ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album) * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album) * ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album) * ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
on the new platform. The work on the new platform culminated in the unveiling of the
Saab PhoeniX The Saab PhoeniX is a concept car produced by Saab which was unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The concept car's name was chosen at a time when the troubled Saab company had just been sold to Spyker by General Motors), ready to rise again ...
concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
at the
Geneva Motor Show The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by t ...
in March 2011. By that time, Saab had run into serious
cash flow A cash flow is a real or virtual movement of money: *a cash flow in its narrow sense is a payment (in a currency), especially from one central bank account to another; the term 'cash flow' is mostly used to describe payments that are expected ...
problems, but work on the PhoeniX platform and the 9-3 replacement continued to the point that bankruptcy papers were filed in late 2011. The replacement of the 9-3, which had been renamed 900 by that time, was to have a 1.6 liter turbo engine supplied by BMW, who would have also supplied the cars' start-stop system. The car was to have a hybrid drivetrain and was to be released in both a premium Aero and an economy Vector variant. When Saab finally filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, Castriota and his team had already finished most of the work on the car's body and its engineering, with the interior being the only part yet to be developed. The car was set to be completed by fall of 2012 The main assets of the bankrupt company were acquired by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), which may revisit the PhoeniX platform. NEVS was focusing its efforts on producing an electric variant of the second generation 9-3.


Awards and Recognition

2010 * Saab 9-3 received an award as the most reliable vehicle in the middle class. With 50,000 km, 93.1% of Saab's showed no defect requiring the service and for the 100,000 km, this percentage is still respectable and is 84.2%. 2009 * US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 'Top Safety Pick Award' in the midsize luxury category. 2008 * US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 'Top Safety Pick Award' in the midsize luxury category. 2007 * US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 'Top Safety Pick Award' in the midsize luxury category. 2006 * US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 'Top Safety Pick Gold Award' in the midsize luxury category. * Wards Automotive list the 2.8 L V6 featured in the 9-3 amongst their 10 Best Engines of 2006.


See also

* Saab 9-5


Notes


External links

{{Saab Automobile 9-3 Cars introduced in 1998 2000s cars 2010s cars All-wheel-drive vehicles Compact cars Compact executive cars Convertibles Euro NCAP large family cars Coupés Flexible-fuel vehicles Front-wheel-drive vehicles Hatchbacks Police vehicles Sports sedans Station wagons