FirstDrive: Saab 9-3A new engine line-up is making Saab cool again, writes Paddy Comyn
You have to be thankful that car manufacturers don't teach our children language, because they are sometimes right up there with estate agents on their flexible use of semantics. This is the new Saab 9-3, and according to the manufacturers there are some 2,157 changes to the new model. Now, call me cynical, but it would seem that some of these "changes" are a little more obvious than others.
Saab has had something of a strange relationship with parent company GM over the last few years. You could think of them as being like a forgotten Christmas toy, that for a long time sat in the corner, but all of a sudden it has been realised that there might be some use in that abandoned gift and it is being treated like gold. With so much pressure on manufacturers to meet their emissions targets and with Saab already having a line-up of low-capacity turbocharged engines that now run on biofuel, the Saab story might just have a happy ending after all.
The Swedish firm has enjoyed something of a revival of late with its best ever year in 2006, up 11 per cent on 2005 and this is in no small part down to its forays into the biofuel segment.
Saab were early adopters of the technology, driven by the desire to use the fuel on its home market and it seems that the timing is just about right. It was able to revive sales of the antiquated 9-5 with a dramatic face-lift and the introduction of the BioPower version.
The news with the "new" Saab 9-3 is along the same lines. The 9-3 hasn't performed badly since it was launched in its present guise, with the convertible in particular hitting the right note and the introduction of a good-value 1.8-litre boosting sales on our own market. But it certainly hasn't captured the imagination in ways its German rivals have and while these cars have always enjoyed a good image, it could be considered as quite an insipid one. But, now, being able to don something of a green hat is likely to make Saab cool again, and to a totally new audience.
The new 9-3 has all-new bodywork as far back as the A-pillar, taking inspiration from the Saab Aero X Concept. The more prominent grille and more aggressive-looking headlamps give the car a more imposing stance and looks less contrived than what was done to the 9-5. But then again, botox might do more for a slightly ageing beauty than a haggard old hag anyway.
At the rear on the saloon and convertible there are new smoked-white light clusters that are a little bit like something you would buy from Halfords and so, from the rear, the Sports Estate is now the best looking model.
The removal of all the external rubbing strips from the bumpers and doors do give the car a cleaner overall look. There are new colours and new alloy wheel designs available too.
But what one really needs to know about are the new engines, as well as the news that Saab will introduce an all-wheel drive system to the Aero Sport Saloon and Sports Estate models.
The engine line-up for the 9-3 will now include new BioPower versions, which are capable of combining turbocharging with the use of E85 fuel, which is fuel made from 85 per cent bioethanol to offer a blend of performance and reduced CO2 emissions.
The new engine is the 2.0t which, running on E85, will produce 200bhp, which is 14 per cent more power and 13 per cent more torque than it will on regular petrol, where it manages 175bhp.
There is also a 1.8t version that has been in other markets for a while but is new to us, which will produce 175bhp while running on E85 fuel, compared to 150bhp when running on regular unleaded. The car will burn more of the E85 when it is using it, but since the fuel is less expensive, this tends to even out for the user.
And if, like the Saab 9-5, the 9-3 BioPower is allowed the usual VRT break for cars such as this, the entry-level BioPower car could become incredibly good value.
Also new is a flagship diesel model. The 1.9-litre TTiD uses a two-stage turbocharging system to produce a whopping 180bhp and 400Nm of torque. This engine is incredibly smooth and 0-100km/h takes a mere 8.5 seconds with a maximum speed of 225km/h, yet with fuel economy of 5.9 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 159g/km.
Finally, the flagship 2.8-litre V6 engine now boasts 280bhp and will be offered for the first time with a new Haldex all-wheel drive system. This uses the latest generation system, combines with an active rear limited-slip differential, to provide the best available traction when either moving off, coping with poor surfaces or cornering.
We will see the first of these cars in September. Prices have yet to be confirmed, but with a VRT reduction, the 1.8t Biopower could come in for as little as €35,000 making it very good value, especially when you consider that you will get a potential 175bhp for the same price as a BMW 316i with a mere 115bhp, or an Audi A4 1.6 SE with 102bhp, while doing your bit for the environment.
Factfile
MODELS AVAILABLE:
Sports Saloon, Sports Estate, Convertible
ENGINES:
Petrol:1.8i 122bhp, 1.8t 150bhp, 2.0T 210bhp, 2.8 V6 280bhp; BioPower: 1.8t 175bhp, 2.0t 200bhp; Diesel: 1.9 120bhp, 1.9S 150bhp, 1.9 TTiD 180bhp
SPECIFICATION LEVELS:Linear, linear sport, vector sport, aero
PRICING:
To be confirmed - but from about €35,000 for the 1.8t BioPower
AVAILABILITY:
Launch at the end of September of the 1.9 TTiD engine, end November Saab 2.8 AWD early 2008. Other engines will be available at the end 2008