SAAB 9-3 XWD to be on display at MIMS

By Matt Brogan | February 24th, 2009

Saab will introduce it’s XWD (cross wheel drive) system in the latest 9–3 Aero Sport Sedan and SportCombi models at the Melbourne International Motor Show on Friday.

The XWD system, which has been specifically tuned for the Saab 9-3 chassis, is matched to an upgraded transverse-mounted 2.8-litre V6 turbo charged engine which produces 206kW and 400Nm (up from 188kW and 350Nm respectively in the existing model).

“The Saab XWD system sets a new benchmark in all-wheel-drive performance by offering customers a technologically advanced, performance driving experience,” said Director of GM Premium Brands, Parveen Batish. “The Turbo X was our first offering in the Australian market to feature this dynamic system; extending to our Aero V6 models continues to provide innovative products to our customers.”

Introduced to Australia in 2008, the halo Turbo X was offered in a special edition performance model with limited numbers being released to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Saab’s XWD system is fully automatic, on-demand type capable of sending up to 100 percent of engine’s torque to the front or rear wheels whenever necessary.

It operates seamlessly to improve traction and grip by helping the driver to keep the car stable by splitting drive torque to counteract over steer or under steer characteristics when cornering.

Take-off traction is also optimised by an innovative addition to the XWD system where preemptive engagement of the rear wheels takes place prior to acceleration which, unlike conventional all-wheel-drive systems, eliminates the need to detect front wheel slip before rear drive is activated.

The Melbourne International Motor Show will commence this Friday at 5pm in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

HAL

Firstly, let me say I have zero experience when it comes to Saab. But I also have to say that this is an extremely nice looking piece of kit, and with those engine specs it is worth considering.

I’m almost afraid to ask the question – anyone have anything bad to say about Saab in general?
HAL

^ just checked out the Saab website. $88K for the sedan….doh, there goes that idea!
Captain Mainwaring

Agreed Hal, doesn’t look too bad.
Now, anything bad to say about Saab?
Try buying one, then hang on for the depreciation ride.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Finally Saab’s are looking modern.

Saab will go the way of the dodo soon. GM will have to sell them off to an interested party and they don’t have the resources to survive on their own.

Saab’s aren’t alone in being made up of bits from all over the place and rebadged as their own.
HAL

^ CM, that bad, huh? I guess if you’re leasing it for 3 yrs and handing it back, the depreciation isn’t such a big deal. Is the normal 9-3 a good car?
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

HAL: Except if you get screwed by a silly residual value to keep your monthly lease amount to a minimum. You could end up with quite a sizable difference.

Going into a lease requires a bit of research as to what the residual price should be.
Myke

$88k??? What a shame, I have to agree to is a very smart looking car. It would be interesting to see what $88k gets you, compared to the AWD Insignia with the same engine. Lucky for Saab we don’t get the Insignia in Australia.
Eddy The Expert

Hal, the SAAB website mentions no pricing of the new 9-3 Aero XWD. The pricing you quote is for the special edition Turbo X which has features that either will be optional on the Aero XWD or won’t be available (Such as the removal of the torque limiter in 1st and 2nd gear)
HAL

^ ooops, Eddy, you are totally right. Sorry everyone, my mistake. Should get my facts straight before I post such comments

Supercujo, good point. But I am finding every car depreciates quite dramatically in the first 2-3 years, regardless of the make or model. But that is the conundrum with leasing, I agree.
NotTheStig

Saab, I think you should save your money (from the stand costs).

You could afford to take all the prospective customers off for a weekend away instead. Better return IMHO.

Just how many of this model will they sell in Australia ? (answer – not very many…)
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

From Redbook.com.au

2007 Saab 9-3 Vector Sport 444 MY2007
Price when new: $61,000
Trade-in Price: $26,900 – $30,100

Ouch!
HAL

^ Ouch alright, yikes! That is shocking.

^^ Eddy, in saying that though, the Saab website says the standard 9-3 Aero with the top of the range 188kW 2.8TV6 engine is $71K, so I wouldn’t have thought that throwing an XWD system on that and increasing the engine output would get you much change out of $80k +.

Still very expensive whatever way you slice it.
Eddy The Expert

supercujo, that drop would be because at the end of 2007 Saab released the MY08 range with many great improvements in looks and features, hence the big drop of the model you have selected, which would be the same on any superseded model
Eddy The Expert

I agree Hal, it would be interesting to see how much of a Premium Saab charges for its XWD and to compare the price to the Turbo X
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Eddy: True

But if Saab gets offloaded from GM and fails (very likely), won’t the depreciation be as bad or worse?
http://www.thecarparts.co.cc cars

think you should save your money
Cupid Stunt

Yeh save your money buy 2nd hand in two years and let the compant car sucker deal with the initial depreciation.
XWD Looks a real one to me, love it. Not too many around unlike the BMW3′s and Audi A4′s.
B-Man

That’s a lot of coin for a re-skinned Vectra.
tack

I wish this is all new Subaru Liberty and cost under 50K.
Steve-Poyza

Saab’s cars are undenyably handsome. I like them a lot. I just know that people don’t like them for some reason…