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Take the 9-3 on face value and the car is quite impressive, rather stunning to look at and surprisingly comfortable to ride in, but start blending the various parts and practicalities together as a whole and you soon realise a few things could have been done a little better.But before we get in to the nitty gritty, let’s take a quick look around the car. It’s a neat package over all, modern, sporty looking, and rather sleek, with a curious habit of standing out in a crowd. The angular front end, large clam shell bonnet and bold headlights really make a statement drawing much of your focus from the profile around to the fore end of the car.

Smooth parallel shoulder and hip lines carry unbroken through the length of the vehicle to a well finished rear end sporting frosted tail lights and high boot line. The bold tail end suits the vehicle’s proportions and makes a nice change from regular cars who’s designers seem to have fallen asleep by the time they draw the back of the vehicle.

Inside the cabin is well presented, has a lovely ambiance and with the possible exception of the outdated dashboard and instrumentation panel, really does make you feel as though you’ve done well in choosing the 9-3. The heated leather seats are comfortable, well textured to the touch and lose none of that vital support.

The front seats are well proportioned dimensionally which makes for very pleasant longer trips and the driving position is excellent, almost sporty. Unfortunately the rear leg room is a little on the tight side for adults, more so if your front row buddies have long legs.

Climate Control, Cruise, and all the expected powered goodies do a fine job considering their design age, though I would option the Bose stereo were it my car as the standard six disc unit (with iPod plug in) leaves a lot to be desired, especially in terms of clarity at volume. It may also help disguise some of the annoying road noise.

Boot space too is rather generous for a mid-sized sedan and the rear seats fold 60:40 to allow greater flexibility when required. If you need extra carrying capacity the 9-3 can be optioned with removable roof racks and/or a 1,600kg (braked) tow kit, which I’m sure the torquey diesel would have no trouble pulling.

Upfront the 110kW 1.9 litre common-rail turbo diesel does a brilliant job of keeping things on the boil once moving and with thanks to a healthy 320Nm, pulls rather strongly mid gear. The down side however is that the performance suffers incredibly from (initial) turbo lag.Whilst this is a trait of many turbo diesel engines it is most especially noticeable in the 9-3, so much so you even feel it when trying to exit slower corners. It’s disconcerting really, much more evident than it should be, and whilst it can be managed with the use of manual mode when in motion (say on tight windy roads), is something you really need to be mindful of from stand still (like when tackling a busy intersection).

Swapping cogs for you is the Sentronic six-speed auto. It’s capable enough, and smooth when allowed to carry its own pace, but try and stir it up a little, even in sport mode, and it can become annoyingly slow to respond. Thankfully the remedy is a click away, and if you’re in need of sharper response, the thumb shift ‘M’ mode (manual - steering wheel mounted) is a far better option.The suspension too isn’t quite there in terms of overall ability. It may be comfortable enough, and does a fair job of soaking up lumps and bumps, but on the handling front is rather nervous. There’s a fair bit of body roll, especially on high speed sweepers, and the car will tend to under steer if the turn-in speed isn’t quite slow enough, which can make for hard work considering the heavy power steering.Braking though is good, reassuring, and a lot better than the 9-5, but the pedal feel is still somewhat firm and requires far more input than similarly priced European or Japanese rivals. Still the ABS with Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, brings the 9-3 to rest confidently and drew little in the way of messy black dust all over the sporty 17″ alloys which was nice for a change come clean up time.

In all though the 9-3 is a great looker, is cheap to run and is surprisingly comfortable. Whilst it does lack some of the driving finesse you’d expect of a premium brand, and though it could do with a little tweaking to satiate the needs of a fiercely fought price bracket, it’s has one unique thing going for it - people just love to admire it.Parking from place-to-place this week the Vector has drawn plenty of compliments, most especially from the type of person who understands where SAAB is at, and what owning one affords you in terms of social status. It’s a rare thing these days with prestige cars being so common and if you can live with the 9-3s compromises, that feel good buzz could mean owning one is right for you.

CarAdvice overall rating: How does it drive: How does it look: How does it go:

• Engine: 1910cc four-cylinder turbo diesel
• Power: 110kW @ 4,000rpm
• Torque: 320Nm @ 2,000 - 2,750rpm
• Transmission: Sentronic Six-Speed Automatic
• Driven Wheels: Front
• 0-100km/h: 11.0 seconds (Claimed)
• Top speed: 210km/h (Claimed)
• Safety: ESP (with TCS); ABS (with BA, CBC & EBD); Front, Side and Curtain Airbags
• NCAP rating: 5 Stars
• Turning circle: 10.8 metres
• Wheels: Alloy 17″ x 7.5″ (As Tested - Usually 17″ x 7″)
• Spare Wheel: Space Saver
• Fuel tank: 58 litres
• Fuel consumption : 6.8 litre / 100km (ADR Combined Average)
• Fuel type: Diesel
• Towing Capacity: 1,600kg (Braked)
• Weight: 1,509kg (Tare)

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So if you’re a tad puzzled as to which 9-3 convertible is for you, join the club! The reason companies like Mars and Coca Cola don’t flood the shelves with products suited to every man and his dog, is to not confuse the market, something car companies are doing more often.

Of course Saab and GM are not as bad as the Germans. Mercedes-Benz has clearly made a car for every single person on the planet, yet it’s still afraid of holes in its range, so every once in a while a new class is added, which is nearly identical to an existing class, except that it has an extra seat or 2kW more power.

16 choices, one week, which one should I pick? Tony had already decided he wanted the Aero, because Tony likes things that go fast, besides I wanted something different, something that would turn a few heads. Nothing does that better than a diesel convertible.

After picking up my 9-3 TiD 1.9-litre turbo-diesel from Saab Brisbane I headed for a meeting with CarAdvice’s advertising agent. We ended up out for lunch at the Emporium in Fortitude Valley (one of Brisbane’s trendiest bistro districts).

Arriving at the Emporium in anything but a European car is out of the norm. Thankfully the 9-3 stands out like a beautiful girl holding your arm at a pretentious dinner party, it fits in perfectly. That’s not to say the car is pretentious, far from it, only that it can play the part, what ever that may be.

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Optimised for E85 fuel, the small, 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine generates a substantial 147kW on E85 and an even more impressive 280Nm.

When running on standard petrol, the Saab 9-X concept will return a combined cycle of just 4.9-litres per 100km, however using E85 will increase this figure to 6.4-litres per 100km.

Performance is modest although impressive for an engine of its size, covering zero to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds on E85.

More info here.

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Optimised for E85 fuel, the small, 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine generates a substantial 147kW on E85 and an even more impressive 280Nm.

When running on standard petrol, the Saab 9-X concept will return a combined cycle of just 4.9-litres per 100km, however using E85 will increase this figure to 6.4-litres per 100km.

Performance is modest although impressive for an engine of its size, covering zero to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds on E85.

The Saab 9-X is uses a six-speed manual gearbox with an automatic clutch and steering wheel controls.

Echoing Saab’s roots in aircraft design, the 9-X BioHybrid also explores the potential for using active aerodynamics to reduce drag – and fuel consumption – at cruising speeds.

Above 70km/h the upper and lower bodywork is reshaped as the roof spoiler automatically extends to further lengthen the roof line and an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.

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Saab says the ice sculptures have been inspired by the brands progressive design, responsible performance and sporty driver focus. So if you put all those things together, you get the new Saab Aero X made from ice.

”The Move Your Mind room is designed to be a journey, a flow, a pulse which aims to disrupt and challenge the visitors perceptions of what is normal or expected. The installation is designed to create an audiovisual experience that defies the visitor’s senses. We hope that the public will find it thought-provoking and leave feeling more engaged with the Saab brand.” Simon Padian, chief designer for Saab.

Perhaps Australian manufacturers can try something similar, using crushed beer cans instead of ice?

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This test car is a little unique though, it’s wearing a Chevrolet Trailblazer body with a Saab 9-7X front end! General Motors, owner of Saab, has confirmed that a Cadillac will also be built on this Theta/Epsilon 2 platform.

The Saab 9-4x will be manufactured in Mexico for markets world-wide including Australia. Official unveiling of the car is expected before mid-year, but so far all sources indicate the car won’t land in Saab dealerships till late 2009.

As for the engine, all we know is that the concept makes use of a 2.0-litre ‘BioPower’ turbocharged engine that develops an impressive 224kW and 400Nm when used with E85 fuel. The unit is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The concept also utilises the Saab XWD (”cross wheel drive”) all-wheel-drive system which incorporates an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eLSD).

Photos copyright to Scoopy and used with permission for CarAdvice.com.au only.

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Saab which, coincidently stands for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aeroplane Company) still makes planes, but the car division has been completely under General Motors control since 2000, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Next time you are out and about, keep an eye out to see how many new Saab sedans or wagons you can spot, there aren’t that many, so buying one of these will put you in a very exclusive club.

First there is the looks, from the front it’s hard to fault the car, it looks almost identical to the Saab Turbo X and it has just the right amount of aggressiveness without looking over the top. But the rear is a little seen-that-before with its frosted lights.

Drive it around town and people will stare, they are usually trying to work out what kind of car it is - in this day and age, this is a good thing.

Saab buyers are a unique bunch of people, similar to Jaguar buyers. What Saab really needs is to attract new buyers to the brand. Last year Saab sold 1862 vehicles in Australia, which is not bad, but given its competing with the likes of Volvo, Volkswagen and Audi, it can be a lot better- and has been.

The problem the brand faces isn’t so much the cars, as they are mostly brilliant, but the false stigma that people that drive Saabs are weird.

So it was with great pleasure that I took home a Saab 9-3 SportCombi to see if I too would turn into an 11am chai-latte drinker.

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The concept utilizes the Saab XWD (”cross wheel drive”) all-wheel-drive system which incorporates an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eLSD).

Click on images to enlarge.

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“We focused on incorporating design themes from the Aero X in a crossover execution, adding functional, lifestyle features to support the activities of customers using this type of vehicle,” Anthony Lo, GM Europe’s Director of Advanced Design

Flexfuel is the new hybrid, with the 9-4x Concept running a 2.0L ‘BioPower’ turbocharged engine that develops an impressive 224kW and 400Nm when used with E85 fuel mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The concept utilises the Saab XWD (”cross wheel drive”) all-wheel-drive system which incorporates an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eLSD).

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The new 9-3 range will add three more E85 flex-fuel models to Saab’s eco-friendly line-up with the 9-3 BioPower Sport Sedan, SportCombi and the iconic Saab Convertible - representing only a $1,000 premium over their petrol counterparts.

In conjunction with the 9-3 BioPower range, United Petroleum - Australia’s largest independent fuel retailer - has announced plans to install Australia’s first commercial E85 fuel pumps in both Sydney and Melbourne.

“With the launch of BioPower, Saab set out to break the chicken and egg cycle that prevented Australian drivers from choosing a renewable fuel alternative,” Director GM Premium Brands, Parveen Batish

The Saab 9-3 BioPower has the ability to run on E85 - a mix of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol - but crucially may also run on standard petrol in any combination from one fuel tank.

“Saab took the first leap and United Petroleum is taking the same bold leadership position with its commitment to make E85 commercially available to flex-fuel car drivers.”

The average diesel engine will emit between 120-130 grams of CO2 per kilometre, the new 9-3 BioPower emits just 40 grams whilst retaining performance.

BioPower combines turbo charging with the use of E85 fuel to deliver increased engine power and performance, the BioPower 2.0t delivers peak power of 147kW and 300Nm of maximum torque on E85. This represents an additional 18kW and 35Nm over the 2.0-litre turbo petrol variant.

Saab’s distinctive new styling of the 9-3 Sport Sedan, SportCombi and Convertible, is inspired by the award winning Aero X concept car combining to present a clearer Saab identity and a bolder, more assertive stance.

The new look Saab signature ‘clamshell’ hood design incorporates a sweeping, U-shaped styling line, as first seen on the Aero X, which echoes the curvature of the windshield.

Two new colours are added to the range, including a Snow Silver metallic paint finish similar to that seen on the Aero X, with an 18-inch wheel design now offered as an option on all variants.

As well as adding a BioPower model to the Saab line-up in Australia, the new 9-3 range will also introduce all-wheel drive and new performance diesel models in 2008.

From February, TTiD, an innovative 132kW, two-stage 1.9 litre performance turbo diesel will be available, joined by the exciting new limited edition Turbo X, all-wheel drive performance car in June.

The diesel range in centered around the new 1.9 TTiD engine with a unique two-stage turbo charging system, producing 32 kW and 400Nm (manual only) of maximum torque, with combined fuel consumption of 5.9 l/100km projected for the Sport Sedan.

The two-stage charging process incorporates two turbochargers of different sizes which are sequentially mounted and each is able to by-pass the input and output feeds of the other, while also being able to operate in tandem.

Recognizing its performance aspects, the TTiD engine will only be available in Aero specifications, with other models receiving the current 110 kW 1.9 TiD engines, with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

Saab’s headlining performance Turbo X model reads more like the spec sheet of the Impreza’s of late, featuring an action all-wheel-drive system designed to optimise handling and stability in all driving conditions an an up-rated 206kW, 2.8V6 Turbo engine which delivers almost 15 per cent more maximum torque to 400Nm to exploit the greater traction available.

The Turbo X comes with a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Steering-linked bulbs can swivel the bi-xenon headlights up to 15 degrees when negotiating a bend or corner above 15km/h while at highways speeds, the low beam is also automatically raised slightly for improved illumination.

Preliminary performance figures of 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds have been recorded for the manual version.

Customers will have the choice between the Linear and Vector models with the petrol, flex-fuel or diesel engine combination of their choice.

The new 9-3 Aero includes a premium Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound audio system which offers exceptional reproduction quality through five channels from CD, MP3 and other audio sources through either 11 (Sedan) or 10 (Combi) speakers.

Pricing begins at $43,400 for the Linear 2.0t manual, with the entry-level BioPower Linear 2.0t adding $1,000 to this price tag.

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Of course there is one big problem with using E85, its not currently sold commercially in Australia! However Saab says there are a number of ethanol-compatible pumps established around the country, which are capable of switching to commercial sale.

So given the current lack of E85 fuel in Australia, Saab has designed the car to be capable of running completely on Petrol when necessary. Saab believes this is important in the take-up phase of an alternative fuel.

“Saab BioPower is the first production ethanol fuel vehicle for sale in this country,” Director GM Premium Brands, Parveen Batishsaid.

As with all new things. there are some downsides. The Saab will use more E85 per kilometre than standard petrol (although emission offsets are still by far in favour of E85) , and of course there is the whole argument of the actual production of E85, which is producing more pollution than E85 is offsetting!

Thankfully though. that hasn’t stopped the government, ethanol producers and the general public from showing massive interest in the Saab.

“Based on this positive feedback we believe Australians are willing to invest in BioPower, which will help stimulate the demand needed to convince fuel retailers and regulators to facilitate the introduction of E85 fuel pumps at service stations locally.”

The actual car it self produces up to 80 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to standard fossil fuel cars.

If you’re expecting a power downgrade, you’d be wrong, the BioPower series of Saab’s actually produce more power! Saab 9-5 BioPower generates roughly 154 kW and 310 Nm of torque on E85, up from 136kW and 280 Nm on petrol.

Saab offers BioPower in 9-5 Sedan and SportEstate body-styles, with a 2.3 litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

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