Saab gets serious

Saab is on a mission. It doesn't want to be the the poorer cousin of other European automakers, or the 'safer' buying option. And more than anything else, it wants to be seen as sexy.

The Swedish company has come up with a new philosophy in a bid to achieve this, and at the forefront of this is a new design, which will cover all models in the years to come.

Saab is very serious about this new move and hopes to increase sales from the current 120,000 (approx) to 250,000 cars in the next five years.

The new-look design is realised in the 9-3 X, or 9-X concept, which is unlikely to make it to production. Still, you can see the resemblence creeping into Saab's new-look 9-3 Sport Sedan - the first model revision in almost a decade.

Visually, the new 9-3 Sport Sedan is quite a looker. It's very much a Saab, only much sleeker than the current (2001/2002 model-year) crop of Swedes. The new 2003 9-3 includes subtle styling cues that really work in its favour - the mildy flared wheel arches and diminuitive boot spoiler, for instance. Short overhangs add an almost coupe-ish stance, which can also be seen in the steeply raked windscreen and rear window.

Squared-off headlights replace the older wrap-around style and give it a more aggressive stance. A lengthy front air-dam gives the front-end purpose and the tail-lights have also been re-jigged for an almost Volvo-like appearance. Hmm...

With the wheelbase increased by 71mm and width by 55mm, handling has been dramatically improved, plus it allows more interior space. Rear passengers will benefit most from the extra girth.

With the arrival of the all new Saab 9-3, Peter Augustsson, Saab Automobile big cheese had this to say: "The all new 9-3 offers a level of driver involvement and responsive performance never seen before from Saab. The integration of a fine-handling chassis with the new, refined powertrain delivers a true ‘fun-to-drive’ package.

"It is a formula designed to appeal to young, premium car buyers who place a priority on a rewarding driving experience but who also want to express their individuality through choosing a distinctive, less commonplace brand."

You'll notice that old Augustsson mentions a 'fine-handling chassis' and this was one of the marque's primary concerns. Along with the increased wheelbase and width, the chassis has been given a solid once over with the magic technology wand.

Saab wanted to involve the driver more, to make driving more of a joy than chore. As such, the 2003-model 9-3 is claimed to have a high level of driver feedback - we assume through the steering wheel.

More importantly, perhaps, is the increased rigidity in the Saab's body. The bodyshell is also more than twice as stiff as its predecessor's. This not only makes it safer but enhances handling characteristics too.

Other features contributing to a more responsive drive include ReAxs. The rear suspension is tuned for more response and so aids turn-in at the front. With a slew of electronically controlled saftey systems, such as cornering brake control (CBC) and a traction control system (TCS), the new Sport Sedan will have sportier handling dynamics than its predecessors and with this comes a more refined ride, which Saab is very keen to promote.

The front-wheel drive Saab will be controlled via either a five-speed automatic transmission, or a choice of two manuals. There will be three variants of the new 9-3 (plus a hi-po Aero model) and the five-speed manual will be available on all but the top-rated model. A six-speed manual will allow the more powerful 9-3 a better take and a higher top speed.

Which leads us to the engines available. All three will be 2.0-litre, four-cylinder jobs - all-aluminium, no less - each with a turbocharger bolted on. For more power, Saab has simply cranked up the boost in the higher-rated powerplants. The entry-level turbo mill rocks in with 110kW @ 5500rpm, while torque climaxes @ 2500rpm, generating a more credible 240Nm.

The next inline four is worth 129kW @ 5500rpm and generates 265Nm @ 2500rpm. The big daddy, with about 0.85-bar of boost, churns out 300Nm of torque @ 2500rpm and 154kW of power @ 5500rpm, which allows the 9-3 to sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds. The two lower-specified engines are capable of 9.5 and 8.5 second sprints respectively. Mid-range power is obviously the new Saab's strong point and this should work well with the promised handling improvements.

Saab insists the new 9-3 is built from 'the driver outwards', and a host of innovative interior features highlights this claim. For starters, Saab is claiming to be the first manufacturer to incorporate Bluetooth technology (essentially a network of wireless devices and applications) into a vehicle. The all new 9-3 supports hands-free voice control and calling via a Bluetooth headset, as well as wireless dial-up networking functionality using a Bluetooth PDA or laptop. Let's just hope drivers don't try to surf the net while on the freeway...

The Saab also receives rain-sensitive wipers, automatic climate control, steering-wheel mounted auxiliary controls and an advanced electronic wiring system, taking advantage of fibre optics to improve relay speeds. If you want it (for a premium), you can get Sat Nav, complete with voice-activated instruction.

Instrumentation is back-lit in cool green and the main instrument panel wraps around the driver to give a more dynamic appeal. There's a high position display (Saab Information Display) SID located on top of the fascia near the base of the windscreen, which shows satellite navigation directions and incorporates the Saab Car Computer (see image).

Safety hasn't been overlooked either, with second generation Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) headlining the list. Pioneered by Saab, these help prevent neck injury for front seat occupants in rear-end impacts. Seat belt pre-tensioning and load limiting is standard for all outer seating positions, combined with dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and side roof rail airbags.

As we said earlier, Saab is on a mission. While the car won't be in dealerships until late in 2002 (by about November), it signifies that the marque is serious about enticing new customers. The new Sport Sedan's main competitors will be the BMW 3-series, the Audi A4 range and Volvo's S60.

Rumours of an all-wheel drive performance model, if true, would boost the manufacturers status significantly, but already, with an impressive new-look and a tons of new features, the new Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan is a perfect stepping stone to a brighter future for Saab.