Saab 9-3 Aero: First Look

For under $70,000, the new 9-3 Aero represents impressive value, and while it may not have the badge credibility of of other Euro imports, it does make for an intriguing proposition.

Consider, for a moment, the similarly specified BMW four-door 330i, which ships with a larger (and thirstier) 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine.

It costs $26,400 more, has the same amount of torque and only slightly more power, and options and fittings are closely matched.

Granted, the Saab is front-wheel drive and still a ways off from the craftsmanship of the BMW, but refinement is improving dramatically, particularly with the new 9-3 series, launched late 2002.

The Saab 9-3 Aero is the performance model in the elegant new 9-3 range, and gets a number of improved features over its stablemates, most notably the powerful 2.0-litre engine.

Before you scoff at the 2.0-litre engine, again consider it has 300Nm of torque @ just 2500rpm -- the same amount and at lower revs than the BMW 330i.

Up 20Nm compared to last year's Aero, this peak torque is also sustained until 4000rpm, endowing the vehicle with solid low-to-mid range acceleration.

The high levels of torque come about via a number of upgrades to the Aero powerplant, least of which is a bigger intercooled turbocharger running 12.5PSI of boost (0.85bar) and a higher 9.5:1 compression ratio.

Combine the bigger blower with a more aggressive camshaft profile, high-performance pistons, rings and fuel injectors, and you can begin to understand where the Aero's prodigious power comes from.

Interestingly, the Saab's unique Trionic 8 engine management system allows the highly strung mill to bring the turbo in slightly earlier (an electronic ‘sleight of hand’ in Saab-speak) that at low revs briefly opens the throttle more than requested in order to spool up the turbo more rapidly for smoother power delivery.

The 1998cc, DOHC, inline four-cylinder turbo engine makes 155kW @ 5300rpm and combined with the six-speed close ratio manual gearbox - which features improved syncromesh for smoother, more positive gear-changing - will sprint to 100km/h from rest in 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 235km/h.

It's obvious that the five speed automatic transmission doesn't match as suitably to the hi-po forced induction engine, making the same sprint in 9.0 seconds. Fuel consumption also suffers slightly in the auto, suggesting the ratios aren't in harmony with the engine's torquey character.

Despite this, both the manual and auto models do surprisingly well for themselves in the performance stakes when you consider the car has a kerb weight of 1493kg (1514kg for the auto).

As far as looks go, we've already stated (click here to read the article) how much we like the new-look 9-3, but the Aero model is by far the prettiest, with bolder ground effects and tasty 17-inch alloy wheels shod with low-profile rubber.

The Aero is the Saab 9-3 range's hero car and, as such, straight line speed is not enough to compete with the best of Europe's performance car divisions. As such, Saab stated that it's first step was to create a stiff, sports chassis that minimised bodyroll during cornering and gave the driver excellent handling and feedback.

Further handling refinements come from the new four-link rear suspension layout, with the unique Saab ‘ReAxs’ passive rear-wheel steering characteristic. In layman's terms, this system prevents excessive understeer and optimises the car’s balance, helping it turn in with absolute precision and respond more quickly to steering inputs, a la traditional rear-wheel drive sedans.

The 2003 Aero model, and all 9-3 models for that matter, also include a Traction Control System (TCS) to reduce wheelspin, Saab Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) to minimise skidding, Cornering Brake Control (CBC) for when you've lobbed too deep into a corner and the very latest in Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) for optimum stopping power in emergency situations.

And unlike some electronic systems, the Saab driving aids – TCS, ESP and CBC in particular – are calibrated to be almost imperceptible in their application according to Saab types.

If a high-performance car is to be genuinely fun to drive, it must have outstanding Aero-dynamics (Sorry, couldn't help it). Saab's aviation heritage means it has always paid closer attention to aerodynamics than its competitors, and the new 9-3 Aero is a clear demonstration of Saab expertise.

The aerodynamics team at Saab Technical Development has reduced lift forces – and thus created much greater downforce and therefore stability at high speed – by means of a front airdam, side and rear skirts, and a discreet boot lid spoiler. By allowing more air to flow over rather than under the car lift forces are reduced dramatically.

Long hours collecting wind-tunnel data and running complex computer fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations enabled the Saab experts to get the airflow exactly right for the 9-3 Aero, and to cut lift forces by an amazing 70% at the front and 40% at the rear compared to the base 9-3 models, which already possess excellent aerodynamic characteristics.

While the Aero model 9-3 is clearly a performance vehicle, in terms of comfort levels and interior appointments the Aero also rises above the others in the range, embodying everything expected of a European prestige car.

While customers can opt for power sunroof and bi-xenon head lamps with retractable head lamp washers, the standard features include:

Dual-tone Aero sports leather seats
Leather sports steering wheel
Leather gear knob
'Prestige' 300-watt stereo with in-dash six-disc CD player and 13 speakers
Saab Parking Assistance
S aab Information Display trip computer
Power front seats (driver’s with 3 position memory)
Electrically foldable door mirrors
Remote anti-theft alarm with tilt sensor
Adjustable front armrest
Six airbags
Saab Active Head Restraints
Split/fold rear seat

The new Saab 9-3 Aero is the latest in a long line of high-performance Saab models, which began in the late 1950s with the legendary Saab 93 Gran Turismo 750. The Aero name, however, was not launched for another 25 years – at the 1984 Brussels Motor Show – when the Saab 900 Turbo 16 Aero made its debut.

Since that day, the Aero variants of the 900 and the 9000 have been firm favourites with the motoring public, and today Saab continues to produce Aero versions of both the 9-3 and the 9-5.

The 2003 model 9-3 Aero is arguably the most impressive Aero model yet, which is quite something in and of itself, sporting high levels of comfort and luxury but without sacrificing inspired handling characteristics.

Together with what is a gloriously powerful high-pressure turbo engine, Saab's new cars, and indeed its reputation, is rapidly improving. While the new Aero won't instantly convince BMW, Audi and Mercedes customers to switch brands, it will make many think twice when decision time arrives, as it compare favourably to much more expensive European models.

Pricing:
9-3 Aero Sport Sedan (man) $66,900
9-3 Aero Sport Sedan (auto) $69,400