Saab 9-3
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Saab9-3sportsedan.jpg
The Saab 9-3 is a midsize luxury-sport car made by Saab from Sweden. It shares platforms with the Opel Vectra. The drag coefficient is 0.28 (0.33 for the combi).
The car is actually badged as a 93, although Saab consistently advertises it as the 9-3. It should not be confused with the Saab 93.
1998
The original 9-3 was a rebadged, improved last-generation Saab 900. Launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year, it featured slightly sleeker styling with a black rear spoiler and removed Saab's trademark centrally-mounted "snow flap". It was available as a three or five-door hatchback, and as a two-door convertible. This was the last small Saab to use the company's H engine, and all models were turbocharged.
A high-powered, no longer in production version of the 9-3 was the Viggen, named after the Saab Viggen aircraft. It came with a turbocharged 2.3 L engine giving 230 hp ECE (169 kW). 0-100 km/h is done in 6.4 seconds and the top speed is 249 km/h.
Engines:
- 2.0 L B204 I4, turbo, 185 hp ECE (136 kW) (1998-1999)
- 2.0 L B205 I4, turbo, 185 hp ECE (136 kW) (2000-2002)
- 2.0 L B205R I4, turbo, 205 hp ECE (151 kW) (1999-2003)
- 2.3 L B235R I4, turbo, 230 hp ECE (169 kW) (1999-2002)
2003
The second-generation model was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2003.
All variants feature either a 1.8 L or 2.0 L straight-4 petrol engine derived from General Motors' Ecotec family, or a turbocharged 2.8 L High-Feature V6 (starting in 2006). There are two different versions of the turbo I4, with the amount of turbo boost determining the power output.
Power in the 9-3 is delivered through the front wheels only, in the tradition of all Saabs that came before it. It is available as a four-door sedan and as a two-door convertible. It is one of the safest cars in its class. Out of these models, the convertible (manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria beginning in 2003) is the best known, and is the best-selling in its class in many markets. A five-door hatchback, the 9-3 SportCombi, will join the lineup in 2006.
The 9-3 and the Opel Vectra were the first of General Motors's global Epsilon platform, which has now been lengthened to accommodate three new cousins, the Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu Maxx and the Pontiac G6.
Engines:
- 2003-2006 - 1.9 L Diesel I4, 120 hp ECE (88 kW)
- 2003-2006 - 1.9 L Diesel I4, 150 hp ECE (110 kW)
- 2003-2006 - 1.8 L Ecotec I4 122 hp ECE (90 kW)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, 150 hp (110 kW)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, light-pressure turbo, 175 hp ECE (129 kW)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, high-output turbo, 210 hp ECE (154 kW)
- 2006 - 2.8 L LP1 V6, 230 hp ECE (169 kW) (non-US)
- 2006 - 2.8 L HFV6 V6, turbo, 250 hp ECE (184 kW)
External link
- Magna Steyr (http://autoindex.org/maker.plt?no=139)
- Saab 9-3 Owners Bulletin Board (http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-3/)