Facelift for Saab 9-3 next summer
The Saab 9-3 is not scheduled for replacement until 2009, but rumors are circulating the web that a facelift is in the cards for next summer. The revised styling is expected to draw on the design of the Aero X concept car shown in Geneva.
While the all-new 2009 9-3 will be based on the upcoming Epsilon 2 platform, the facelifted 2008 version will continue on the current Epsilon base, but possibly offer a new all-wheel-drive option.
Given that none of the current Epsilon-based GM products currently offer all-wheel-drive, and that the new Epsilon 2 platform is just a few years away, it seems an odd move for Saab to put all-wheel-drive in a car right before it's scheduled for replacement. But then again, Saab is a bit of an odd company, so we'll see what they have in store.
[Source: Trollhattan Saab]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
laserwizard 12:43PM (10/19/2006)
The new face of Saab is a putrid one. Sunken headlights, awful grill work, and it doesn't even fit the current crop of vehicles. Once again GM is whoring Saab to the point where someone needs to sue GM for malfeasance.
R.I.P. Saab. GM has really screwed you.
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Spaceweasel 12:58PM (10/19/2006)
But how can I get all that manly torque steer with
AWD?
I actually like the idea of Saab going with power to all the wheels. They were early advocates of FWD for traction purposes, and this would
certainly follow in that vein (if a tad late to the party).
Plus it makes all the future tie ins w/ Subaru all that much easier!
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mattlach 12:56PM (10/19/2006)
I'm a bit apprehensive toward this move.
I loved the looks of the 1998-2001 and 2002-2005 9-5's, buth when they facelifted the 9-5 to add resemblance to the Aero X concept they created the 2006 9-5, which is the most heinous looking Saab ever made.
I am hoping for a more tasteful facelift for the 9-3 with less gaudy chrome.
That being said, the AWD would be a welcome addition. Saabs have had very good performance potential for a long time, but have always been hampered by not having a good way of putting power to the road. Making non-FWD vehicles available is a smart move on all levels for Saab, and might allow them to release a new 9-3 Viggen in the Audi S4 range.
The Holden sourced turbo V6 definitely has room in it for that kind of performance.
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mattlach 1:07PM (10/19/2006)
Spaceweasel:
Agreed, (except with the Subaru part)
GM and Subaru severed ties a whiel back now. Thats why the rebadged WRX named the 9-2X will be disappearing in 2007, and the 9-6X will not be based on the B9 Tribeca, but instead be an in-house dealie named the 9-4X.
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Spaceweasel 1:36PM (10/19/2006)
Obviously I wasn't paying attention when the music changed and everybody got a new dance partner. Thanks Matt.
I used to love hammering my old 900 Turbo around icy Alaskan streets. Wonderful fun.
by the by - does anyone know where I'm supposed to insert the password they give you to avoid all the hassle of going back to my email when I add comments?
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tilley 1:44PM (10/19/2006)
Get your 9-3s now while they still look good....except that AWD thing sure would be nice.....
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mattlach 1:59PM (10/19/2006)
Spaceweasel:
Yeah, don't fault you. The car companies are sleeping around quite a lot these days.
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MikeW 2:20PM (10/19/2006)
I would hope that Saab would actually get four wheel drive, not some half ass system like haldex and versatrak.
'Borrow' the alfa romeo Torsen3 center differential four wheel drive. Transverse direct injection 3.6 V6 (~300hp 9-5) & quirky monoturbo 2.8 V6 (~270hp 9-3) 6 speed auto or 6 speed manual, done.
The real Saabaru; Saab-swedish for audi.
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mattlach 2:32PM (10/19/2006)
MikeW:
Well, the haldex solution actually has several rather key advantages over a "true" 4wd system you prefer. Essentially it's halfway between a fully diffed 4wd system in fuel economy, price and performance.
For something thats not going to go offroad, this is all you need, while ot wasting money, fuel or drivetrain losses.
I just wish it were designed with a rear wheel bias...
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Swade 5:55PM (10/19/2006)
Mattlach,
The 9-5's redesign wasn't Aero-X based. It came out before the aero-X. The 9-5 look was based on incorporating some elements of the 9x concept car from 2001 or thereabouts.
The 9-3 will be the first to bring in some Aero-X elements, with the 9-4x and 9-5 following suit in the next few years.
And Autoblog, you could have published this before Edmunds. You've had it for 2 days now.....
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mattlach 6:16PM (10/19/2006)
Swade:
My bad, got my design facts a little wrong...
Here's what doesn't make sense to me.
Saab defines their customer base, among other ways as follows:
Making a statement - with understatement
Saab drivers are perceived as being artistic, cultivated and individualistic. In most markets, the very choice of a Saab is regarded as out of the ordinary. It is definitely a premium statement, but considered an alternative to the usual brands.
stolen from:
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2006/10/identity_part_1.html
I agree with the understated sophistication design philosophy, and cant bear to drive "loud" flashy cars.
Why then are Saabs design trends as of late towards the flashy and gaudy, and less of the understated sophistication their customers supposedly want? Are they intentionally alienating their customers?
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derek 6:31PM (10/19/2006)
"Get your 9-3s now while they still look good"
I did, and it's a hatchback
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Anthony94114 10:19AM (10/20/2006)
Saab would be long gone if there GM weren't there. Like it or not, it would be a memory. The drawings I've seen for the next take on the 9-3 looks pretty hot to me. Cleaned up, less gorpy, less clutter more clean and Swedish. Sounds like a good thing to me. If they were to carry on with the same design for 10 years with no major refreshening, nobody would shop the brand and it would be further in the hole. I have a 2006 9-5 wagon, which I got because my 2001 rocked hard. Always dependable, great MPG, rational size, brutally comfortable and fasssst. I love this car. The only thing I wish for it is slightly better dash plastics and a 9-3/BMW/tiptronic shifter, but other than that it gets far more compliments than I ever got with the old one... and it goes like a bat out of hell. GM/Saab needs to keep its few models fresh and interesting. Just makes solid business sense.
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Zo 10:47AM (10/20/2006)
Should they improve the quality of the Saab first?
It consistantly rate at the bottom for quality and after having my 2000 Saab I was happy to see it go this year because of the number of time I had it in the shop versus on the road. I had nothing but problems from day one.
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MikeW 11:19AM (10/20/2006)
The torsen3 is a torque sensistive planetary differential. It HAS a rear bias.
http://www.torsen.com/products/T-3.htm
Price is a non issue for a $30,000+ car,
Fuel economy difference between four wheel drive and Haldex, none.
In a haldex car: the rear wheels still roll on the ground, the wheel bearing still turn, the driveshafts still spin, the differential still rotates, and the longitudinal driveshaft is still spun.
In a four wheel drive car: the rear wheels still roll on the ground, the wheel bearing still turn, the driveshafts still spin, the differential still rotates, and the longitudinal driveshaft is still spun.
This isn't a pickup where there is a disconnect at the hubs so that the drivetrain components are idle, so a meager 1/2 mile per gallon can be gained from having the drivetrain in a cold standy versus a hot standby. (NVG 246: rear drive, hot standby clutch pack in transfer case, mechanical fore/aft lock-off road drive, N, low range off road drive)
Haldex does have some advantages over a pure triple open differential system (relying on brake intervention to transfer torque) in extremis. Look at BMW's X5 clutch pack system versus open differential four wheel drive, driving in sand with the clutch full clamped is like a pickup's off road drive.
Or BMW could have just put an optional lock on the differential, or clutch pack ON the differential (ala VW touareg)
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Oolon Coluphid 6:34PM (10/20/2006)
I own a Saabaru 9-2x right now, and I love it. I wouldn't usually consider buying a "real" Saab, but an AWD 9-3 SportCombi Aero might change my mind.
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