Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertibles, Saab
LA Preview: Saab to unveil 25th Anniversary special edition 9-3 convertible
Click to enlarge the Saab 9-3 convertible anniversary edition
When car makers don't have anything truly new to offer, they often make special editions. Such is the case right now with Saab. General Motors' Swedish brand is putting out its second limited run version of the 9-3 convertible this year. Unlike the somewhat garish Yellow edition that came out during the summer, the new one is more subdued. The latest special edition 9-3 Convertible is meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the very first Saab convertible from 1983. The special part comes in a choice of Jet Black, Carbon Grey and the new Bright Champagne. Power comes from the standard Saab 2.0L turbo with 210 hp. The anniversary convertible will magically appear on the show floor at the LA Auto Show next week without a press conference before it goes on sale in January at the "bargain" price of $46,725. The 9-3 is a nice enough car, but with pricing like that it's no wonder the brand is struggling.
Gallery: Saab convertible 25th anniversary
[Source: Saab]
American debut at Los Angeles auto show
Saab Celebrates 25 years of Convertibles with Special Edition
DETROIT – The first ever Saab Convertible made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show in the fall of 1983. Now, 25 years later, a Special Edition makes its American debut at the Los Angeles International auto show which opens to the public on November 22. This new version of the Saab 9-3 Convertible will be showcased in a unique bright champagne metallic color.
Saab surprised the automotive world when it pioneered the concept of a 'four season, four-seat' soft top Convertible. Designed to be practical and stylish, the Scandinavian-styled convertible changed the perception of open top vehicles to be used all the year round.
"Saab has sold more than a quarter of a million convertibles worldwide and this latest edition highlights the timeless design and responsible performance that Saab convertibles have always represented," said Steve Shannon, executive director, marketing and product, Saab Automobile USA.
The special edition Saab Convertible will be available in three metallic colors to include Jet Black, Carbon Grey and the new Bright Champagne. It will feature Saab's signature 2.0-liter, 210 hp four cylinder engine and can be matched to six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions.
Special content includes influences from the Turbo X performance model, such as the design of the front bumper and steering wheel plus carbon fiber interior finishes and black floor mats with grey binding. Like the Aero version, the rear shows dual exhaust pipes and an anthracite grey bumper insert. Five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels will be standard.
Expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in January 2009, the Saab 9-3 2.0T Special Edition Convertible will be priced starting at $ 46,725 including destination charges.
Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of the Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. For the 2009 model year, Saab offers 7 different models that deliver 27 mpg or better according to EPA Highway fuel economy standards. In addition to 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty, including roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, every new Saab comes with 3 years/36,000 miles no-charge scheduled maintenance plus standard Onstar and XM Satellite radio. Visit www.saabusa.com for more information.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TJ 10:37AM (11/12/2008)
25th Aniv Saab
25th Aniv Minivan
Any other silver anniversaries we need to be aware of?
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jamie 10:53AM (11/12/2008)
GM's 100th Anniversary (and hopefully not the last!)
Avinash machado 10:48AM (11/12/2008)
Is not the Saab 9-3 essentially a Malibu variant or shares its platform with the Malibu?
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TJ 11:03AM (11/12/2008)
Do we need to explain platform development and sharing AGAIN? sheesh.
Current vehicles based on this platform:
Regular
2002 Opel Vectra
2003 Saab 9-3
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
2006 Cadillac BLS
Extended
2003 Opel Signum
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
2005 Pontiac G6
2005 Fiat Croma
2007 Saturn Aura
2008 Chevrolet Malibu
And it is rumored to be moving to the Epsilon II for the next-gen.
Bluestreak 10:49AM (11/12/2008)
Nothing like paying premium dollars for a gussied up GM with plenty of turbo lag, cowl shake, and torque steer. Saab has seriously lost its way, and I don't think it's going to find its way back.
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Ying 3:01PM (11/12/2008)
When was the last time you drove a Saab? So An Audi is just a dressed up VW.
Turbo lag from where? Cowl shake? Not unless you left the bonnet hindge open. And the myth of Saab torque steer has long been engineered out.
Not saying there isn't plenty of things wrong with Saab at this moment (hell, GM starved Saab to near death), the build quality, material used etc all fell short of it's rivals, and I think the price they ask is not realistic. But don't lable it with your out of date concept of ideas without actually driven one.
Bluestreak 4:39PM (11/18/2008)
Good friend of mine drives an '08, current enough. I'd compare the "convertible quality" to that of a Mustang, which I don't think is very complimentary. Saab is a sad shadow of its former self, as if that's saying much. Why bother with that brand at all?
jamie 10:52AM (11/12/2008)
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I almost bought a 9-3 jet black convertible last year, but was forced to settle on a Honda Civic Hybrid for obvious reasons. The outrageous price is what made me flinch.
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TJ 11:07AM (11/12/2008)
Who buys new? You can get one with under 10k miles around here for ~25k, pricing and depreciation is keeping pace with BMW, Audi, and Merc.... you know, the vehicles it is supposed to compete with?
Torrent 11:04AM (11/12/2008)
how about a better lineup of cars that humans actually want?
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Rube 11:06AM (11/12/2008)
the 25th anniversary of what? making the exact same car with minor sheetmetal changes for 25 years? oh wait, that's the 9-5.
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John R 11:09AM (11/12/2008)
This is outrageous for a SAAB. People wonder why GM is doing as bad as its doing.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=24&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7cE-ALL%7cM-_5_%7cB-50000%7cH-%7cD-_8491_%7cN-N%7cR-100%7cI-1%2c7%7cP-PRICE+descending%7cQ-descending%7cS-_3_%7cX-popular%7cZ-19801&aff=national&paId=292275320&recnum=7&leadExists=true
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Dr. Nick 12:09PM (11/12/2008)
Who would buy a new car from GM at this point in time? They might not be around to service it!
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TJ 12:18PM (11/12/2008)
How do you have the brainpower to type and breathe at the same time?
Spiel 12:12PM (11/12/2008)
There is nothing, and never will be, special about a SAAB.
God I hate that car. I had a 2004 (bought new) that was at the dealer at least once every two months. In it's last 6 months with me, I just gave up, I let all the problems pile up and then traded it in at the end of 2006. I just couldn't take it.
As mentioned above, horrible turbo lag, and awful torque steer.
Truly, GM re-badge garbage at it's best.
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Xenograft 11:38PM (11/12/2008)
Turbo lag? I have never noticed, even on 2.0T, perhaps because I only buy cars with manual transmission. Torque steer? Indeed, mine has trace of torque steer when the accelerator pedal is fully depressed in the 1st gear (6 speed MT, 2.8T). For the price that dealers actually charge for those cars there is no better bargain around, considering all the toys. And wagons are more rare than Bentleys here in DC area :)