New Hirsch aero upgrades for Saab 9-3
Click above for a gallery of the Hirsch Performance kit for the Saab 9-3 Aero
Swiss tuner Hirsch has created a full body kit in carbon for the Saab 9-3 Aero sedan, convertible, and SportCombi. To do the best job of improving aerodynamics, reducing drag, and making the car look good, they enlisted the help of Saab's "master aerodynamicist" Håkan Danielsson and his team, as well as Taras Czornyj, who was the lead exterior designer on the 9-3 SportCombi.
What they came up with out front was a 3-piece upper mesh grille, a larger front spoiler with integrated splitters, and a lower mesh grille that increases airflow to the intercooler. Shaped side skirts lead the way to a rear diffuser and a larger rear spoiler on the sedan and convertible. For the SportCombi, Hirsch designed a hatch spoiler almost good enough for the WRC.
The hand-laminated carbon fiber parts are UV-coated, have been wind tunnel tested, and also tested and homologated for safety by the Royal Netherlands Motor Vehicle Authority. That means, according to Hirsch, that the parts are approved for fitment in all markets. The kit is only for the Aero trim level, and the price is listed as "on request," but based on the prices of the individual parts, don't expect much change if you hand over €1,500 -- and that's not including the wheels.
[Source: Hirsch via turboNines]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
the vegas style guy 12:13PM (12/28/2008)
Do they make a kit that makes it stop being made by GM?
Reply
tekd 1:15PM (12/28/2008)
I'm honestly surprised someone makes aero upgrades for the 9-3! Gotta be a really niche market to try and sell aftermarket body kits for a car that doesn't really attract a lot of tuner types, and doesn't even sell that much in volume to begin with.
Reply
Leo M. 2:13PM (12/28/2008)
go take a drive around the more populated areas of sweden and the other more wealthy parts of western Europe like Switzerland...
Mwmorph 1:54PM (12/28/2008)
It's about time someone came up with Carbon Fiber body kits. With all the CF hoods out there, I always wondered why there were no CF body kits. Nice to know it's windtunnel and engineer tested and it's not garish so it might actually be useful. Only downside is it's for a Saab 9-3 Aero Only trim level, which is a $40k car that might move 20k units per year with all trim levels combined, the Aero, much less than that.
Reply
tankd0g 6:33PM (12/28/2008)
The problem with CF body parts is that you can't shape them, and sheet metal on cars, especially those built by GM, is never identical from one to the next. Usually these things look like a pile of crap up close.
aliasfox 3:32PM (12/28/2008)
I test drove a 9-3 2.0T and a 9-3 Aero on Friday - more out of boredom than anything else. They're not bad cars, but they're *almost* good in every way:
- the 2.0T is comfortable, has decent styling, and a good engine. But why can't you get the sport suspension on it? Oh, that fake wood... it's too fake
- The Aero is fast, gets rid of the fake wood, has a 6-speed auto, and has the sport suspension. But it gets 15/24 on the EPA cycle... for 255 hp, that's moderately awful.
Price the 2.0T more like Acura's TSX and Volvo's S40 T5, give it the sport suspension, and Saab might find more takers. Right now, their pricing comes too close to the Germans to be worth it.
Reply
f1tifoso 12:09AM (1/02/2009)
Actually they're 5250 cash back plus another 1000 off for employee pricing, so they're currently CHEAPER than the models you describe -
plus the 210 hp from 2.0l turbo gets the best mileage (better than Volvo, same as Acura), most reliability (compared to Volvo), and safety (compared to Acura) -
so they are the best all around in fact.
aliasfox 1:08AM (1/02/2009)
But the 2.0T doesn't come with the sport suspension on the Aero, neither can you get it without the fake wood. And that's what I'm saying - the basic bones of a competitive car are present. Good engine, styling, safety, and an adequate interior, but the 2.0T lacks the sport suspension and the Aero lacks the economy. So close, and yet so far.
Lastly, I agree that the cars are priced decently right now, but there's definitely a bit of an issue when a car has to be marked down 15-20% before it's class competitive. My GTI stickered for $28k, and aside from some road noise and lack of leather (I actually don't like leather), on the whole, it's quite competitive with my "ideal" 9-3 (2.0T with the aluminum trim and sport suspension). Now, if Saab thought could legitimately ask for $7k more for such small differences, they wouldn't need to mark it down as much.