Saab has unveiled its all-new 9-3 Sport Sedan, saying that the new car “spearheads the arrival of an entirely new family of cars, each focused on meeting the particular requirements of a different niche in the market”.
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The significance of the US market was underlined by the release of first details and pictures of the new model from there. Unlike its hatchback predecessor, also built as a convertible, the new car is a four-door sedan with a coupé-like silhouette, steeply raked windscreen and rear window and short front and rear overhangs.
The new model will be sold in the US with a choice of two new, 2.0-litre, all-aluminum turbocharged engines, developing 175 or 210 hp. Europe, where sales start in September, gets an additional 150bhp two-litre petrol engine and a 125bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel.
The front-wheel-drive range offers three transmissions: five- and six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with ‘Sentronic’ manual selection and the option of steering wheel controls.
Following on from recent revisions to the larger 9-5 line, the 9-3 will be offered in the US with three ‘forms’ or specification levels called Linear, Arc and Vector. Europe will also get a top-line sporty Aero version.
Compared to its predecessor, the new 9-3 is more spacious, particularly for rear passengers, within the same overall length. Front and rear width is increased by 2.16 in. (55 mm) and the wheelbase is 2.8 in. (71 mm) longer.
It is priced to compete with the BMW 3-series, Audi A4, and Volvo S60 and sales start in October 2002.
The old 9-3, originally launched in 1993 as the 900, was criticised for lacklustre handling but Saab says the new car is the product of the most exhaustive chassis dynamics development programme it has undertaken.
Highlights include ‘ReAxs’ passive rear-wheel-steering, four-link independent rear suspension, low mounted steering rack and MacPherson struts with lower A-arms mounted on a hydroformed, rubber-isolated sub-frame.
Chassis features include Saab-tuned ‘user-friendly’ electronic stability control, electronic brake force distribution, cornering brake control and traction control.
Hub carriers and toe and lower rear suspension links are aluminum, while anti-roll bars are hollow section steel.
The 9-3 has a driver-customise “Profiler” system that allows a wide range of functions to be pre-set according to personal preference including the anti-theft alarm, parking assistance, rain sensitive wipers, and automatic climate control.
The car is claimed to have the most complete automotive systems use of fibre optics and the first vehicle-integrated use of Bluetooth wireless technology which enables short-range communication between devices, such as mobile telephones, hand-held PDA (e.g. Palm Pilot) and computers.
The new 9-3 supports hands-free voice control and calling via a Bluetooth headset, as well as wireless dial-up networking functionality using a Bluetooth PDA or laptop.
Of the three US specification levels,”Linear” has an understated interior with leather upholstery and anthracite trim, “Arc” adds more luxury, with 16-inch alloy wheels and leather interior with poplar wood trim while “Vector” has a sporty look with 17-inch alloy wheels and a sports leather interior with matte chrome trim.
An option package for the Linear includes 16″ 10-spoke alloy wheels, in-dash 6-CD player, upgraded stereo system, power sunroof and driver’s seat, and lower body colour matched trim.
European buyers will be offered a flagship 9-3 Aero variant with lowered, sports-tuned chassis and body styling, available only with the 210 bhp engine, and on sale from January.
