Second-generation Saab 9-3
The Saab 9-3 is a midsize luxury-sport car made by Saab of Sweden. It shares platforms with the Opel Vectra.
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.
1999
The original 9-3 was a rebadged, improved last-generation Saab 900. Launched for model year 1999, 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, 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 (172 kW). 0-100 km/h is done in 6.4 seconds and the top speed is 249 km/h.
Engines:
2003
A 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 comes in four-door sedan and two-door convertible versions. Of these the convertible (manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria from 2003) is the best known, being the best-selling in its class in many markets. A five-door hatchback, the 9-3 SportCombi, joins the lineup for 2006.
The 9-3 and Opel Vectra, as well as a Vauxhall version, were the first of General Motors's global Epsilon platform, which has now been lengthened to accomodate three new cousins, the Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu Maxx and Pontiac G6.
Engines:
- 2003-2006 - 1.9 L Diesel I4, 120 hp (90 kW) (non-US)
- 2003-2006 - 1.9 L Diesel I4, 150 hp (112 kW) (non-US)
- 2003-2006 - 1.8 L Ecotec I4 (non-US)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, 150 hp (112 kW) (non-US)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, light-pressure turbo, 175 hp (131 kW) (non-US)
- 2003-2006 - 2.0 L Ecotec I4, high-output turbo, 210 hp (157 kW)
- 2006 - 2.8 L LP1 V6, 230 hp (172 kW) (non-US)
- 2006 - 2.8 L HFV6 V6, turbo, 250 hp (186 kW)
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