2008 Saab 9-3 Gets Aero X Face-Lift
It seems everyone loved last year’s Saab Aero X concept car so much that the company is adding elements of its design to current products, including the 2008 9-3 lineup. The Saab 9-3 sedan, wagon — called the SportCombi — and convertible will all receive the new, aggressive front-end treatment along with minor door and rear-end tweaks.
The new 9-3s go on sale this fall. The company says there will be improved performance but has offered no details of what’s changed underneath the skin.
Source: GM
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As far as under the skin changes go, expect a modified version of their twin-turbo V-6 sporting around 300HP, Haldex AWD, and a spiffy e-diff. WRX, R32, Evo, you have been served.
Miked, I wonder whether you know much 'bou WRX, R32, Evo, etc. at all...
1st , it's now R34, which has been discountinued.
2nd, I have NEVER heard or seen any comparison b/n the Saab VS the rest of those. Do u know why?
3rd, Twin-Turbo V6 outputing 300 horse? Oh please, those brands were able to do THAT using 2000-2600 cc engines like, what 15 years ago?
It's more than the engine! Handling, suspension, weight, etc, all counts when you compare vehicles of these types, and in your case, I would safely assume that you are comparing their performances, such as the case in a race track situation. The vehicles that you've compared against the Saab, are so great without any modification that, at many times even Eurpoean famous makes (BMW, MB, Audi, Porsche - low end models; usually at comparable hp and engine size) were of no match to these.
Morever, have you heard of Saab participating in the rally race WRC (may be it has, but I haven't heard about it.)? Subaru has dominated it for many years, and so had Mitsubishi.
With the current situation @ Saab, I would strongly advise NOT to bet your farms to state that this new one will match or exceeds the comparison brands you were mentioning.
GM did say they will be 2.0 turbo and 2.8 v-6 for the Saabs. Just like the current ones. We just don't know what they've changed about them yet. Nothing fancy or radical no.
Sorry about that Ray; I didn't mean to step on your WRC boner. Yes, the R32 and R34 are no longer being produced, but the last time I checked, you can still buy an R32. Would you say that someone in the market for a sporty AWD car might consider both models? Let us also not forget the similarities between your WRC cars and the Saab: 4-door, advanced AWD, sedan based, turbo charged, approx. 300HP, available wagon (Sportcombi and WRX wagon), etc. The intention of my statement was merely to indicate how there is a possible new choice for buyers in the sporty AWD market. The Saab looks a helluva lot nicer than any of those boy-racers, too.
Hey Miked. No need to apologize. I am NOT a Subie fan, but if you do run what you've said -> to Subie and Mitsu fans, boy, u would just be digging ur own grave, man :)
As for the R32-34. I'm a fan, and I've to tell u that I must disagree with you wholeheartedly. The Skylines are just in a total different class than the Saab. Did u see the comparison video that Nissan has on the R? Their target is and has always been in the Porsche 911 class or equivalent, and I don't see Saab being in that league.
Who do I think Saab's real competitors are? MB, Bimmer or even Audi's wagons. The low end ones of course. And Saab can use its price advantage there. However, that's what Saad bad done in the past, and it never worked - 'coz when you reached the European price range, despite Saab being more affordable, would be purchasers probably have enough $ to go for the more expensive and better performance/comfy brands than Saab. Honestly, I won't say that performance is the #1 concerns of these buyers, but performance + brand name + comfortable level + technology (a combo of all). Their driving use cases are usually point a to point b WITH CLASS, use of 4WD/AWD occassionally - during rain or snow, and rare performance issue - usually during stop lights or on the freeway.
But I'm gonna save my energy here, 'coz obviously, it's just not gonna worth it to explain to you why Saab can barely compared with the Subie and Mitsu in this case, assuming that you want to talk 'bou pure performance there. If you have never driven or experience the Subie or Mitsu, you will never understand....
Hi Dave,
The V6 Aero has received a minor 5hp bump up to 255hp and the 2.0T will stay at 210. As for the 300hp etc, that's going to happen, but not with the initial release of the car. My mail has it as a MY08.5 release. There'll also be a tougher crosswagon type version of the SportCombi with XWD as well.
Can't wait for next month!
Amuro,
As far as I remember, the USDM Supra 3.0L I6 Twin Turbo has 320hp since 1994.
But that's not what I want to say.
HP means nothing more than how powerful the engine is capable of; handling, braking feel, chassis tuning are the major part of a sports car.