Saab 9-3 2008

By Benjamin Cyr

Swedish Turbocompression

I have vivid memories of the Saab 900 Turbo in the eighties; they did not go unnoticed. My neighbour drove one and its unique body turned many heads, that was just one element of that distinctive European character. Then, 150hp was about the maximum power produced by the best six cylinders on the planet, not to mention the unbelievable 200hp reached by those monsters V8 ! The Saab was testing the waters, manned by a small 4 cylinder, 2 litre but producing an impressive 175hp. Hold on everybody!

Leaping twenty years ahead, we find a similar formula. The look of the Saab 9-3 is slightly altered this year, yet it still sets itself apart from the fray. Of course, it does not equal the 900 Turbo’s uniqueness at the time but the body certainly stands out. The similarities, however, do not stop there! Still powered by a turbo compressed 2.0 litre but now developing 210hp and 221 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 revs/pm. Strangely, it produces the same displacement as the good old Saab 900,however, the motor has been totally modernized. Since we’re on the topic of turbos, Saab has mastered the concepts of turbo compression systems for decades; Saab built tubro charged engines for its range of vehicles and has continued to perfect them since. Therefore, certain fears about this technology should be put to rest. Oh, I can’t fail to mention that the basic transmission is manual six-speed.

Our trial model happens to be a sedan. Also note the availability of a 255hp, 2.8 litre, V6, in this case with two turbos, which powers the Aero version. Coincidentally, we tested it in 2006 during the time of our evaluation of the Saab Aero SportCombi. Later this year, the Aero XWD version will roll with, as part of the standard package, a brand new all-wheel drive technology developed by the vaunted firm, Haldex.