The Saab 9-3 (pronounced nine-three) is a compact executive car initially developed and manufactured by the Swedish automaker Saab.
The first generation 9-3 (1998–2003) is based on the GM2900 platform, changing to the GM Epsilon platform with the introduction of the second-generation car (2003–2012). Other vehicles using this platform include the Opel Vectra, Chevrolet Malibu, and Cadillac BLS.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), Saab's then parent company briefly assembled a few 9-3 sedans during 2013 and 2014.
Overview The car was badged as 93 starting in the 1998 model year when Saab revised the naming of the smaller car to match that of the larger 95 version. The model was marketed as 9-3, pronounced as "nine three.” The Saab 9-3 was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year essentially as a rebadged second-generation Saab 900 (1994–1998 model) and succeeded by a redesigned 9-3 for the 2003 model year. It is not related to the Saab 93 ("ninety-three"), a car produced by Saab from 1955 until 1960.
First generation (1998–2003)
The first generation 9-3, an updated Saab 900 (NG), was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year. It is sometimes referred to as the 'OG' (old generation) 9-3 and internally as body style 9400. Production ended on 8 May 2002 at the Trollhättan plant and on 25 April 2003 at the Valmet plant in Finland.
Saab claimed that 1,100 changes were made between the outgoing NG 900 and the 9-3 such as revised suspension with more wheel travel and quicker steering. The 9-3 received revised styling with some models included a rear spoiler, while the underbody mounted 'snow & gravel flaps' were removed. It was available as a three or five-door hatchback, and as a two-door convertible. Further improvements over the Saab 900 (NG) included better crashworthiness courtesy of more extensive A-pillar reinforcements, stronger door sills and frames, redesigned and strengthened pendulum B pillars, standard dual stage torso/head side airbags, and Saab Active Head Restraints. Other changes included a bigger AC compressor, higher flow cabin ventilation system, a CAN bus based electrical architecture similar to the one in the 9-5, and a switch to a hydraulically operated convertible roof rather than an electric powered.
The 9-3 was available with a new variant of the B204 engine (B204E, ), a low-pressure turbo (LPT) engine based on the B204L used in the last generation Saab 900. For the U.S. market, all 9-3s received turbocharged petrol engines with the "full pressure turbo" (B204L, ) as the standard offering, and a "HOT" (B204R, 200 hp) variant in the SE models for the 1999 model year. The 2000 model year saw a revision from SAAB's Trionic T5.5 to Trionic 7 engine management system. The T7 based engines were the B205E, the B205L with and the B205R HOT engine with . The first generation 9-3 was also the first Saab available with a diesel engine, a unit also found in the Opel Vectra, Astra G, Signum, and Zafira A.
A Saab innovation is the 'Night Panel', carried over from the Saab 900, which permits dousing of the instrument panel lighting, except for essential information, for less distraction when night driving.
A total of 326,370 first-generation 9-3s were built. As with the preceding generation, convertibles were built by Valmet in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Valmet was also the only plant assembling the 9-3 Viggen, in all three body styles. After production at Saab's main plant ended, Valmet kept producing non-Viggen hatchbacks until 2003. Altogether, Valmet built 7789 Hatchbacks of all models.
Saab 9-3 Viggen
Between 1999 and 2002, Saab offered a limited edition and higher-performance version of the 9-3. The 'Viggen' (English: Thunderbolt) is named after the Saab 37 Viggen aircraft, and was developed by Saab with input from the Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) Group.
The Viggen production car draws upon the earlier Saab 900 Concept Coupe that had been developed by the Saab Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) group. For Saab, the team was led by Peter Leonard and John-Gustav Gudmundsson. Only 4,600 9-3 Viggen specification cars were produced.
Mechanical features The Viggen is powered by Saab's 2.3 L B235R engine, running at a 9.3:1 compression ratio and fitted with Nimonic valves. Initially rated at , power later increased to on of boost from its Mitsubishi TD04-HL15-5 turbocharger.
The cars are equipped with a higher capacity intercooler, performance-tuned ECU, flow-through muffler and tip, stiffer gearbox casing and stronger output shaft, a heavy-duty clutch and pressure plate, stiffened and lowered springs with revised spring rates, firmer dampers, as well as stronger CV joints and driveshafts.
The Viggen is only available with a five-speed manual transmission, which features an electronic torque-sensing function to prevent damage to the gearbox.
In 1999, the Viggen was the first 9-3 to use Saab's Trionic 7 engine management system. The 2001 model year introduced a Traction Control System (TCS). The TCS was later made available in the SE line.
Exterior and interior features The exterior of the Viggen features a larger rear wing that also located the radio antenna to the rear of the roof, aerodynamically designed bumpers and side skirts, model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, and upgraded brakes. Paint options include Black, Metallic Silver, Steel Grey, Monte Carlo Yellow, Laser Red, and the exclusive Viggen 'Lightning Blue'.
The interior offers special bolstered and coloured leather seats and door cards in four colours: black with black inserts ('Charcoal'), black with blue inserts ('Deep Blue'), black with orange inserts ('Flame Ochre'), and tan with tan inserts.
Other interior features include a CD player with four or six-speaker, amplifier and CD-changer options, power moonroof, and what were initially Viggen-specific motorized and heated leather seats with the Viggen delta logo embossed in the backrest. The Viggen seats later became available in the Aero model (U.S. market 'SE' model) without the embossed Viggen logo. Some colors feature carbon-fibre interior trim, offered between 1999 and the middle of the 2001 model year. Cars built afterward came with a less expensive printed grey pattern for the dash and standard trim.
Buyers of new Viggen models in the U.S. were offered two days of advanced driving instruction at Road Atlanta and an opportunity to dine with Saab USA executives from nearby Norcross, Georgia.
Production summary A total of 4,600 Viggens were manufactured by Valmet Automotive in Finland until production ended in June 2002; of which 500 units were produced for the UK market. For 1999, 426 3-door Viggens were imported into the U.S.; of those 420 were blue, two were silver, two were Monte Carlo yellow, and two were black.
Viggen Production SummaryModels producedModels imported into the U.S.Model YearYearly totalTotalConvertible3-door5-door19981419991,09942642620001,62180424513842120011,2511,152738129285200261555032271157Total4,6002,9321,305764863
Reception Some journalists have criticised the Viggen, in particular for untamed torque steer in low gears, with Britain's Evo Magazine naming the car as one of its 10 worst cars ever tested. Other commentators, however, have named the Viggen a 'classic'. US reviewers at Motor Trend (writing in 2000) noted the crisp turn-in and grip on offer. Jalopnik named the Viggen "The Last Great True Saab".
First generation 9-3 engines
All the petrol engines offered in the first generation 9-3 were versions of the Saab H engine. The Saab 9-5 and the first generation 9-3 were the last Saab cars to use this all-Saab DOHC 16-valve fuel injection design. The non-turbo models use a distributor that leads to each spark plug, while the turbocharged engines utilize Saab's Trionic engine management system with a Direct Ignition Module (or cassette) mounted at the top of the engine, directly connecting to the spark plugs. Trionic 5 was used on the B204 Engines, and Trionic 7 was introduced with the B2x5 Engines. The latter two technologies were migrated into other GM products during the ten years that GM controlled Saab. All of the engines, other than the normally aspirated version and the low-pressure turbo, had high specific power outputs. The B205R generated per litre and of torque.
+ SpecificationsEngine Displacement Power Torque Compression ratio Boost pressure Model Years AvailableB204i: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 4300 rpm 10.1:1 N/A 1999–2000B204E: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 3600 rpm 9.2:1 1999–2000B204L: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 2100 rpm 8.8:1 1999–2000B204R: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 2200 rpm 9.2:1 1999–2000B235R: 2.3L (2290cc) at 5500 rpm at 2500 rpm 9.3:1 1999–2002B205E: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 1800 rpm 9.2:1 2000–2002/3B205L: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 1800 rpm 9.2:1 2000–2002/3B205R: 2.0L (1985cc) at 5500 rpm at 2200 rpm 8.8:1 2000–2002/3D223L: 2.2L (2171cc) at 1800 rpm 19.5:1 1998 – Sept. 2000D223L: 2.2L (2171cc) at 1750 rpm 18.5:1 Sept. 2000 – Aug. 2002 Notes: Turbochargers used: B204E, B204L, B204R: Garrett T25; B205E & B205L: Garrett GT17; B205R & B235R: MHI TD04-HL15T with 5 cm? exhaust port. The primary differences between the B204E and the B204L are the use of a Boost Pressure Control Valve and the ECU tuning. The primary differences between the B204L and the B204R are with the intercooler and the ECU tuning. The primary differences between the B205L and the B205R are the upgrade to the TD04-HL15T turbo from the GT17 and the ECU tuning. B204L with automatic gearbox has 185 hp at 5500 rpm and 250 Nm at 1900 rpm B205R with automatic gearbox has 205 hp at 5750 rpm and 250 Nm at 1900 rpm.
Second generation (2003–2014)
The 9-3X concept, a preview of the next-generation 9-3, premiered in January 2002 at the North American International Auto Show. Originally, the 9-3 was due to début with the Opel Vectra in October 2001, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but in July 2001, it was announced that delays had forced General Motors to postpone the introduction. The new 9-3 was eventually launched in July 2002 for the 2003 model year. The convertible version of the second-generation 9-3 began with the MY04, and SportCombi with MY06.
The new 9-3 remained an exclusively front-wheel drive powertrain at launch. The most significant aesthetic change from the previous generation cars was the elimination of the hatchback design. The second-generation 9-3 was available as a four-door saloon, an estate (introduced in late 2005 as a 2006 model, known as the SportWagon, SportCombi, or Sport-Hatch depending on the market), and a two-door convertible (introduced in 2004). It included Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR II) to reduce whiplash and ReAxs, a feature of the rear suspension bushings which changes the toe angle to help reduce understeer under heavy braking.
The new 9-3 departed from the Saab H / EcoPower engine used previously for a new 2.0 L straight-four Ecotec engine from General Motors' for the petrol-powered models. There are three different versions of the turbocharged inline-four, with the amount of turbo boost determining the power output: 1.8t (112 kW), 2.0t (131 kW) and 2.0T (157 kW). The engines were mated with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed 'Sentronic' which is a traditional automatic, not to be confused with SAAB's earlier 'Sensonic' which was a clutchless manual transmission that retained a conventional H-pattern shifter, but the clutch system was hydraulically actuated. In 2003 models, the standard manual transmission was a 5-speed gearbox with the 6-speed optional. The 6-speed manual was standard on US 2.0T (Vector) models.