First look: Saab's sporty new 9-3 sedan

SAAB'S first compact sedan, the all-new 9-3, has broken cover for the first time before going on sale in Australia by late October.

The first Saab to sprout from General Motors' compact new premium platform, dubbed Epsilon and also used by Holden's forthcoming Vectra, the new 9-3 sedan represents the biggest product development program in Saab history.

Featuring 9-5 styling themes and a family of new engines, the new 9-3 is the most conventional compact Saab ever in that it departs significantly from the Swedish company's traditional hatch layout in favour of a de rigeur four-doors-with-boot sedan bodyshell.

"Aside from the SUV boom, the biggest growth sector is the sporting executive sedan segment, which is currently led by the likes of 3 Series, C-class and A4," Saab Automobile Australia spokesman Paul Ellis said.

"To achieve our growth targets we need to have a legitimate representative in that segment. Hatches are just not seen as premium products in some markets."The new vehicle will form the basis of a new convertible in about 12 months, which will be followed by a wagon variant and crossover SUV similar in appearance to Saab's 9-3X concept vehicle.

A fifth variant, a two-door 9-3 coupe styled along the lines of Saab's 9X show car, will be the final 9-3 but will not share the sedan's underpinnings.

Instead, it is likely to be based on a new premium platform being developed by GM for Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Saab as a rival for Alfa's 147 and the Audi A3.

The current 9-3 convertible, which comprises about a third of 9-3 sales volumes locally (making Australia the fourth biggest 9-3 convertible market), will continue on sale alongside the new sedan from October until its replacement.

Due to be launched in Europe during July, the volume selling 9-3 sedan is expected to play a key role in boosting Saab sales both globally and Down Under, where just 700 three and five-door hatches were sold last year.

SAA plans to increase that figure by more than 70 per cent in 2003, when it is hoped the new sedan will attract some 1200 customers.

And if vital statistics released by Saab today are any indication, it seems the Swedish car-maker's first executive sports sedan should deliver on its promise to offer best-ever chassis dynamics and outstanding performance from a new range of turbocharged engines coupled to new transmissions.

Underneath the sporty, wedge-shaped exterior (which has a competitive 0.28Cd drag coefficient but predates Saab's current chief designer Michael Mauer), lies a choice of three all-new, all-aluminium, 2.0-litre turbocharged engines offering varying levels of performance essentially via differing boost pressures.

Still driving the front wheels but this time through five and six-speed manual transmissions - and a five-speed automatic with Saab Sentronic semi-auto gear selection - the engines produce 110, 129 and 154kW.

Each 2.0-litre engine's internal components are said to be unique to Saab, including balance shafts and a dual-mass flywheel, plus a new, in-house 32-bit Trionic 8 engine management system and unique new "pendulum" engine mounting.

New 9-3 sedan models will follow the nomenclature established by the recently facelifted 9-5, including Linear, Arc and Vector models, plus a performance leading Aero sedan - which is rumoured to eventually receive a four-wheel drive train.

Saab says the first 9-3 sedan, despite being similar in overall length, offers more interior space than its five-door predecessor - especially for rear-seat passengers. The wheelbase is 71mm longer while width is up 55mm.

Other changes include the development of a so-called "ReAxs" passive rear wheel steer characteristic for the new four-link independent rear suspension, along with a low mounted steering rack and a hollow, hydroformed and rubber-isolated subframe for the front suspension.

Much attention is said to have been paid to reducing unsprung weight, including the use of hollow anti-roll bars and aluminium hub carriers and lower rear suspension links.

The new vehicle also brings fibre optic technology, satellite navigation, intelligent dual-zone climate control and what Saab claims are 30 per cent lower scheduled running costs.

A plethora of driver aids will be standard, including Electronic Stability Program (ESP), mechanical brake assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Traction Control System (TCS).

The 9-3 sedan cabin will also feature a windscreen-mounted high position display, second generation Saab Active Head Restraints and dual-stage front airbags, side airbags and side roof rail airbags.

Pricing will be a key ingredient to the 9-3 sedan's success in Australia if it is to compete with the horde of new compact prestige sedan rivals in Volvo's S60, the Alfa 156, Rover 75, VW Passat, Lexus IS200, Jaguar X-Type and Audi A4 - not to mention the segment leading 3 Series and C-class.

Local Saab officials will not confirm pricing until closer to the 9-3 sedan's Australian launch in October, but it is believed maintaining the current 9-3's sub-$50,000 entry point will be a difficult task for the more upmarket sedan.

"When it comes to pricing Saab has always strived to be the value leader in the premium prestige segment. The 9-3 sedan will maintain that policy," said Mr Ellis.