• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X Preview

Saab, for all intents and purposes, is still Saab. With the little exception that

A blast from Saab's turbocharged past: 9-3 Turbo X adds more power than ever before. (Photo: Saab)

everyone seems to have forgotten – the Impreza-based 9-2x – and the other exception that most Saab loyalists haven't quite forgotten yet – the 9-7x – Saab's engineers generally get what they want following tradition. It won't be long before the North American-targeted 9-7x is excised as the big sport utility craze begins to wind down, and Saab will put more focus on its core products. The recently facelifted 9-3 is a good sign of this; Saab's update of the exterior is neat, and enhances the car's character. Mechanically, the American-owned Swedish brand also hasn't been forced to ditch its turbochargers, and GM hasn't ordered Saab to take on a more conventional approach to its seats, instrumentation and the location of its ignition. Did we also mention that Saab is still one of the kings of safety in the auto industry? So as you can see, Saab's cars are still very much Saabs, full of quirks and idiosyncrasies, the things that have always made them Saabs. And those quirks are about to move down the road a great deal faster with the coming of a higher breed of 9-3 called the Turbo X.

As far as the latest generation of 9-3 goes, the years tick by and the car's performance levels keep improving. The top of the line performance model,

Only 2,000 units of the Turbo X will be produced, all of them black and all of them all-wheel drive. (Photo: Saab)

the Aero, was initially powered by a 210-hp, 2.0-liter turbo inline-four. That was upgraded in 2005 when Saab launched a brand new V6 engine for the 9-3 which raised a few eyebrows. It had been a while since Saab offered a V6 in any of its cars, and with some of the reliability issues that resulted, we can understand why. In the case of the smaller, compact Saabs, it's been since the “NG” 900 from 1994 onwards that featured an available 2.5-liter 54-degree GM-sourced V6 engine. Once again, a decade and a bit later, the V6 the 9-3 now features is a global GM effort, but it's been aided by a turbocharger for plenty of torque and truly effortless performance. With an output of 250 horsepower (upped to 255 hp for '08), it's plenty quick, and smooth through and through. The only problem is that the Saab 9-3 chassis, while rigid for safety, can't quite handle the power as well as some of its rivals. Critics, including myself complained of its torque steer and general unruliness during spirited driving.

The post-facelift 9-3 isn't as dramatic as the 9-5, but it's a very handsome automobile. (Photo: Saab)

As the bar for performance in the compact luxury segment has been pushed up from 200 horsepower to 250, and now 300 horsepower, Saab felt it necessary to keep up with the pace. It's easy to bump up horsepower ratings with a solidly-built turbocharged engine, a simple matter of cranking up the boost and changing a few things here and there. In the case of the 9-3, doing this might yield more power, but its application would be out of control. This is why Saab introduced its first all wheel drive system on V6-powered 2008 model-year 9-3s. Developed by Sweden's Haldex, a name we're used to associating with Volvo, and to a lesser degree Audi and VW, it's a very advanced system. XWD, unlike early Haldex applications, doesn't need wheelspin to occur before sending power to all wheels, allowing for drama-free starts. More importantly, however, is the inclusion of an active rear differential which functions very much like the Acura RL's Super-Handling all wheel drive. This fourth-generation unit, dubbed by Saab “eLSD”, can shift power between the two rear wheels, changing the car's yaw (according to

Extra boost is displayed by a classic-style Turbo gauge. (Photo: Saab)

input from the stability control's sensor), giving the car neutral handling. With XWD, Saab is not only capable of controlling wheelspin and torque steer, but also the initial propensity to understeer.

With the proper hardware onboard, Saab could then up the ante with a model called the “Turbo X”. Just as the R32 is the ultimate Golf, the Turbo X speaks strongest to Saab enthusiasts, the folks that are passionate about the brand and its history. Saab refers to this car as the “Black Turbo” in memory of the turbocharged Saab's glory days, such as the late '80s and early '90s 900 SPG and other turbocharged models. You'll find details like the classic boost gauge with its red and orange metering that will make the Saabisti smile.

What matters most is under the hood. The hype that the Turbo X generated while it was still being developed saw the rumor of a 300 horsepower Saab. While the Turbo X offers more power, 25 extra ponies thanks to a spike in turbo pressure from 0.6 bar to 0.8 bar, it falls short

Rhomboids, anyone? (Photo: Saab)

of that illustrious number, not to mention several of its key competitors and perhaps most importantly the BMW 335xi. Torque on the other hand, is up to 296 lb-ft. Nevertheless, 280 horsepower is still a record for the 9-3, and with four wheels harnessing the power, the Turbo X can sprint off the line to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Equally impressive is the engine's flexibility, allowing it to blast from 50 mph to 75 mph in 7.9 seconds without downshifting from fifth gear. Note, however, that the Turbo X has six gears in its manual transmission, and an equal number of cogs in its optional automatic. Countering this forward force are bigger brakes – 13.6 inches in front and 11.5 inches in back.

The rest of the Turbo X package is all about bringing attention to what Saab stands for. The 9-3 Sedan and its SportCombi sibling sit lower to the ground than their Aero counterparts, with sill extensions tip to tail. Available only in metallic Jet Black, the car's details, such as the grille and headlamps, are

Don't forget, it's also available as a wagon! (Photo: Saab)

outlined in a titanium gray metallic finish, a sort of modern day black rubber trim, which as a design cue of older 900 Turbos. This of course is played off the recently revised exterior, which features new sheetmetal including a retro-style clamshell hood, and an elongated nose section. So-called “rhomboid” tailpipes and quirky three-spoke alloy wheels with silver and titanium paintwork are just two of the many details that will catch the eye. Black dominates the interior of the Turbo X, including the new front seats with improved bolstering, while the trim lining the doors, console, glovebox and dash is carbon fiber in place of wood or aluminum. As a special touch to owners, the 9-3 Turbo X features a customizable display featuring special message of “All Systems Go” when turned on (and all is in order), a tip of the hat to Saab's aircraft background, as well as a personalized message stating the owner's name and the car's production serial number.

Power, style, safety and perhaps most importantly control are all a part of the 9-3 Turbo X's mystique, not to mention the fact that it has the potential to be the best 9-3 to date. But getting your hands on one of these cars isn't going to be as easy as popping down to your local Saab retailer, being that there's going to be strong demand. Saab recently announced that its home country of Sweden would only receive an allocation of 175 units, which caused quite a bit of an uproar from Saab enthusiasts and potential customers. As for the rest of the allocation, 500 will go to the UK, 600 to Europe, with the rest going across the planet. That given, when they arrive second quarter, they're sure to go quick and are certain to be quite rare.

Specifications (Saab 9-3 Turbo X):

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo