Saab News Blog

After featuring the news that there will be a new Saab Crossover vehicle, here are the juicy details, and we have it here on this blog.

The new Cross-wheel drive (which Saab shortens to XWD) will be a premium option on the entry-level 9-3; it will come bundled only with an uprated 280-hp version of the 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 that will make 255 hp in lesser 9-3s when the 2008 model goes on sale in late September.

Along with that more powerful motor, the 9-3 with XWD will come with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The XWD system will be a fully automatic setup that operates as a front-wheel drive car in most situations—to improve fuel efficiency, says Saab—but can send all of the engine’s power to either the front or rear axles when needed.

There will also be what the company calls the segment-first use of an electronically controlled limited slip differential (or eLSD; we’re sure there’s a joke about a virtual acid trip in there somewhere) for the rear axle that will transfer up to 40 per cent of the torque sent rearward between the rear wheels.

The result, says Saab, will be a 9-3 that handles better in fast corners thanks to the ability to channel power to the outside rear wheel.

Swedish luxury carmaker Saab is on its heels to expand its fleet of cars in the attempt to further expand its domination in the luxury car arena, and build up on its global acclaim. Thus, a major update of the 9-3, currently its smallest and lowest-cost model, will be rolling into dealerships for 2008. Saab is also finishing up work on a new version of the bigger 9-5 line, which has gone far too long without any significant revisions.

Despite ongoing concerns about the financial health of General Motors’ Swedish luxury brand, things are looking better than ever, asserted Steve Shannon, the GM “lifer” who has been running Saab operations in the US—its largest market—for the last six months.

Saab faces a variety of challenges, Shannon acknowledged. For one thing, it is hard to gain traction in a market dominated by better known European and Asian brands, such as BMW and Lexus, especially with such a small lineup. But getting more product is itself a challenge when you’re such a small part of the GM empire.

“It’s not easy, when you’re a company that makes 9 million cars a year to figure out how to steward a company that makes 130,000,” acknowledged Shannon in an interview. However, it was a good thing that in the end, he added that they were getting better at doing so.

The crossover is being designed with the U.S. in mind, though Saab hopes to break into the fast-growing global demand for crossovers. While some makers have experimented with radical alternatives to conventional SUV designs such as the Nissan Murano, Saab’s offering will take a conservative approach.

“We will not make the mistake of some other manufacturers,” Shannon said, “trying to make a ‘tweener,’ somewhere between a car and a truck. We will not take any risks with this.”

The planned crossover will make use of a new all-wheel-drive system. Dubbed Cross-Wheel Drive , or XWD, it will make its debut next year on the 9xz-3 line. GM has appointed Saab its center of excellence for future all-wheel-drive technology for use on all transverse-mounted vehicle programs. The real test of the brand will come in little more than a year, when it launches its first crossover vehicle, which some sources have dubbed the 9-4X, though that name is far from official.

Swedish carmaker Saab takes sports utility vehicle (SUV) performance to a higher level as it adds the powerful Aero version to its 9-7X lineup.

The 2008 Saab 9-7X Aero, which is a symbol of Saab performance in the midsize SUV segment, inherits the Saab brand characteristics of previous models. These include sophisticated exterior and interior styling plus sporty and spirited performance.

The limited edition 9-7X Aero comes with a six-liter, V-8 delivering 390 horsepower (295 kilowatts) and 395 lb.-ft. (542 Nm) of torque. With 0-60 mph acceleration under six seconds, the 9-7X Aero is great for those who are actively passionate about the driving experience.

A high-performance model, the Aero has bigger 12.8-inch front disc rotors, upgraded iron twin-piston calipers, and high-performance pads to reel in the extra power. Saab’s retooled suspension offers superior handling over the standard 9-7X.

Unique to the 9-7X Aero’s version of the engine is a composite intake manifold adapted to the LS2 engine to help make balanced torque and horsepower. Maximum towing capacity on 9-7X Aero model is 6,600 pounds (2994 kilograms).

One of Saab’s newest cars, the Aero’s exterior sports a unique paint color called Carbon Flash Metallic. It also has 20-inch polished, aluminum wheels covered with P255/50R20 V-speed-rated performance tires.

As with other Saab models, the new Saab 9-7X Aero is driver-focused, with a lowered chassis tuned and tested to deliver responsive, balanced handling.

There are improvements with corner control and body roll control with front stabilizer bars that are approximately 10 percent larger in diameter. A heavy-duty rear axle with limited-slip differential adds strength to the new Saab vehicle.

The 9-7X Aero will be on sale starting this autumn.

Sporty, tight, handles well.

An all-wheel-drive is finally being offered to Saab 9-3 cars. Saab, which has established a reputation on the winter prowess of its front-wheel-drive systems in the United States, introduces the fourth generation of a Haldex four-wheel-drive system.

Dubbed the XWD (cross wheel drive) system, the advanced all-wheel-drive will be exclusive to 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan and SportCombi (or Combi) models. These models come with a 280-horsepower, 2.8-liter, V-6, turbocharged engine, and either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Slated to be sold late this year, the XWD models showcase bold and more assertive looks. The new Saab 9-3 series reflects powertrain improvements that include the introduction of all-wheel-drive and more powerful gasoline engines.

Donning a sporty appeal, the new Saab 9-3’s frontal style is inspired by the Saab’s renowned Aero X concept car. The styling concept fuses contemporary and classic Saab design themes in a modern expression of the Swedish brand’s distinct character. This is reinforced by the dynamic, cohesive looks of its new front, rear, and side areas.

The new theme is complemented by brand new headlamp lenses and light units that now include a thin “eyebrow” lighting zone. Also, the appearance sees another Saab signature feature: a “clamshell” hood, closing across the top of the front wings. The hood pressing includes a sweeping, U-shaped styling line, as first seen on the Aero X, which echoes the curvature of the windshield.

At the back, all new 9-3 models offer smoked white light clusters. The exclusion of all external rubbing strips from bumpers and doors results in a cleaner and more cohesive overall look. The new door panels adopt a simple, uncluttered form with redesigned and color-keyed handles.

The Saab 9-3, which is based on the same chassis as the latest Vauxhall Vectra, is fitted with a twin front, side and curtain airbags, and anti-whiplash head restraints as standard.

Comfortable seats and smart dashboard layout makes the Saab driver’s environment superb. In addition, there are many adjustment options in the seat and steering wheel to provide the driver with an excellent driving position. There is adequate room in the back that makes the Saab 9-3 a perfect four-seat cabriolet.

Designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, the XWD system is a highly efficient tool for driving enthusiasts. It uses four wheels to power the car and act as receptors to electronic controls that foil skids and slips.

In a test drive in Sweden, the car exhibited an outstanding adaptability. Everything was seamless—from rough pavement to sharp bends.

Fully automatic, the XWD system can send power up to 100 percent of engine torque to the front or rear wheels when needed. The electronics monitor the driver’s input, the vehicle’s attitude, and driving conditions and distribute torque front to rear as needed.

Only five to 10 percent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels, providing heavier tactile sense of front-wheel-drive and helping save on fuel.

Adding a sporty dimension to the driving experience, the new model’s sophistication is governed by its own electronic unit. The hardware consists of a Power Take-off Unit (PTU) in the front final-drive that transmits engine torque through a prop-shaft to the Rear Drive Module (RDM). This incorporates a Torque Transfer Device (TTD) and an optional electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (eLSD).

The new Saab Turbo X will make its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show next month, in celebration of the Swedish auto maker’s 30 years of leadership in turbocharging. There, Saab will “go back to the future” by evoking the iconic appeal of its classic Black Turbo models as a tribute to the cars that started it all.

Introducing a cutting-edge technology, the Saab Turbo X has the visual appeal similar to Saab 99 and Saab 900 black turbos of the 1970s and 1980s. The Saab Turbo X is intended to revive the appeal of those classic Black Turbo models. What sets the new Turbo X apart, however, is that an all-wheel drive is introduced to the 9-3 lineup. It is in Frankfurt where the 2008 9-3 will make its first grand entrance, with an AWD system that can not only transfer 100 percent of available torque to the rear wheels but also split torque between the rear wheels.

Saab plans to feature the 2008 Saab Turbo X with a more powerful, 280-horsepower version of the turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 that is in front-wheel-drive versions of the 9-3 Aero XWD.

Thirty years ago, Saab surprised the automotive world by presenting its first turbocharged model at the 1977 Frankfurt auto show. That car was the Saab 99 Turbo, which started a trend that others would follow suit. Since then, the Swedes have used turbocharging to enhance performance throughout their model range. Likewise, the groundbreaking features of the new Saab Turbo X are expected to get worldwide emulation.