Saab to Give 9-3X its Debut in Geneva; E85 Plus All-Wheel Drive

23 February 2009

The 9-3X. Click to enlarge.

Saab will introduce the new 9-3X to the public at the upcoming Geneva motor show in March. The 9-3X sport wagon offers a lighter alternative to heavier and larger crossovers or SUVs. The 210 hp (155 kW), 2.0-liter turbo engine couples Saab’s E85-capable BioPower technology with all-wheel-drive for the first time. A 180 hp (132 kW), two-stage 1.9-liter turbo diesel option is also available with two-wheel drive transmission.

Saab is splitting off from General Motors, which acquired 50% of Saab in 1990 and subsequently acquired the remaining shares. (Earlier post). On 20 February, the Vänersborg District Court in Sweden approved the request for a reorganization and restructuring which Saab’s representative had submitted earlier in the morning.

Saab’s most popular 9-3 diesel models now offer reduced CO₂ emissions and improved fuel consumption, without a noticeable loss in performance. In Linear and Vector specification, 9-3 Sport Sedans powered by the 150 hp (110 kW) or 180 hp (132 kW), two-stage turbo 1.9-liter diesel engines offer combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100km (44.4 mpg US) and CO₂ emissions rated at 139 g/km.

The SportCombi’s figures are also improved, to 144 g/km and 5.5 L/100 km (42.8 mpg US). The new variants are available only with manual transmission.

The efficiency gains, averaging 7%, have been achieved by a series of fine-tuning measures including: the use of wider gear ratios, a longer final drive, idle and low engine speed remapping, and an optimized tire and wheel choice. Zero to 100 km/h acceleration is unchanged, while fifth gear 80-120 km/h times are increased by less than one second.

Separately, on 23 February, the Swedish Minister of Industry, Maud Olofsson and Sven Otto Littorin the Minister of Employment traveled to Saab’s headquarters in Trollhättan to discuss plans for a “New Independent Saab”. A variety of topics were on the agenda including Saab’s reorganization plans, short term funding plus strategies for attracting outside investment.

Saab will continue to operate as usual and in accordance with the formal reorganization process.

The new Saab Automobile will initially be led by a group of three persons: the lawyer Guy Lofalk, whom the District Court has appointed as Administrator, the Managing Director Jan Åke Jonsson, and the international reorganization expert, Stephen Taylor.

The purpose of the company reorganization is to create a short-term stability that will make it possible to develop a long-term solution for Saab.