2006 LAIAS: Saab 9-3 Convertible 20 Years Edition

[Guest Josh]

For release: Jan 2, 2006

RAISING THE ROOF: SAAB CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF OPEN-TOP MOTORING

LOS ANGELES – Saab is celebrating two decades of convertible sales success with an anniversary model, the Saab 9-3 Convertible 20 Years Edition, starting in the country where the story began.

Saab pioneered the concept of a practical, all-year-round, “four season, four-seater” soft top when it launched the first Saab 900 Convertible in the United States market in January 1986. A limited production run of 400 units with 175 hp (130 kw), 2.0-liter turbo engines was an immediate success and the following year the Saab Convertible went into full global production.

Now, more than 240,000 Saab Convertibles later, the 9-3 20 Years Edition Convertible is being unveiled back in the United States as the latest expression of an iconic product that combines sporty design with surprising functionality, the core appeal of the Saab brand.

Offered at an MSRP of $44,615 (including destination charges), the Saab 9-3 20 Years Edition Convertible is powered by the all-new 250 hp ( 186.4 kw) , 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 and is distinguished by its unique Electric Blue Metallic paint finish. The new top-of-the-line model goes on sale in spring 2006 and is limited to 300 units for the U.S. market. Based on Aero specification, with a lowered sports-tuned chassis, it includes the following features:

* Tonneau cover, door trims and door handles color-matched in Electric Blue Metallic
* Unique double five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels
* Rear trunk lid lip spoiler color-matched in Electric Blue Metallic
* Parchment leather sport interior with blue trim accents
* Touring package, which includes electrically operated seats with driver’s side memory, express-up windows, auto dimming rear-view mirror with garage door opener and digital compass, rain-sensing wipers and rear park assist.

The 9-3 Convertible also offers all the fun-to-drive qualities of the widely acclaimed 9-3 Sport Sedan chassis, as well as a fast-acting, fully automatic top with space-saving flexible trunk storage, pop-up rear roll bars and a five-star EuroNCAP crash safety rating.

Other Saab Convertible design features include:

* Safety belts mounted on the front seats for ease of use/convenient rear seat access
* Cockpit-inspired cabin with light parchment-colored headliner
* Profiler instrument/function customization by personal preference
* “Intelligent” air conditioning control with heat settings when soft-top is down
* Saab ReAxs passive rear-wheel steer characteristic for optimum handling
* Active front head restraints to help prevent neck injury in rear-end collisions
* DynaCage rollover protection system with pop-up bars, strengthened A-pillars, sills and automatic safety belt pretensioning

On the road, the all-aluminum, 2.8 V-6 turbo engine, with a single twin-scroll turbocharger, delivers 250 hp ( 186.4 kw) maximum power and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of maximum torque between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm. It gives the Saab 9-3 20 Years Edition high levels of performance (0 – 60 mph in just 7 seconds) and refinement in keeping with its eye-catching good looks. It also offers excellent fuel economy, with an EPA estimated highway rating of 28 mpg. Customers can choose either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Standard electronic chassis systems include Saab-tuned Electronic Stability Program; Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, cornering brake control and traction control system.

The current third-generation Saab Convertible, launched in fall 2003, has taken annual global sales to a record volume of almost 19,000 units, building on the success of its predecessors. The second-generation 900/9-3 Convertible achieved total global sales of 140,500 units between 1994-2002 , averaging more than 15,500 units a year and accounting for 24 percent of all 900/9-3 production. This compares with almost

49,000 first-generation Saab 900 Convertibles sold between 1987 and 1993, an average of 7,000 units a year, or 14 percent of all Saab 900 production.

In some European markets, the Saab Convertible has achieved an annual share of the premium convertible segment as high as 30 percent, remarkable penetration when compared to Saab’s usual 6 percent share of the premium car segment.

“Customers are attracted to the 9-3 Convertible’s premium quality, its sporty styling and generous equipment levels,” said Jan-Åke Jonsson, Saab’s managing director. “Its success reinforces Saab’s leading role in the premium convertible segment and also highlights the core values of our brand.”

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab USA is the importer and distributor of Saab 9-2X, 9-3, 9-5 cars and the 9-7X SUV for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden .




More Pictures Over At MPH-Online

[91z4me]

That looks dang good. Can't wait to see the 2 seat Epsilon vert at NAIAS.

[Clownzilla]

That looks dang good.  Can't wait to see the 2 seat Epsilon vert at NAIAS.

[post="66341"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Their showing a 2 seat vert? Even at concept stage, this would be a huge step to bringing SAAB back to greatness!

[91z4me]

Their showing a 2 seat vert? Even at concept stage, this would be a huge step to bringing SAAB back to greatness!

[post="66348"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

That is the rumor.

[gmhashope]

Wow, looks pretty nice. I like the blue paint as well as the 6 speed auto.

[91z4me]

Wow, looks pretty nice.  I like the blue paint as well as the 6 speed auto.

[post="66443"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The 9-3 doesn't use the new GM FWD 6 speed auto it uses an 'Asin'(sp) unit.

[gmhashope]

The 9-3 doesn't use the new GM FWD 6 speed auto it uses an 'Asin'(sp) unit.

[post="66485"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Yea, that's right because the Saturn Aura is supposed to be the first application of GM's own 6 speed auto.

[sciguy_0504]

I love the paint...awesome color. I guess Saab will sell 1/3 of the 300 units the U.S. is getting.

[pow]

The wheels look Photoshopped on...

IDK, it's nice, but there's nothing about it that makes it more appealing than its competitors, particularly the new C70. Even the traditional appeal of a Saab, its rarity, doesn't work because the 9-3 Cabrio has always been popular... because it's cheap.

[TurboRush]

The 9-3 doesn't use the new GM FWD 6 speed auto it uses an 'Asin'(sp) unit.

[post="66485"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The Aisin brand of auto trans has been used in saab's since the new gen 900 in '94...

they are the same brand of tranny found in Lexus and Toyotas..... On all the Saab forums that I browse, there has been next to no problems with the auto-trans... they're prety good!