25/4/2002, 4car

Saab is celebrating 25 years of turbocharging with the launch of a special edition 9-3 Turbo Anniversary. "The distinctive lines of the classic 99 Turbo (1977) are still very apparent in today's Saab 9-3, and the exclusive 9-3 Turbo Anniversary model clearly evokes the spirit of the original", says Saab. The 99 Turbo was one of the first production turbo cars; the BMW 2002 Turbo just beat it in terms of chronology, but the 99 sold in far greater numbers and is credited with bringing turbo technology into the mainstream. These days, Saab's entire range of cars is turbo-charged.

Like the first 99 Turbo, the 9-3 Anniversary comes in three-door Coupe form, though sadly, it's not badged as a Combi, like the original. It has 40 bhp more power, with the 2.0-litre full-blown 185 bhp turbo engine, plus a specification including full leather upholstery, an exclusive body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sports tuned chassis, a sports leather steering wheel and a 'teflon' facia panel. This equipment would usually cost over £2200 if added as options, but the 9-3 Anniversary costs just £500 more than the standard 9-3 SE 2.0T Coupe on which it is based, with a price tag of £20,795.

Just 175 of these models will come to the UK (the same number of officially-imported 99 Turbos sold) and all will be black; the only choice you get is between a manual or an automatic transmission. Saab describes them as the "last of the line 3-door Saab Turbos", as the current 9-3 range is to be replaced by an all-new line-up in September, and the new range will not include a three-door model.

Source: http://www.4car.co.uk/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=211&id=3733

Yep, we've had these for a few months here and I've had a chance to nose about one, whilst waiting for mine to get serviced.. nice.. the leather seats has the word 'Turbo' embossed on the seat back.. ours have the carbon dash, not the 'teflon' one mentioned.. otherwise pretty nice..not too expensive either...

We also get a business edition version which is an S that looks like an SE.. i.e skirts, front fogs, audio2 and 16inch five spoke wheels but minus climate control (i think).

Obviously run-out specials to get rid of cars and options before the new cars hit the shores..

(still a good time to pick a fully loaded hatchback!)

It's basically an Aero without the last 20bhp. It's shown in the latest Saab magazine, my copy of which I received this morning (interesting, Mark, that they claim it to be "exclusive for the UK market"). Aero wheels, skirt etc. Saying that, if it doesn't have Viggen seats - rather normal 9-3 ones - it might be worth a look. Black only .

Black only??

oh.. not here..

It's available in both TiD and Petrol engines and in coupe and 5 door, in all colours has Body coloured skirts, ALU 37 wheels, Mistlamps, part leather, part fabric seats with 'turbo' on the seat back embossed, Automatic climate control and Audio2. The sport chassis mentioned in the UK car is an option. All for €31,750.

Currently we got three special editions, the Euro edition, the Business edition and the above mentioned Anniversary edition.

So now we have Base, Euro(base with extra kit), S, Business Edition (S with extra kit), SE, Anniversary (SE with extra kit) and Aero.

Intrestingly the Aero is €39450, and adds the Viggen bumpers, bridge spoiler, Sport Exhaust and 205HP engine.

Also a funny thing here in NL is that a TiD engined car is €900 MORE EXPENSIVE than the 185HP Turbo engined version in the same trim...

So I suppose the UK car, given that it is only black, only 3-door, only all leather seats, sports susp etc, and only 175 cars available, does make it exclusive to the UK. May take a look, asuming I can up the bhp, given that this new 9-3 thing isn't going to be a hatch.