From the Saab Romania website. Wonder if AutoExpress will credit the source, this time?

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02013_low.jpg

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02010_low.jpg

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02006_low.jpg

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02011_low.jpg

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02012_low.jpg

http://www.saabs.co.uk/images/02007_low.jpg

It looks "OK".

Best to reserve true judgement until seen in the metal.

Here's some good info from www.4car.co.uk (http://www.4car.co.uk/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=220&storyid=1546)

Not being funny, but from some angles this car looks like a VW Passat.

And I am not so sure about the SAAB 9-3 Vector. That Vauxhall connection is no good...

I quote from www.4cars.com: (http://www.4cars.com:)

'Saab's 9-3 has never really been considered to be a real driver's car'

Not being funny, but what the Fxxxx is this guy talking about? Has he ever wet his pants as the turbo on a Viggen kicked in? Pffff...

Just looked at the performance figures:

the 1.8t has a top speed of 129 mph (126 mph auto), accelerates from 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds (10.7 seconds auto) and has fuel economy of 34.4 mpg (30.7 mpg auto). The 2.0t runs to 135 mph (132 mph auto), accelerates from 0-60 in 8.5 seconds (9.7 seconds auto) and does 34.0 mpg (30.1 mpg auto); the 2.0T does 145 mph (142 mph auto), 0-60 in 7.5 seconds (9 seconds auto) and 33.2 mpg (29.7 mpg auto), and the manual-only 2.2 TiD does 123 mph, 0-60 in 11 seconds and 44.1 mpg.


Nothing to beat my 9-3SE then. And surely not a way to take on the BMW and AUDI drivers. Unless they shove a 4WD with 300BHP amongst that lot, things are gonna look pritty dark...

StanleyB, I'd be inclined to agree with you. The current model 93's with the sportier wheel/tyre/suspension set ups tend to be "entertaining", so much so I'm sure any driving enthusiast would get a grin on his face.

The only journalists who have been kind in their summary of the current 93 are in CAR magazine. I've always thought that magazine understood the appeal of the 93. It will be interesting to hear what CAR makes of this new version.

SAAB have played quite safe with the new 93 shape, paricularly when you compare the 9x and 93x.

In some ways the new car leaves a slot for the current 93 to continue in some form. Perhaps they have been quite clever in this, because I don't feel the new model totally supersedes my car.

The performance figures look adequate. I note the model in the photos has an "Aero" on its rump - does that signal a 205+ bhp unit?

Just stating the obvious - the photographs of the new 93 have been taken using wide angle and telephoto lenses - as is usual of course - to give the car a lower, sportier stance (probably a bit of Photoshop jiggery pokery too).

Hence why the real visual test will be seeing the car on the road.

If you go to SAAB GB's web site:

saab.co.uk

you get a short promo about the new 93.

I wouldn't like to be the web designer when he gets into the office tomorrow - it states - "launched 1 September 2001".

Where have we all been for the last 8 months?

Like the pics - the grille suites the new car better than the 9-5!!

As to the web designer - he might want to correct the smelling pistake - who fancies an Areo? Especially when the engine designation is Tit?

A 9-3 Tit Areo. hmmm hmmm, titter titter.

Yanks are only getting the 2-litre engines. No reference anywhere to the engines being ECOTECs - the cc's will tell us more - lets hope the 2-litre is 1985.

I like it!

Not being funny, but what the Fxxxx is this guy talking about?[/b]He is a she.

I'm going to whip StanleyB

There is nothing wrong with the Vectra

I just hope that when I get to compare a SRi 2.2 with the 2.0ti, that the Saab has the edge, but then there is the 1400 GM points to consider

Pedry, I sincerely hope the new 2.0 litre engine is NOT 1985cc. If it is I shall have to seriously consider an alternative to a Saab. Why? Inland Revenue mileage allowances.

Apparently it is okay for the Government to deem my car a "Two litre", for Saab to sell it as a "Two litre", but according to the IR, when it comes to claiming expenses for mileage, my car is actually a 1.6! Quite why this occurs is because the IR use the cubic capacity to denote engine size, and as we know, they don't round things up or down unless it suits them - thus 1985 is less than 2000 cc, and hence in the lower bracket of a 1.6. The end result is I can only claim 44ppm, instead of 65ppm. Add that over an annual mileage of 24,000, and I am well out of pocket.... and not a happy bunny.

Oh, and for those that wanted to see the new 9-3 on the road, check out this video :-
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/real/ram/0,3256,m0ov020513saab,00.ram

Surely the same comments will apply to a 1998cc ECOTEC unit http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif I'm of these people who doesn't have to worry to much about this as I do not rely on allowances, but I just worry when insurance renewal happens (2 2 litre cars on the same - hows that for planning!! - just as well my 99 is sick! )

Dammit I'll scrath a hole in the side of once cylinder to find the extra couple of CC neccessary!

You can buy one after all. The taxman changed the rules on 1st April. Its now 40p/mile for 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter for all engine sizes.

And there I was thinking I was clever buying a 2.3

Think the second picture looks a little bit like a Honda Accord. The 5th picture (rear) reminds me of an Audi TT and a Renault Laguna. Side view is a diddy 9-5.

Overall I think it looks excellent. This will sell in high volumes, giving Saab the money to go and turn concepts like the 9-x into reality.

I'll definately go for one if my lease will stretch next time round - I would have not gone for the current 9-3 shape if I could have afforded it - looks too dated now...

One thing for sure! I'm glad that AutoExpress got thie computer picture wrong!

I have to agree that I am glad AutoExpress got it wrong. These don't look half bad - they remind me a lot of some SEAT models. Still, I'm happy with my Viggen bodied 9,3 Aero for the next two years while they work out the bugs on the new model. Of course, I did promise the wife I'd buy the Saab and get her a ovlov V70 on the company lease - we'll see....