Premium car manufacturer Saab is revising its specifications and announcing highly competitive pricing for its Model Year 2005 9-3 Sport Saloon and Convertible model ranges.
The revised 2005 9-3 range will be available from September at prices starting at just £16,995.
Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD
The first of two significant changes to the Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon range for 2005 is the introduction of two new Euro 4 compliant, common rail 1.9 TiD turbo diesel engines.
These new tax-efficient 1.9 TiD multiple injection engines replace the previous 2.2 TiD motor in the 9-3 range, and will be available with a choice of 120 bhp and performance 150 bhp versions, each mated to a standard, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. A first-in-sector six-speed automatic option will become available for the 150 bhp models later in the year.
Saab’s new Euro 4 1.9 TiD engines not only offer greater performance and improved economy over the previous 2.2 TiD unit, but also benefit from competitively low CO2 emissions, and full Euro 4 compliance, saving company car drivers a further 3 per cent in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) surcharge.
The 9-3 1.9 TiD 120 bhp has a provisional CO2 level of 154 g/km (16 per cent tax band), with a low 159 g/km (17 per cent band) CO2 rating for the performance 150 bhp unit. Both engines feature an innovative, maintenance-free particulate filter as standard.
On-the-road TiD prices start from a competitive £18,995 for the 120 bhp 9-3 Linear 1.9 TiD model – £435 less than the outgoing 2.2 TiD Linear – and from just £19,995 for the 150 bhp 9-3 Linear.
Dynamic new trim levels
The second key change for the 2005 9-3 Sport Saloon range is the launch of two new dynamic forms – Linear Sport and Vector Sport. These new Sport models address strong customer demand for added sporting equipment at a high value price, enhancing the 9-3’s fun-to-drive chassis dynamics. The new Sport variants are available with all 9-3 engine options (petrol and diesel), excluding the range-topping 210 bhp 2.0HOT Aero engine.
The new 9-3 Linear Sport model adds only £1,000 to 9-3 Linear pricing, yet features additional standard specification that is considerably enhanced over the Linear form, including:
The new 9-3 Vector Sport also represents superb value, priced at only £650 more than the standard 9-3 Vector, yet adding all of the following extra features:
An enhanced, optional ‘Saab Comsense’ Advanced Voice Recognition system (Saab ES4) becomes available, with voice command for the built-in hands-free telephone, radio, CD player and satellite navigation systems.
ES4 features Saab’s patented emergency control system, which helps the driver to ‘multi task’ safely, by placing all infotainment systems under vocal control, thus encouraging the driver to focus on controlling the car, rather than the audio system, for example. The Comsense ES4 automatically mutes the telephone, navigation direction instructions and audio sound, in an emergency (e.g. in extreme braking). The satellite navigation graphics are also enhanced for 2005.
The 9-3 Arc form is dropped, in favour of the new Sport model derivatives.
All 9-3 Aero models – Sport Saloon and Convertible – gain powerful Bi-xenon headlamps as standard.
An expanded choice of added-value factory-fit Option Packs becomes available, to further enable 9-3 buyers to personalise their Saab to their own tastes.
Three new metallic colours are added to the 9-3 range for 2005; Chilli Red, Smoke Beige and Parchment Silver.
Full 2005 Saab 9-3 pricing and CO2 tax band information is attached. Detailed specification tables for the full 2005 Saab model range (9-3 and 9-5) will be available in late-July.
