Consumer Guide's Impressions of the 2011 Saab 9-3

The premium compact car from General Motors' Swedish brand is redesigned to be even more compact. It's an unexpected move, but it could mean more driving fun with higher mpg.What We Know About the 2011 Saab 9-3

You've probably noticed how redesigned vehicles are most always larger, heavier, and costlier than the ones they replace, whether it's a Mini or a Mercedes. Eventually, a model literally outgrows its original market class, which often leads to a smaller, cheaper product being slotted in below to start the process all over again. Seems rather pointless, doesn't it?

General Motors' upscale Saab brand wants to break this cycle, starting with the redesign of its 9-3 premium compact car. According to trade weekly Automotive News Europe, the Swedish automaker decided last March to base its next 9-3 on GM's new front-wheel-drive Delta 2 global compact-car platform, not the midsize Epsilon 2 architecture as first planned. Carl-Peter Forster, president of GM Europe and chairman of the Saab Automobile unit, confirmed the change at the 2008 London Auto Show. As he told ANE, "We don't want Saabs to grow in size but rather keep them more compact." As a result, the next-gen 9-3, expected in the U.S. as a 2011 model, will go from being a platform cousin of midsize GM cars like the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 to an upscale Swedish-built relative of the 2010 Chevrolet Cruze compact.

Defying conventional industry wisdom is a risky move for a money-losing brand, but Saab has its reasons. For one thing, embracing the less-is-more ethic returns Saab to its original contrarian product philosophy, which has lately been diluted under GM ownership, or so say some Saab loyalists. Foregoing the typical growth spurt also contributes to an aura of green respectability and energy-consciousness amid widespread public concern over global warming and soaring fuel prices, so another image enhancement there.

Last but not least, a smaller 9-3 fits nicely into GM's new globalized product plan that aims to allow all versions of a platform family to be produced in multiple plants to match local sales demand and/or to counter unfavorable currency exchange rates. In fact, given the strength of the euro, it's conceivable the next 9-3 could be built in America alongside the Cruze and another Delta 2 sibling, the redesigned 2010 Saturn Astra. "Reverse exports" to Europe? Yup. The weak dollar is already upping the volume of U.S. exports in general, one of the few bright spots in today's otherwise bleak economic picture, and many automakers, foreign and domestic, are hurrying to take advantage.

Even so, we understand the 2011 Saab 9-3 will initially be sourced from the brand's home plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, rather than being built in Germany by GM's Opel branch, which was the lead division for Delta 2 development. Alas, we haven't heard other specifics yet, but we can make some fairly safe guesses.

For starters, the 2011 Saab 9-3 should be about the same size as the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. The current 9-3, which bowed as a 2003 entry, is based on the smallest version of the original Epsilon 1 architecture, which is why it's classified as a compact car and not a midsize. The new one will likely be an inch or two shorter and narrower on a slightly trimmer wheelbase, but should claim nearly as much passenger and cargo room. The downsized dimensions and weight-conscious engineering should also shave precious pounds--perhaps 100 or more--to the benefit of fuel economy.

Styling of the 2011 Saab 9-3 will mimic elements of Saab's racy Aero X and squareback 9-X BioHybrid concepts, especially up front. Newer Saabs have been criticized for looking too much like other GM models, so designers will try extra hard to give the next 9-3 a distinct visual identity. Inside we're likely to see a new iteration of the familiar Saab dashboard style and signature brand features like a floor-mounted ignition switch. Sedan, convertible, and SportCombi wagon body styles should continue, with the latter two rolling out some 12-18 months after the first. We think the sedan could materialize as a 4-door hatch with a "trunkback" profile. Hatchbacks used to be a Saab mainstay, so enthusiasts should welcome a new one as a sign the brand hasn't lost touch with its past.

We expect the 2011 Saab 9-3 to replace the current engine lineup with a new 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder featuring direct fuel injection (DFI) and rumored horsepower of around 140. It would be shared with the Cruze and may be mandatory. If it isn't, look for a new 9-3 Aero with the punchy 2.0-liter DFI turbo-four already available in GM compacts like the Chevy Cobalt SS. Because of its power, the turbo 2.0 would likely team with all-wheel drive exclusively, but we don't expect that combination to be available until model year 2012 or '13. Transmissions should comprise a 6-speed manual and a new-design 6-speed automatic. The latter will doubtless include manual-shift capability in line with Saab's Euro-sporty image. A twin-clutch automated manual is an outside prospect instead of a conventional automatic.

Other underskin features, many carried over, should include 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, antiskid system and traction control, and 4-wheel independent suspension. Electro-hydraulic power steering may replace pure-hydraulic as another mpg-booster. Sedans and wagons should come with front and curtain side airbags. Convertibles should get front side airbags protecting both head and torso, plus a standard power fabric top with heated glass rear window. Many options should return, too, so the list should show a navigation system, rear-obstacle detection, steering-linked xenon headlamps, sport suspension, upscale interior trim, and heated seats. The new 9-3 may be smaller than the car it replaces, but it won't be "decontented," let alone cheapened in terms of materials or craftsmanship. That would be sales suicide, as Saab surely knows.

Assuming it turns out "right," the 2011 Saab 9-3 could be the most successful new Saab in a long time. And a success it must be. Anything less and GM may be forced to offload the brand as a damaged non-performer. You know, like Hummer.

A Notable Feature of the 2011 Saab 9-3

We think there's a good chance that the redesigned 9-3 will be offered at some point with a "mild hybrid" option similar to that of the Chevy Malibu Hybrid and Saturn Aura Green Line. This involves an electric motor that's sandwiched between the engine and transmission and runs off a special battery to act as a starter/generator. Coming to a stop automatically shuts off the engine, which then re-fires on lifting off the brake and applying the accelerator. Several manufacturers are adopting such "stop/start" systems as a relatively simple means to boost mpg and reduce emissions, not to mention meet stiff new regulations for same. A "stop/start" setup doesn't allow driving on electricity alone like a Toyota Prius and other hybrids can, but it doesn't boost sticker price nearly as much as a "strong hybrid" drive.

Meantime, downsizing the next 9-3 has forced Saab to do the same with its planned 9-1 compact, which was originally slated for the Delta platform. According to Automotive News Europe, the 9-1 will be reconfigured as a subcompact, likely based on the next-generation Gamma architecture that's expected to appear around 2012 with a redesigned Chevrolet Aveo. The current Gamma platform hosts the Aveo and sister models sold under different brand names in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, so GM is again out to get the most for its money from one basic design. The 9-1, which is likely to be a sporty 2-door hatchback, will be the smallest Saab since the original beetle-shaped 92/93/96 models of the 1950s and '60s. Styling, engineering, equipment, and pricing will predictably reflect Saab brand values, as with the redesigned 9-3, but sources believe the 9-1 could be built at one or more European plants outside Sweden. U.S.-based production appears unlikely. Keep checking back with us for further details.

Buying Advice for the 2011 Saab 9-3

Tidier size, less weight, and still-ample power should make the 2011 Saab 9-3 even more fun to drive than the agile car it replaces, not to mention easier on gas. And though Saab's quirky brand image and small dealer network remain drawbacks for some buyers, this car certainly seems well timed. After all, the market is fast swinging to smaller, thriftier wheels that still offer all the big-car comforts. BMW's Mini and 1-Series are strong sellers already, and they'll soon be joined by new premium compacts like the Audi A1, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and a planned rear-drive Cadillac BTS. Of course, it always pays to be informed, and Consumer Guide will be right on top of this new and fast-growing field, so keep checking with us online and in the pages of our Car and Truck Test magazines to see how these and other contenders stack up.

2011 Saab 9-3 Release Date: Earlier reports had the redesigned 2011 Saab 9-3 bowing in calendar 2010, but the downsizing decision has probably delayed introduction by at least six months. Assuming a best-case scenario, we see the new sedan versions arriving either very late in 2010 or early in 2011. Either way, the new 9-3 will bow as a 2011 model. Wagons and convertibles follow at some later point.

2011 Saab 9-3 First Test Drive: If we're right on the above, media previews should be on for the third or fourth quarter of 2010.

2011 Saab 9-3 Prices: There was a time when small cars invariably meant small profits, but GM and other automakers got past that years ago in Europe and are starting to do so in the U.S. Add in the soaring costs for energy and basic commodities like steel, plus the weak dollar and new inflationary pressures, and higher prices seem virtually guaranteed. How much higher is hard to predict, but we'd guess the new 9-3s will sticker $1,000-$1,500 above current models, which would lift base prices to the $30,000-$45,000 bracket.

Articke key :  Saab 9-3 Review, Future Cars, New Car, Saab, 2011