Is the new Saab 9-3 a good car?
Gone are most of the harsh sounds and vibrations that penetrated the current car’s cabin. The new 9-3, riding on a wheelbase nearly three inches longer (at 105.3 inches), is more comfortable and serene going down the road. Tire hum is the only outside noise to penetrate the cabin at an objectionable level.
What kind of engine is in a 2003 Saab?
Then, early in 2003, a higher-boost, 210-hp version of this engine will arrive in Arc and Vector models (read “luxury” and “sport”). Both engines are versions of GM’s Ecotec all-aluminum, twin-cam four-cylinder.
Who is the CEO of Saab Cars USA?
One of the many things Saab Cars USA marketing V-P Hans Krondahl knows is that everyone needs a gray suit. (He also knows how to make the Swedish delicacy surströmming, in which herring is stowed in a can for six months, right up to that rotting point when it becomes ever so tasty, but that’s not important right now.)
What kind of rear suspension does a Saab use?
But it was a progressive sort of push, and the car remains stable even over midcorner bumps. Helping in this regard is a new four-link independent rear suspension. The rear system incorporates passive rear steer, which slightly changes the toe of the rear tires to aid in turning. Saab also makes extensive use of aluminum to reduce unsprung weight.
How much horsepower does a Saab linear have?
(The Linear uses the same mill, but with less turbo boost, making 175 horsepower.) Turbocharged motors often suffer a delayed response after the driver steps on the gas. Saab has done a tremendous job of eradicating turbo lag in this engine. Any time there’s more than 3000 rpm on the clock, the lag is nearly imperceptible.
Gone are most of the harsh sounds and vibrations that penetrated the current car’s cabin. The new 9-3, riding on a wheelbase nearly three inches longer (at 105.3 inches), is more comfortable and serene going down the road. Tire hum is the only outside noise to penetrate the cabin at an objectionable level.
Is there turbo lag in a Saab 9-3?
Saab has done a tremendous job of eradicating turbo lag in this engine. Any time there’s more than 3000 rpm on the clock, the lag is nearly imperceptible. All you feel is the healthy tug of generous torque. At less than three grand the lag is short and not at all bothersome.
What’s the drag coefficient on a Saab 9-3?
With a chunky but smooth profile, short overhangs, and a high trunklid, Saab says the new shape has a slippery 0.28 coefficient of drag (Cd). Honda’s wind-cheating Insight has a 0.25 Cd. Clearly, Saab sweated the details with this exterior, which is somehow both aggressive and subtle.