Saab 9-3
The Saab 9-3. A distinctive driver-oriented Coupe or Five-door Sedan designed for individuals who refuse to follow the sports touring crowd. All feature impressive turbocharged performance, responsive dynamic control, uncompromising safety, and something else you won't find in any of its competitors - Saab's rich design heritage.

The 9-3's allure begins the moment you sit behind the wheel inside its thoughtfully engineered, ergonomically oriented cockpit. Designed to provide more than mere comfort, the layout actually helps form an intimate link between driver, car and road. It starts with supportive seats, and extends to the intuitive, precise arrangement of the 9-3's instruments and controls.

Turn the key and this connection intensifies with swift acceleration, finely-tuned reflexes and effortless high-speed cruising. Its advanced performance capabilities also inspire confidence in another area - safety. Superior front-wheel-drive traction and powerful anti-lock brakes give the Saab 9-3 the ability to help you react immediately to surprises on the road and often to avoid trouble before it develops. If it should, however, state-of-the-art occupant protection features like active head restraints and head/torso side-impact airbags are designed to respond should a collision occur. Together, these elements help make the 9-3 one of the safest cars in its class.

Of course, with its extensive roster of standard equipment, the Saab 9-3 is equally ahead of its class in terms of value. Features like the technologically advanced OnStar and No-Charge scheduled maintenance* couple with its uniquely inspiring driving experience to give you plenty you won't find on the competition. There are several trim levels and a wide range of available equipment to choose from, so there's no doubt we can offer one perfectly suited for you. If you're wondering which one, a few more minutes of your time should be enough to provide the answer.

* This program covers all factory-recommended scheduled maintenance (excluding wear and tear items) for the above period, as outlined in the Warranties and Service Record Booklet. This program is associated with this particular vehicle, regardless of owner. This program is not transferable to another vehicle. This program is available for additional charge of $750 for base 9-3 5-door models. The Saab No Charge Scheduled Maintenance Program may be terminated for future Saab vehicles at any time without notice.

Saab 9-3 Viggen
The Saab 9-3 Viggen offers the essence of driving a Saab. In this section, you can explore the Saab 9-3 Viggen's unique blend of high performance, enhanced control and safety, and distinct aircraft-inspired design. You can also explore the 9-3 Viggen's specifications and find detailed information about the car's various equipment levels and options and accessories. Not only do get a totally unique, high performance Saab, but enrollment in the exclusive Viggen Flight Academy is included in the base price.

Saab 9-3 Viggen - Performance
Like Sweden's Saab 37 Viggen jet fighter, the Saab 9-3 Viggen takes performance to a whole new level. Indeed, we think the name "Viggen," which means "thunderbolt" in Swedish, is no exaggeration. Of all the Saab models, the Saab 9-3 Viggen was specially designed to provide the ultimate in high performance.

In developing the 9-3 Viggen, we paid special attention to refining the drivetrain. The Saab 9-3 Viggen features an all new 4-cylinder, 2.3 liter high output turbo engine that delivers an impressive 230 hp at 5,500 rpm. The 9-3 Viggen's engine features a larger, high performance turbo charger that supports sporty driving. The exhaust turbine is made of heat resistant stainless steel, and the bearing housing is also specially designed for heat resistance. In addition, to improve the flow of inlet air to the turbocharger, a new inlet duct was designed. By delivering a maximum torque of 258 lb/ft at 2,500-4,000 rpm, the 9-3 Viggen ensures exceptional acceleration and response, and is fun to drive on challenging roads.

In order to handle the 9-3 Viggen's high engine output, the engine's exhaust valves were modified to withstand extreme heat conditions. For this reason, these valves are coated with an exclusive alloy called Nimonic. In addition, the pistons are reinforced to handle the heat and very high combustion pressure.
Other drivetrain refinements include a heavy-duty clutch to handle increased engine output, and substantially upgraded drive shafts and state-of-the-art drive joints to handle the increased drive train forces.
Combined with a specially tuned sports chassis, a high performance brake system with better fade resistance, and improved aerodynamics, the 9-3 Viggen's drivetrain delivers a level of performance that is sure to please even the most demanding of drivers.

Saab 9-3 Viggen - Control
A car's performance is a matter of its ability to do what you expect of it. It is a matter of having complete control of the car, whether you are winding through snaking switchbacks, overtaking another car on a freeway, or coming to a sudden stop in city traffic. With the high performance Saab 9-3 Viggen, that is exactly what you get.

In order to fully utilize the tremendous power delivered by the 9-3 Viggen's 230 hp, 2.3 liter high output turbo engine, and still achieve superior road handling and driving characteristics, the 9-3 Viggen was equipped with a specially developed sport chassis. In order to improve stability, the chassis' springs were re-rated (front springs - 5% stiffer and rear springs - 25% stiffer), and more firmness was added to its dampers. In addition, the offset of the 9-3 Viggen's 7.5X17" wheels was extended from 42 to 49 mm, adding up to a 14 mm increase of wheel track. To improve traction, especially when accelerating through corners, the chassis' front anti-roll bar was softened and 215X45X17" wheels were added. In addition, the steering gear was given a firmer mounting to improve the driver's feedback from the road and to reduce torque steer.

In order to add substantially to driver control, the 9-3 Viggen's brakes were also upgraded. The master cylinder and booster provide larger capacity, and the black painted calipers are large and feature a new design with better ventilation. The brake pads are now larger and equipped with a high performance compound to improve friction, fade resistance, and stability. In addition, the front disc diameter is 20 mm larger and is grooved to improve fade resistance at high temperature and maximize initial bite. Thanks to the grooves, water and mud are instantly removed as the brakes are applied. The overall result is a high performance brake system with a distinctive and confident brake feel.

In order to improve the stability and wind resistance of the 9-3 Viggen, we further enhanced the already competitive aerodynamic properties of the Saab 9-3. In addition to flared side rocker panels, a low front spoiler was added so that a larger part of the air actually flows over the car and reduces drag resulting from the under carriage. In addition, the 9-3 Viggen's unique rear spoiler reduces lift and optimizes the aerodynamic balance between the front and rear ends of the car.

Within the aircraft-inspired cockpit, the instruments and controls are grouped logically and clearly for ease of operation, so that the driver can concentrate on the road and traffic. The Saab 9-3 Viggen was equipped with specially designed sport seats that feature side bolsters and thigh support to help make high performance driving more controlled and comfortable.

Saab 9-3 Viggen - Safety
The Saab 9-3 Viggen is a good example of Saab's holistic approach to car design. While the Saab 9-3 Viggen delivers a level of performance and driving excitement that is unrivalled by any Saab yet, no compromises have been made in terms of driving safety and security. The safety profile of the Saab 9-3 Viggen provides the same high level of accident protection as the 9-3 model.

The Saab 9-3 Viggen's superior performance and ergonomic characteristics actually contribute to driver control. Thus the cockpit, with its logically grouped instruments and specially designed sports seats, helps reduce distraction and lets the driver concentrate on the road and traffic. In addition, the Saab 9-3 Viggen's high performance engine provides superb overtaking capabilities and is extremely responsive.

In addition, the Saab 9-3 Viggen's sports chassis provides enhanced road handling characteristics, enabling the driver to steer away from danger if necessary. And specially designed, high performance brakes add substantially to driver control.
When it comes to crash protection, the Saab 9-3 Viggen is among the safest cars in the world. The Saab Safeseat system, which includes the world's first Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR), anti-submarining protection in all seat positions, 3-point seat belts for all passengers, front and side-airbags, side-impact protection, and cargo-shifting protection, provides protection for occupants in all seating positions.

In addition, soft outer body structures, and stiff inner body structures make the Saab 9-3 Viggen highly resistant against crash forces, has a high level of standard safety features.
The Saab 9-3 Viggen also benefits from a theft protection system. The door locks cannot be forced with an unfamiliar key or other instrument. An immobilizer is standard equipment, and when the ignition key is removed, the gearbox becomes locked.

Saab 9-3 Viggen - Design
The Saab 9-3 Viggen is designed to stand out among high performance cars. The 9-3 Viggen's lines are simple and clean, based on Scandinavian design philosophy. And as the most aerodynamic Saab 9-3 yet, the unique aircraft-inspired design of the Saab 9-3 Viggen is more obvious than in any other Saab. On the exterior, aerodynamic refinements give the 9-3 Viggen a unique stance that is low and aggressive, and long feature lines that emphasize the car's wedge shape give the car a strong sense of forward movement. In addition, body color matched front bumpers and sill covers help to attract attention to the front wheels, emphasizing Saab's front-wheel drive heritage.

Designed around the driver, the interior is marked by a distinctive cockpit feel, with all instrumentation grouped logically around sport seats specially designed for the Saab 9-3 Viggen. Apart from the metal-gray finish on the fascia, the interior is all sporty black, with the seat and door inserts in Deep Blue or Charcoal.
The Viggen symbol is a trademark and features a blue and yellow delta shape. It is reminiscent of the Saab 37 Viggen jet fighter's delta wing plan, graphically conveying a strong connection with the Swedish aircraft industry.