Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan Launched at Bintang Walk, KL

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan Launched at Bintang Walk, KL

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In spite of a light drizzle, the new Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan received an attention-getting launch at Bintang Walk in Kuala Lumpur this evening. Doing the honours were Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir, the Chairman of Jaseri Auto, which holds the distribution rights for Saab and Porsche in Malaysia, and his wife, as well as Radziwill Mohamed, the CEO of Auto Eurokars, which handles the retail and after-sales operations for Jaseri Auto.

The Saab 9-3 is an all-new model although it is no secret that its platform (internally known as ‘Epsilon’) is shared with the latest Opel Vectra. However, the Saab has many unique elements for its own platform – shorter wheelbase and an entirely different rear suspension geometry – that the 9-3 can be considered a different car: it is more of an executive sedan with a sporting character.

Note also that Saab has chosen the sedan bodystyle, a departure from the usual hatchback style which the company usually favours, because it is intended to compete in the executive express segment. In developing the 9-3, the aim was to pitch it against established rivals such as the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Volvo S60 and from the experiences of European journalists, it qualifies as a worthy rival.

In the local context, the pricing and specifications have also been chosen to challenge the same rivals. Excluding insurance, the on-the-road price for a privately-registered unit is RM189,888.80 and if you have to pay 100% on the insurance premium, add another RM5,201.90.

For that money, you get a pretty well-equipped car: ten airbags, leather upholstery, high-quality audio system, on-board computer, ABS + EBD, Traction Control + ESP, Cornering Brake Control, Mechanical Brake Assist, 5-speed automatic transmission with Sentronic, bi-xenon headlamps and the Saab Active Head Restraint which helps prevent whiplash.

Under the bonnet is a brand new 2.0-litre all-aluminium 16-valve engine which has a turbocharger, just like all Saabs sold since 1982. The company has the longest expertise with turbocharged engines and has been able to ensure that its engines are tuned to give generous torque (240 Nm at 2500 rpm) as well as high power output which in the case of the 9-3, is 110.3 kW/150 bhp at 5500 rpm. Claimed performance is a maximum speed of 210 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds.

This is the safest Saab ever produced and proof of this comes from the independent EuroNCAP crash tests carried out in November 2002. To date, only six cars have achieved the full 5 stars and the latest 9-3 Sport Sedan is one of them.

Commenting on the latest generation of Saabs, Datuk Zainuddin – better known in the rally fraternity as Mejar Zainuddin (he was a fighter pilot in the RMAF) – had this to say: “To really enjoy the old Saabs like the one I had, you had to be a proficient driver. But with today’s Saabs, the way they have designed the cars does not require you to be a very skilled driver in order to derive a great deal of driving pleasure.”

Each 9-3 sold by Auto Eurokars also comes with a 2 year/60,000 km warranty (whichever comes first), the Saab Saver Programme which provides two years or 60,000 kms of free scheduled service (whichever comes first) and also a warranty on the battery.

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