MotorsNews: In Europe they will call it the SportCombi, but here we will be more down to earth and name it for what it is, a sports estate. Saab will soon be launching its estate derivative of the 9-3 sedan which is expected to boost overall 9-3 sales.
The new arrival is expected to account for up to 150 Irish registrations next year.
Actual launch date is the end of September and the engine line-up mirrors mostly that of the sedan range, running from 1.8 litre normally aspirated and turbo versions with 122 and 150bhp to the Aero 2.8 TV6 with 250bhp, the first turbocharged application of GM's new V6 engine architecture which makes its debut in the estate. In between are a 175bhp 2.0 litre turbo and two turbocharged diesels with 120 and 150bhp. As with the sedan, there are three specification levels.
Saab is keen to dispel the notion that it doesn't have a shape or style of its own, pointing out that there's all new bodywork from the B pillar rearwards including doors, the rear seat and the cargo deck.
The estate retains the frontal and interior styling of the sedan, together with the wheelbase and chassis dynamics.
The estate's true identity is most evident at the rear with smart features like a raked rear screen, large frosted rear light lenses and an integrated rear spoiler at the top of the tailgate. This area marks it out as a Saab that's visually different.
On the practical side, the tailgate is wide opening, and there's a low floor. A compact rear suspension arrangement has meant no intrusion into a load area that offers volume from 419 to 1,273 litres, depending on whether the rear seat is up or down.
Irish pricing hasn't been confirmed, but it's likely that the entry level 1.8i Linear version will come in at around €1,500 above its sedan counterpart, meaning that prices will start from €36,000.
Boosting the appeal of Saab,as the 9-3 estate should do, is vitally important for the Swedish marque these days.
Production last year was just short of 129,000 cars but it needs to be 250,000 cars, and it's an agonising topic for Saab's General Motors bosses on just how that is going to be achieved. The expectation is that successors to the 9-3 and 9-5 core model ranges will be built at the Opel manufacturing base in Russelsheim, Germany after 2008.
Saab's Swedish manufacturing operation at Trollhattan is expected to continue, but its future role would be in developing and producing more niche products like crossover and all-wheel-drive vehicles.
An ambitious new model programme, said to involve eight new models over the next eight years, has been revived, according to Automotive News Europe.