Saab celebrates 30 years of turbocharging at IAA

At the Frankfurt Show in September 1977, Saab surprised the automotive world when it unveiled its first turbocharged model. Now, exactly 30 years later, it celebrates that occasion by unveiling its ultimate performance car, as well as giving the new-look 9-3 range its public debut.

Today, turbocharging is key to Saab’s ‘rightsizing’ engine philosophy, getting ‘more for less’ in terms of both power and environmental performance, as shown by Saab BioPower’s number one position in Europe’s emerging ‘flex-fuel’ segment.

World Premiere: Saab Turbo X

Saab commemorates three decades of leadership in turbocharging by launching the Saab Turbo X, a driver-focused, all-wheel drive car that sets new performance standards for the brand.

Black Limited Edition evokes iconic appeal of Saab’s first black 900 Turbo:
Innovative Saab XWD for greater driver involvement and dynamic chassis control
Active torque split between both axles and rear wheels
Tuned suspension and electronic chassis settings for optimum handling
280 hp/206 kW 2.8V6 turbo engine, 400 Nm of torque. 0-60 mph in approx. 5.7 seconds
Distinctive styling additions for enhanced aerodynamics
Arriving March 2008

Public Debut: New Saab 9-3 Range

The New 9-3 range features bold, more assertive looks inspired by Saab’s Scandinavian design tradition and the award-winning Aero X concept car.

All-new bodywork forward of the A-pillars
Cleaner looks, new doors, light and bumper assemblies front and rear
Two-stage, 180 hp/132 kW 1.9 turbo diesel for class-leading power and efficiency
Addition of more powerful, 200 hp/147 kW Saab BioPower flex-fuel engine