Saab Announces Mid-Modelyear Enhancements
15 September 1998
Saab Announces Mid-Modelyear Enhancements To Its All-New 1999 Saab 9-5 And 9-3 Line New high output turbo engine, full-line head and chest air bags debut
NORCROSS, Ga., Sept. 14 -- Following the launch of the all-
new 1999 Saab 9-5 and Saab 9-3 in the spring of 1998, Saab continues to add
even more value with a number of mid-year performance, safety, and convenience
enhancements.
Saab 9-3 Mid-Year Model News
Headlining performance news is Saab's all-new 2.0L, 200 hp, high output
turbocharged engine, a high performance variant of the popular 185 horsepower,
four-cylinder powerplant. Saab's newest engine delivers maximum horsepower at
5,500 rpm and strong low-end torque of 209 lb.-ft. at just 2,300 rpm. True to
Saab engine philosophy, peak torque is maintained all the way up to 4,600 rpm,
resulting in a broad plateau of usable power on tap for overtaking, avoiding
potential hazards, or just plain sporty driving.
Saab has been optimizing turbocharging technology for 20 years to deliver
real-world power and performance on demand. With its newest turbo engine,
Saab now provides 100 horsepower per liter of engine displacement - an
efficiency virtually unmatched in a family car, and traditionally only found
in ultra high performance sports cars.
The new high output turbo engine comes standard exclusively on Saab 9-3 SE
5-door and SE Convertible variants equipped with manual transmissions. Saab's
185 hp, 2.0L turbocharged engine continues to be the standard powerplant in
all other available Saab 9-3 Coupe, 9-3 5-door and 9-3 Convertible models.
Other mid-year performance upgrades include revised gearbox ratios and a
numerically higher final drive ratio of 4.05:1 in all manual transmission
equipped Saab 9-3 models, providing quicker off the line response while
maintaining highway cruising fuel efficiency. To further complement their
performance prowess, all Saab 9-3 SE models receive new aggressively styled
16-inch, 5-spoke light-alloy wheels.
Saab's superior level of Saab 9-3 standard safety equipment is raised anew
with the addition of a new headliner design that integrates additional padding
for increased occupant protection. All 1999 Saab 9-3 models already feature
Saab's patented pendulum design "B" pillar which deflects side impacts away
from more fragile head and chest areas, the world's first head restraint
system to reduce the risk of whiplash type injuries (the Saab Active Head
Restraint, or SAHR), and seat-mounted, two-stage inflating head and chest side
air bags.
Convenience enhancements to the new Saab 9-3 include an integrated
driver's seat armrest in all Saab 9-3 SE 5-door variants for additional driver
comfort, and a centrally located cupholder that swings out from the instrument
panel. Pricing for the 1999 Saab 9-3 line remains aggressive, with a starting
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $25,650 for the well-equipped
Saab 9-3 Coupe. The Saab 9-3 5-door has a starting price of $26,150 and the
9-3 SE high output turbo 5-door is priced at $31,700. The popular Saab 9-3
Convertible line begins at $38,150, with the high output turbo 9-3 SE
Convertible available for $42,995. All prices exclude a $575 destination
charge.
1999 Saab 9-5 Mid-Year Model News
Entirely new for 1999, the Saab 9-5 is a showcase for three world first
technologies; the Saab Active Head Restraint system, ventilated seats, and the
innovative asymmetrically turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine.
Production of the V6 engine begins in September, 1998. This Saab-unique
design uses an integrated low-pressure turbocharger on the front cylinder bank
which feeds compressed air to the entire transverse-mounted 3.0L, 200 hp V6
engine. Low-end torque is boosted to a strong 229 lb.-ft. at just 2,500 rpm,
and the maximum torque plateau extends all the way to 4,000 rpm. The Saab
turbocharging advantage is again apparent as the usable power band is both
broad and low, translating into immediate power on demand for the driver.
Saab's asymmetrically turbocharged V6 is matched exclusively to an
electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission with economy, sport,
and winter driving modes.
Saab adds its two-stage, head and chest protecting side air bags, as well
as a new force-reducing front seat belt and pre-tensioner design to the Saab
9-5's lengthy list of standard safety features. The new belt and tensioner
design allows more gentle braking of the occupant's forward motion during a
collision. With head and chest protecting side airbags now also standard in
the Saab 9-5, Saab becomes the first manufacturer in its segment to offer this
level of side impact protection as standard equipment in every available U.S.
model.
The Saab 9-5's existing safety attributes include such patented
innovations as the triple load path energy-absorbing front and rear body
structures, pendulum design "B" pillar and the Saab Active Head Restraint
system.
Despite adding new standard equipment, Saab retains the base price of
$29,995 MSRP for the 1999 Saab 9-5. The Saab 9-5 SE 4-cylinder has an MSRP of
$33,495 and the Saab 9-5 SE V6, available exclusively with a four-speed
automatic transmission, is priced at $37,250 MSRP. All prices exclude the
$575 destination charge.
Saab 9-5 Wagon Debut
To round out its 1999 model line, Saab will introduce a sporty,
aerodynamic new entry into the premium wagon segment: the Saab 9-5 Wagon. The
9-5 Wagon is designed for individuals who live an active lifestyle and require
versatility and cargo capacity, but prefer the sporty feel of sedan driving.
The Saab 9-5 Wagon accommodates both needs by providing a unique combination
of outstanding performance, an exceptional level of safety, and flexible cargo
capacity. Debuting at the Paris Motor Show on September 28, 1998, the Saab 9-
5 Wagon arrives on the North American market in the spring of 1999 as a 1999
model.
1999 Warranty Information
For all of its 1999 models, Saab offers excellent warranty protection that
includes four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage with 24-hour roadside
assistance. Perforation coverage extends for six years with no mileage limit.
Saab will continue to perform the first maintenance service free of charge.
