First photo of the new 9-3
October 31, 2011 in Uncategorized
Here it is:
This photo was featured first in SVD.se apparently and you can see more of it at this article:
http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/motor/har-ar-saabs-hopp_6596872.svd
SVD Näringsliv gained access to a powerpoint presentation given to the EIB where Saabs businessplan from january 2011 was featured. It is not sure if the photo above is exactly like the next generation 9-3.
You’ll recall our earlier attempts to photoshop you an impression. Not too far off, eh?
And just because there was interest, and only as a preliminary celebratory study and nothing else, here it is in a few colors.
Keep in mind this is only a very rough sketch that has been hacked to death, the real deal will surely be much more satisfying.
Somebody asked for a yellow version, and it wasn’t me. (RedJ)
Interestingly, there’s a small Saab on a timeline graphic presented. Here it is blown up. I’m not taking too much stock in this one being anything close to reality.
ahlis said on October 31, 2011
lousy picture but still
GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE !!!!
Tobbe said on October 31, 2011
Wow! ME LIKE!
dave said on October 31, 2011
+1
Lonnie said on October 31, 2011
Looks like the photos they used to publish in the Cold War military magazines of mysterious Soviet aircraft.
I think I like it.
SaabKen said on November 1, 2011
Or UFOs
SpinM said on October 31, 2011
Wow, it’s an instant like from my side. Looking forward to see the future. Way to go Saab!
scand said on October 31, 2011
Pretty.
mcwill said on October 31, 2011
You can certainly see the current 9-5 in that.
I like it a lot.
Henrik B. said on October 31, 2011
Yes, as well as the rear window/part section from the classic 900.
It’s deffinately a keeper…
Cheers!
Jarkko said on November 1, 2011
Yes, a link to 900 but the lines look very sporty. A hatch back? Yes, I would like to buy one but it could now miss me as my previous lease of 9-3 wagon runs out in spring 2013. Wish it comes before Autumn/Fall of 2013!!!
StateofNine said on October 31, 2011
I’ll take one of those please!
zippy said on October 31, 2011
Return to form by the looks of it. I want more!!! Please.
zippy said on October 31, 2011
Tim, you said some photos. Do we get more? That photoshop kicks a$$!
Glad you are feeling better too!!
Jason Petho said on October 31, 2011
+1
nils said on October 31, 2011
Excellent! Now in order to make that materialize, let’s cross our fingers. (Or better, order something of the current range.)
Belfast_Saab said on October 31, 2011
C900 profile around rear window line, tick
9-5 topline and arches, tick
front end NOT like Phoenix, tick
Like it a lot, esp that it DOESN’T look like your photoshop
Gustaf said on October 31, 2011
+1
Especially on the front end, thank god!
ahlis said on October 31, 2011
As long as this car is available as a 3 door Saab I WANT IT!! I have waited since the OG9-3 to get a new 3 door hatchback!!
Gustaf said on October 31, 2011
Me too! Hope they don’t make it too small on the inside though. Heard mixed feelings about “the other” Swedish middle sized car.
Markac said on October 31, 2011
It doesn’t look really bad I suppose, but I truly hope the real thing looks a whole lot better. I also hope the coupe looks a whole lot better again. Like you, I want a proper replacement for my OG9-3 3 door. Saab hasn’t offered anything like a suitable replacement for a very long time. It’s time for hatchback lovers to come in from the cold!
Osama Dajani said on November 2, 2011
SAAB could hide the rear door handles (The same life Alfa Romeo and Seat). Although the car would actually have five door, but, it would look from far as if its a three door car.
Markac said on November 3, 2011
It wouldn’t work like a 3 door I’m afraid. I’m rather tall and the bigger doors on a coupe make them more convenient for me. I hardly ever carry anyone in the back anyway!
Michael said on October 31, 2011
Can’t get what’s that black part in the front, but – i like it very much, no doubt!
Can we also get an interior that matches the exterior, please?
Audun said on October 31, 2011
Hans H said on October 31, 2011
Helloooo…. !!
That looks good. Much better than I imagined. And even better then the competition.
This might be a start of something good!
Saab Up !
Dejjo said on October 31, 2011
Why would they release pictures of it? Wierd.
But damn that thing looks Good.
moose said on October 31, 2011
Thank god the mockup does not have the ‘jarhead’ (or ‘cylon’s forehead’) front-end which the concept had!
Also the whole car seems bit out of proportions – seems to be too short and chubby for the class which 9-3 represents.
But love the overall shape!
Zizou said on October 31, 2011
put on the rear spoiler like the 900 turbo had and the car will be mine
maanders said on October 31, 2011
I bet Hirsch would produce one of those spoilers if it is not a standard option.
martinsaab said on October 31, 2011
Eagerly waiting to see the convertible. Hatchback looks promising!
bpsorrel said on October 31, 2011
Me too! Hopefully a future replacement for my ’08 9-3 convertible! Bring it on!!
Daniel B said on October 31, 2011
Looks promising, but the real deal will (as always) be alot better.
Some current generation 9-5, some OG 9-3, some Phoenix Concept.. Proportions also looks compact and more cohesive than the NG 9-5 which is good. Mor “Saabish” although I´m certain that it is bigger tham the current 9-3.
I have to say though that I don NOT hope to see more images like this, but rather the real deal in a showroom in 2013.
It should also be tagged with a sticker spelling:
“When can I get one of these..? Orders starting today!”
SuperSwede66 said on October 31, 2011
Wow!!!!! Me want one.
That’s going to turn some heads when it comes out.
Tilley said on October 31, 2011
Whoah baby !
mcleanrs said on October 31, 2011
From this angle the back end looks a little too Subaru Tribeca for me, but otherwise I like it.
mnztr said on October 31, 2011
The fender flares really need to be cleaned up, esp the bulge on the front door and the rear “bat mobile” haunch… overall I like the side profile…tail light seems of have gone from Pontiac to Taurus.. and there are too many intersecting creases on the side… clean it up and it has some potential
Kimberly said on October 31, 2011
Well, the 9-3 is marketed as a sports saloon/sedan, so having a more aggressive appearance (which is present in BMW’s new 3-series; see http://www.autocarideas.com/new-bmw-3-series-2012/ ) is not a bad thing – especially if performance matches both the styling and SAAB’s marketing.
SAAB needs to generate excitement in the market in order to garner attention: what better way to do that than a smart-looking sports sedan, and offer real performance to go along with it?
If performance isn’t there to match their purported competition though, and MSRP remains similar to the competition (without the performance numbers), good luck getting people into the showroom.
Osama Dajani said on November 2, 2011
What it is SAAB’s definition of excitement?
A solid, somehow heavy, stable sports car, with quirky design of its exterior and interior. A five speed manual transmission gearbox fitted on A full pressure super charged engine with phenomenal take off and acceleration, a magnificently stable car at high speed, and powerful brakes that could return the car to its standstill in a relatively short distance and a short period of time.
GerritN said on November 2, 2011
Ha, you’re describing the Cadillac CTS-V!
Osama Dajani said on November 2, 2011
I’m describing my old SAAB 900 classic Turbo, and my old SAAB 9000.
Khrisdk said on November 2, 2011
He
I thought you described my OG9-3
Örjan said on October 31, 2011
Looks really nice!
But does anyone know if it will be available as a SportCombi/Wagon? If not then I don’t know which new SAAB I will buy in a couple of years as the new 9-5 is to big for us. And to long for our garage, our 9-5 SC MY02 fits with only a few centimeters to give. And keeping the garagedoor always open doesn’t seem like an option
Robban said on October 31, 2011
Definitely going to be an estate version “SportCombi”
Trued said on October 31, 2011
Do not be sure on that one……
Robban said on October 31, 2011
I can’t see them not doing that, I think it would be very foolish. But as the hatch is pretty much confirmed it does lower the chance of a SC..
Dream scenario: Sedan, coupe, hatchback, SC, Conv.
Red J said on October 31, 2011
The first intention, afaik, was to come out with 3 bodystyles and then ad some later on. Confirmed are a fastback (I’d say a 5 door) and a convetible. I don’t know about the 3rd body style, but it was called the X on the Spyker annual shareholders meeting.
TurboLover said on October 31, 2011
The overall shape is great Lokks agressive and cool and very very Saab.
I do not understand were the headlights and taillights starts and stops though. What I believe is the side of the right taillight looks like a rip off from a 8 year old Mondeo… Hope my eyes decieve me…
MrTinkertrain said on October 31, 2011
The rear reminds me a bit of current Mazda 6, headlights are like the previous Octavia.
But the silhouette is perfect.
I am curious that if this is the real sketch why are we have to wait until 2013?
All the creditors could have take a look at secrets like this? Ouch…
OliverH said on October 31, 2011
This are sketch ups.
Nate 9-3 said on October 31, 2011
Kaboom! That’s nice.
Procyon said on October 31, 2011
LOVE IT!
It looks modern, and definetely reminds me 900 OG.
lensaffair said on October 31, 2011
I guess that’s the car I’ve been waiting for!
A real beauty!
saabdesignshop said on October 31, 2011
Cool! I hope Saab will be able to build it.
zippy said on October 31, 2011
We dont care where it came from, BoeBoe!!!!!
jpfriis said on October 31, 2011
Hey good-looking
ivo 71 said on October 31, 2011
Traces of OG 900 (rear window line) and Porsche (around the wheelarches). Overall I like the shape but it could use somewhat less cluttered lines here and there. But is’t exactly what VM promised at the time: a mix of tradition and latest styling. Could prove a winner, especially since it’s -finally!- a hatchback. I could live with it if I had to
Ivo
phermansson said on October 31, 2011
SVD has more pictures, just wish pic #4 had been bigger!
Belfast_Saab said on October 31, 2011
Yup, WHAT are we looking at there? I can pick out 9-5, 9-5SC, 9-4x, but the silver profiles look like a 9-1 and dark rear images look like wagons?? Presumably 9-3 hatch.
Turboladdade said on October 31, 2011
WANT IT NOW SOLD WHERE DO I SIGN
OliverH said on October 31, 2011
But they should eliminate this juke style over the rear wheel. The rest looks nice.
Belfast_Saab said on October 31, 2011
+! that’s it Juke, couldn’t place it but that is it. Agreed, too exagerrated, needs toned down.
No 9 said on October 31, 2011
My very thoughts expressed in previous post.
gunteman said on October 31, 2011
+1
It’s a cool feature, but I think it will feel old and awkward very fast.
Other than that, superb! I actually like the Cylon front from Phoenix, but it would require some work to feel right on a 9-3. Perhaps for a performance model.
Toby K said on November 1, 2011
I can see what they have done and I have argued for a coach-line that hints at a low sporty profile with flared arches-I think this is a little over done and could be smoother and cleaner-less hard edged-but actually it needs to be there-it alludes to a sonnet topline profile.
KaiC said on October 31, 2011
I wonder if the front face looks like the phoenix? It does not seem like a fresh 9-3.
ryanonsrc said on October 31, 2011
Wow, very distinctive looking. I like the short headlights, rims and overall sporty look. What I am really curious to see now is the grill.
Quijote said on October 31, 2011
Shwwwwwwing!
Instant erection.
Baracuda said on October 31, 2011
It’s far to early to show some pics of a car that will not hit the showrooms before the end of 2013.
Kimberly said on October 31, 2011
If it comes with a decent power plant (something better than the current 2.0T – bring back 2.8T please!) and XWD, and from the front it screams 9-3/900 (please keep the three-section grill so it’s readily recognized as a SAAB), I’ll take one in black please. four-door as pictured.
Gustaf said on October 31, 2011
Please don’t! Heavy, thirsty with poor performance? No thanks! 2.0 or less but with more power please! That´s SAAB!
RS said on October 31, 2011
If the trunk opens halfway through the bumper and the rear seat fold flat like in the c900, we have a winner.
RS said on October 31, 2011
But wait:
15 cm shorter wheelbase than the current 9-3 and 4.4 meter total length?! This can’t be right.
That would make the car tiny (a 9-1?). SVD must have mixed the measures? Wasn’t JC saying the 9-3 will be a bit bigger than the current one.
ivo 71 said on October 31, 2011
Maybe SvD or the SDO or Saab or whoever mixed up the models and this is the 9-2? Or maybe this is just a phantasy illustration to go with the presentation and not a real design sketch? Many possibilities here but if this really is the general shape of the NG 9-3 then I don’t consider this a bad shape at all.
Ivo
Piet-Hein Schlimme said on October 31, 2011
somehow i understand that they shorten the new 93. look at it this way:
if you make a 4m70 93, it’s too close to a 5m00 95. and then people tend to say: why pay more (95) for a car which is (almost) equal in size (93). especially with the Break/SW/SC/Combi-version…
BTW; 4.40m is slightly (+8cm) larger than a Citroën (new)C4. so….9-1?
Piet-Hein Schlimme said on October 31, 2011
better make that a 9-2…
RS said on November 1, 2011
Same here. In my excitement I went and said 9-1. BAD mistake
4400 mm would definitely be 9-2/92.
Red J said on October 31, 2011
RS,
I also think that Mr Fröberg got something wrong.
4,4 m is a quite short car in its class.
Saab 9-3: 4643 mm WB: 2675 mm
Volvo S60: 4628 mm WB: 2776 mm
VW Jetta: 4644 mm WB: 2651 mm
VW Passat: 4769 mm WB: 2712 mm
Audi A4: 4701 mm WB: 2808 mm
BMW 3: 4624 mm WB: 2810 mm
Merc C: 4591 mm WB: 2760 mm
Chevy Cruzé: 4597 mm WB: 2685 mm
Saab 9000: 4667 mm WB: 2672 mm (not sure about this)
SpinM said on November 1, 2011
I think this is a mixup involving a Phoenix in place of a real new 9-3. I remember JC elaborating on Phoenix saying that it’s about 4,4 m long and that it seats on a new phoenix platform in a shortened version. I think he also mentioned roughly how much it was shortened, but I forget.
Also, if I recall correctly, Swade once commented on a sketch of a new 9-3 shown to him by JC and VM. He couldn’t tell much, just that it took him about half an hour to fall in love with a car and that he didn’t expect it to be so big. Something like that.
I think we are probably looking at a car that’s about 4,7m long or maybe even a bit more.
Nevertheless, it would be great if Saab would also make a model in a 4,4m range. A 9-2 perhaps.
Gustaf said on October 31, 2011
I totally agree! Sporty, safe AND great luggage space. Don’t make a Ovlov and make the car too small on the inside.
Andrew said on October 31, 2011
As soon as I’m out of college and making a buck, I’m going to do what I can to land one of these to help SAAB along. And to show off some character. But mostly help SAAB along. Yeah. =D
Belfast_Saab said on October 31, 2011
OR are these the Chinese sub-brand models starting in Chinese sales?
Belfast_Saab said on October 31, 2011
Maybe some ared Chinese sub-brand models for Chinese market – re-skinned 9-3/9-5?
maanders said on October 31, 2011
This is what I was hoping for! Take this look, Saab driving characteristics, safety, and potential for great gas mileage from the eXWD….this would definitely be the replacement for my 2000 9-3.
Yerrun said on October 31, 2011
Reminds me of the picture of the Loch Ness monster
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/Lochnessmonster.jpg/220px-Lochnessmonster.jpg
I like the shape but SVD mentions that the picture is from a presentation in Januari. That’s 3 months before Phoenix. Was the 9-3 design even decided back then? I doubt this is a final version but i do like the shapes!
Romac said on October 31, 2011
Remember JC said things like “…reducing the overhangs…”?
Daniel B said on October 31, 2011
Hmm .. in the timescale (pic #4) the rear side window of the 9-3 seems to look a little like the 9-X BH.. Works fine with me:)
Thylmuc said on October 31, 2011
No windows area, no back seat room, pathetic retro fenders, unnecessary “wow” details. Looks agressive, as pointed out above. Don’t like agressive cars. Don’t like BMW’s present design, don’t like Audi’s new imitation thereof, don’t like surface entertainment, and quite frankly, have yet to see a true Castriota design I like.
No problem though, I could buy a 9-5 for a long time to come (provided I have the funds).
Thylmuc said on October 31, 2011
OK, tried to calm down a bit, at least I like the Birdcage 75th. But, after looking it up again in Wikipedia, it appears that the chief designer on the Birdcage actually was Kiyoyuki Okuyama, who also designed a Porsche 911 and the Porsche Boxter which I also like very much.
So, I am back to panic mode. this stuff is not Scandinavian, nor Bauhaus, nor “Neue Ulmer Schule”, nor Italian.
RS said on October 31, 2011
Calm down
It probably will have friendly eyes that tones down the sportiness.
Thylmuc said on October 31, 2011
Really a very very funny movie, imho
Christian said on November 1, 2011
Hate to say it, but same feelings here. Looks overdesigned to me. Will need more pics to either get used to it or begin to like it. If possible at all.