Saab 9-3 will get a second facelift for 2011

[Wimbledon]

This will NOT be the new model that is expected in Q4 2012. Just another refresh of the current model.

Here's some info from Saabsunited. We should see some pics soon.

SaabsUnited.com Wrote:We’ve been hearing since early this year that there would be a mild refresh of the Saab 9-3 for 2011 but there hasn’t been much information on the radar, mostly due to the new Saab 9-5 taking the spotlight.

Initial information filtered through a little while ago that there would be some exterior styling changes to reflect the design language being shown in the new 9-5. We weren’t sure about the interior, however.

Observant ones in comments would have noted some talk about the 2011 Saab 9-3 there and I’m pleased to say that some more information has come through via email to add to that. This is from a very credible source, one who has seen the car in the last 6 weeks or so.

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I have seen the car in person as a Griffin Aero variation …. and it really looks good.

Communications for the facelift will start around the end of August. The first cars should arrive some time in October. The MY11 will start a little later than usual because of the known problems in Sweden with suppliers.

New Colours: Javabrown (which looks brilliant – saw it on a 9-3 sedan on the factory tour) and Diamond Silver is also new. Snow Silver will be out of the program.

New rims: you will be able to get a 19 inch turbine wheel like the one from the 9-5.

Exterior: there is a new front fascia, inspired by the design of the 9-5. You can choose between two models “Vector Griffin” and “Griffin Aero”. The cars will have slightly different bumpers in the front. The headleamps get the iceblock design from the 9-5. In the back the car will loose the griffin badge and the “Saab” wordmark will appear on the chromeline. The sedan will get a hockeystick chromestripe around the windows.

The engines will include the Turbo4 and TID4 as well (TTiD4 too, for the higher output one – SW). The MY11 petrol engines for the 9-3 are new. There will be a 2.0 DI Engine with either 163 or 220hp. Diesel options will cover three variants – 130, 160 and 180hp. CO2 for the diesel is an estimated 119 grams.

The interior: There will be some slight changes – the silver stripe on the dashboard will be dark grey. The materials felt all a little better in terms of quality. The trim on the steering wheel and the shifter will be dark grey too.

This is Java Brown on a 9-5 -- the color was added just this week!

I love it.



I really like these new black turbine wheels as well -- they will look great with some colors. Also available in silver finish.

[Wimbledon]

Chop from Autoweek.nl

http://www.nuvideo.nl/auto/39979/saab-is...rland.html

[J_man]

(08-06-2010 10:45 AM)Wimbledon Wrote:  

Humminah-humminah!!!!

...also, I absolutely love the brown trend! Shades of brown have long been my favorite colors. ...I need a brown car.

[Wimbledon]

New info from SaabsUnited:

http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/01/saabs...-when.html

[Wimbledon]

First photo of the 2012 Saab 9-3 facelift, leaked from the factory:

http://www.saabsunited.com/2011/01/scree...elift.html



Old model for comparison:

[stadt]

I really like Saab. Is AWD still available on the 9-3 sedan? If not, I hope it makes a comeback. Unless I get a serious fuel miser, AWD is a requirement in my next vehicle...

[VAGuy]

that seems minor, and not much like the AutoWeek rendering. Different Bumpers for Sport and non-sport models? probably new headlights and grille - At least from the outside front.

[bmw_phil]

I'll be interested in a couple of years when they have the MINI engine in the next generation.

[VAGuy]

and i do like Saabs. I wish the interiors would become a bit more on par with the upper class entry luxury makes and not soo GM parts bin. i.e. Audi, C-Class refresh. I'm not much for the 3er, it's ok, but nothing too striking to me.

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and i'd take an 04 manual 9-5 Areo in a hartbeat if I were in the market for it.

[bmw_phil]

(01-24-2011 04:07 PM)VAGuy Wrote:  and i do like Saabs. I wish the interiors would become a bit more on par with the upper class entry luxury makes and not soo GM parts bin. i.e. Audi, C-Class refresh. I'm not much for the 3er, it's ok, but nothing too striking to me.

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and i'd take an 04 manual 9-5 Areo in a hartbeat if I were in the market for it.

The most recent crop of Saabs are very outdated. The 2004 9-5 is based on a car that came out in the 1990s. It came to the point that they were nothing more than a GM with some unique sheetmetal.

I think there is a lot of potential though. The new 9-5 is a bit more differentiated from GM siblings than prior models were, and I think the new 9-3 (and rumored 9-2) could be interesting. The only question is: will Saab survive long enough to bring these cars to market? Their sales are way off right now, even compared to the very bad years they had in 2008-2009.