2011 Saab 9-5 & Saab 9-3 get new engines
Saab has announced new engines for the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5, some specification tweaks and XWD for the first time on a diesel.
I can’t remember the last time we got a refresh for an existing Saab model, so convoluted has been Saab’s existence over the last year or two. So it’s quite nice to get news that the rather ancient (and due for replacement) Saab 9-3 is getting fettled oily bits.
But it’s not just the 9-3 that gets changes, the new Saab 9-5 is also getting some improvements. But let’s start with the 9-3.
The Saab 9-3 gets a new 1.9 litre TTiD diesel in three power flavours – 128bhp, 158bhp and 178bhp. All versions have twin turbos and can offer CO2 as low as 120g/km and economy as good as 62.8mpg.
Other changes to the Saab 9-3 for 2011 include a tweak to the ECU, low rolling resistance tyres, optimised gearing, gear0change indicator and aerodynamic tweaks. You may recognise this recipe as the bog-standard Eco-Recipe for greening up a cars credentials.
However, the 2011 Saab 9-3 doesn’t just have a new engine with more ‘Green’ness’, it also gets more kit, with Bluetooth and heated seats as standard. Oh, you also get Diamond Silver and Java paint jobs and rear engine badging has been changed to follow the same style as used on the new 9-5
The ‘only-just-got-here’ Saab 9-5 also gets some updates for 2011 with a couple of new engines on offer – the 1.6T with 178bhp and the 2.0 TTiD with 187bhp.
The big news is that the new 2.0 litre diesel lump will also offer Saab’s 4WD cross-wheel drive system – the first time in a diesel. And it seems a decent lump, with a sub 9 second 0-60mph, 295lb/ft of torque, emissions of 159g/km and 47.1mpg.
Also entering the 9-5 fray is the 1.6 litre petrol lump offering o-60mph of just over 9 seconds, 179g/km Co2 and economy of 36.2mph. But it seems you can only have the 1.6T in the Vector SE spec with front wheel drive and a manual ‘box. Very specific.
The 2011 Saab 9-5 also gets an extended paint palette – up from seven colours to eleven. Also on offer is Adaptive Cruise, which can be useful but always seems like a way to not concentrate properly.
Nice to see normal news from Saab instead of trauma, intrigue and machinations.
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