With this super fat Saab 9-3 you can humiliate M3s to the Knackerböt.
Saab never actually had a fair chance. Or rather, they haven’t created better opportunities. While the earlier fast 3 Series (325i and M3) were still within the sights of the 900 Turbo, the Germans took steps that the Swedes could not keep up with.
That is not surprising, because at Saab they had to make a top car based on the Opel Vectra (not really a dynamic premium wonder). Fast models like the 9-3 Aero and Viggen were very cool (cooler than an M3 anyway), but no better than the cars from Bavaria.
But this super-thick Saab 9-3 Silver Beast shows what would have been possible if they had had a little more freedom at Saab General Motors. This car is now being auctioned in Sweden (check it out here).
Wide
Although the engine is the highlight, we start with the exterior, because it is truly a super cool Saab 9-3. In any case, the Swede is a lot closer to the asphalt, only a few Wasa Knäckerrolls fit underneath. It is very cool to see that the car has been widened.
The wheel arches have been boosted considerably. We see large jets in the wheel arches. Enthusiasts will of course immediately see that these are BBS CI-R wheels. Before people start pulling the OEM card: in the past, Saab installed (optional) BBS wheels on its fastest models.
There are also some lips, spray-painted skirts, spoilers and the like, but it all looks sleek. Only when you look at the photos a little more critically will you see some job points in addition to the plus points.
Super cool Saab 9-3
Despite the cool looks, this super cool Saab 9-3 is still a sleeper. Well, relatively speaking. Under the hood is the heavily modified and reinforced Z32, an engine that you can order in the Opel Vectra and Signum, but was never delivered in the 9-3.
The engine is equipped with, among other things, a huge T3071 turbo kit and Maptun engine software. The power is 701 hp. Not a 700, but a 701. The transmission is the six-speed manual gearbox (GM’s own F40 gearbox), but it has been heavily modified. There is also a mechanical limited slip differential.
The auctioneer does not mention how fast this super cool Saab 9-3 is. However, there are Brembo brakes all around (355 mm front, 330 mm rear) and adjustable dampers. In short, a great total package that is somewhat reminiscent of the Polestar S60 PCP concept (which @wouter also drove).
The car is currently being auctioned, so if you have some holiday money left and want a Swedish M3 killer, make a good offer and sign up for the My Car sessions.
Thanks to Marijn for the tip!
Be sure to check the Saab 9-3 purchase advice carefully:
More readers? Unfortunately, these M3 rivals did not materialize!
