Swedish Delight

A Saab seldom, if ever sparks arbitrary daydreams of speeding down the highway, cranking out Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild.” To be sure, it’s hard to imagine any Swedish car inciting that kind of muscle car machismo. But if Saab has anything going for it, it’s the 9-3 series — and if anything sets these stalwart models apart from other luxury lines, it’s the fact they are all built in a funny little city called Trollhttan.

It wasn’t until’98 that the first 9-3 rolled off the assembly line and into the American market. It was not particularly well-placed in terms of a viable market demographic. With the Gen X backlash against boomer aesthetics, the 9-3 failed to appeal. Nevertheless, Saab managed to hedge its bets and only produce 326,370 first-generation 9-3s. A serious miscalculation was avoided and the 9-3 lived to see future incarnations.

The 9-3 was effectively retooled in 2000. The new models were streamlined and packed it with a turbo-charged 2.0 liter straight 4 engine. In 2004, upper management requested the car be remodeled again. And so, it was and re-branded as the Saab Aero. Although it was still a front-wheel vehicle, it featured passive rear-wheel steering, improving its safety rating.

All Saab 9-3 Aeros were remodeled in 2005 to feature impressive 16-inch wheels, new dashboards, and a new and improved climate control system. They were also fitted with OnStar navigational systems and brand-spanking-new satellite radios. The new power under the hood prompted an upgrade of the old shifter. So, the Saab 9-3 graduated from a five speed to a six speed.

The stealthy Turbo X limited edition model was unleashed in 2007. It met with raves, playing on a stripped-down, Spartan package available only in black. It was the first production car equipped with an extra wide all-wheel drive system developed by Haldex Traction and it was capable of producing 280 horsepower — making it one of the most powerful luxury cars ever manufactured.

For those of you who are looking for a Saab car dealer Chicago, New York and Los Angeles all have dealerships that can deliver the Swedish beauties directly to you.

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