Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan lands at Aljomaih Automotive Company showrooms

The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan gained a great deal of admiration during a launch ceremony for 2008 models of Cadillac and Saab vehicles, held at Aljomaih Premium Brands' showroom on the King's Road in Jeddah.

The new Saab 9-3 range features bold, more assertive looks, reflecting a series of powertrain improvements that include the introduction of a more powerful engine.

"The new Saab 9-3 range shows the exciting possibilities that are open to us as we develop a more progressive design language for the brand,"

says John Moran, Marketing and Sales Director for General Motors Middle East Operations.

The new design language, inspired by Saab's award-winning Aero X concept car, reinforces the range's sporty appeal. The new 9-3 model range is visually distinguished by all-new bodywork forward of the A-pillar, with new bumper moldings and light assemblies front and rear, as well as new doors and handles for the Sport Sedan and SportCombi.

Flared side sill extensions are now standard across the range and the previous edition's external rubbing strips have been removed from the bumpers and doors. All these contribute to a clearer Saab identity and a bolder, more assertive stance. The makeover isn't just cosmetic, for example, 70 percent of the external body panels and parts are all-new in the Sport Sedan.

The most striking design element is the evolution of the Saab grille, which adopts a theme first seen on the Aero X concept car. This is complemented by all-new headlamp lenses and light units that now incorporate a thin 'eyebrow' lighting zone designed as a brand specific 'signature' feature. These wraparound units culminate in an upswept rear edge, introducing a Saab design theme from the 9-5 range and classic 900 model.

For spirited drivers the hardware includes an active, all-wheel-drive system (Saab XWD), which has been designed to optimize handling and stability in all driving conditions. It is fitted as standard on the Turbo X Limited Edition available in the region later in 2008.

The ultimate 'icing on the cake' is the 'Limited Slip Differential' in the Turbo X variant. This is the first application of an electronically-controlled, rear limited slip differential in this segment of the market.