Saab Reveals its First-Ever Pure Electric Model: 9-3 ePower to Debut in Paris

This month's Paris International Motor Show will host the world premiere of Saab's first ever EV, the 9-3 ePower. Based on the SportWagon variant of the current 9-3, the prototype model will lead to a test fleet of 70 vehicles that will participate in field trials in Sweden early next year.

The car is motivated by a 184HP electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. Energy is provided by a compact 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located in a modified floor-pan, in a space occupied by the exhaust system and fuel tank on the standard 9-3 SportWagon

The Swedish automaker says the EV can accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in a respectable 9.5 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 150km/h or 93mph.

The projected driving range on a full charge is approximately 200 kilometers or about 124 miles. Saab said the battery can be fully recharged from a domestic mains supply in three to six hours, depending on depletion status. However, the company claims charging times can be reduced significantly if the voltage of the electrical feed is raised.

The only noteworthy styling changes over the regular gasoline/diesel models concerns the new gearshift lever that provides selection of 'drive', 'neutral', 'park' and 'reverse', the revised instrument cluster that gains read-outs for battery status, power consumption and driving range, as well as the addition of an electric park brake.

Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile's CEO said: "By 2015, annual global sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach 500,000 units and Saab is determined to be represented in this important, growing segment."

"The 9-3 ePower programme is our first step towards developing a potential production vehicle that will deliver the sort of advanced performance our customers expect."

The 9-3 ePower is the result of a co-operation between Saab Automobile, Boston Power (batteries), Electroengine in Sweden AB (electric power trains), Innovatum (project management) and Power Circle (Sweden's electric power industry trade organization).

2011MY Saab 9-3: Cleaner Diesels and New 163HP 2.0 Petrol with XWD

The 2011 model year brings another round of enhancements for Saab's long overdue for replacement, 9-3, comprising mostly of tweaks to the diesel engine range.

In particular, all three diesel models benefit from more advanced twin turbocharging technology, which not only helps reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, but also adds a few more ponies. The 1.9-litre turbo diesel range now includes a 130HP TTiD unit that replaces the previous 120HP engine, a 160HP version that takes the place of the 150HP engine, and a range-topping 180HP variant.

Saab said with these updated diesel engines and manual gearbox, the 9-3 saloon returns a combined cycle fuel economy of 4.5 lt/100km (62.8 mpg UK or 52.3mpg US) and 119 g/km CO2 emissions. For the SportCombi, the respective figures are 4.6 lt/100 km and 122 g/km, and for the 9-3 Convertible, which is available with the 160HP and 180HP diesel engines, 5.1 lt/100 km and 134 g/km.

To further optimize emissions and fuel consumption, Saab also implemented a set of efficiency measures, such as recalibrated engine and electric power management, revised gear ratios, low resistant tires, improved aerodynamics with rear underbody deflector blades and reduced weight through lighter construction and sound-deadening materials.

According to the Swedish automaker, the all-turbo petrol line-up also benefits from some of these measures (no specific details were released) resulting in an average reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 7 percent.

For the 2011 model year, Saab is also introducing a new model to the petrol range that combines the 163HP gasoline turbo engine with the firm's XWD four-wheel drive system.

Other model year enhancements for the 9-3 include the addition of a 'change-up' indicator in the instrument cluster on all models, two new exterior colors, a perforated leather sport steering wheel on Aero models, a clutch interlock system on manual transmissions and child seat top tether anchorage points, plus new rear engine badging styled after the 9-5 saloon.

The 2011MY Saab 9-3 will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month.