9-3SS

Introduction

The second-generation SAAB 9-3 was launched in January 2002, at the North American International Auto Show for MY2003. The second generation 9-3 was based upon the GM Epsilon platform which it shared with both the Cadillac BLS and Opel Vectra. The 9-3 was available in SportSedan, Convertible and SportCombi (Wagon) and was produced from 2003 through to 2014.

Changes & Revisions

Saab Central Forum - 9-3 Model Year-to-Year Differences (2003 ->)

MY2004

Saab 9-3 Aero MY2004

• Tie-downs for net in trunk gone.
• Passenger floor mat holders gone.
• Headlamp washers...pop-up style replaced by permanently raised washers.
• Locking mechanism for gas cap gone.
• Dead pedal in carpet gone (only a limited run at very beginning of 03).
• Different GM-designed gas tank (rumour)
• Aero now comes in the full palette of colors (instead of just Black, Red, White, Steel Grey & Graphite Green)
• Carpet changed from a berber-type.
• Ignition switch light gone.
• Wood trim in Arc is different
• Upshift light for manual trannies gone.
• Some unspecified change that resulted in becoming the first car ever to be called the IIHS "Double Best Pick".
• Colors Midnight Blue, Dolphin Grey, Cosmic Blue gone.
• Colors Nocturne Blue, Espresso Black, Glacier Blue, Hazelnut , and Lime Yellow (convertable only) added.

MY2005

• Linear with 175 HP engine added to convertible lineup for North America
• Rear Passenger vents in Linear centre console gone.
• Interior Motion Detection gone, removed halfway through MY2004.
• Sunroof button different.
• CRAS indicators go from sewn in to heat-staked.
• Dash indicator lights different & move around for 2005.
• Speed dependant Volume (SDV) actually works.
• Aux-in standard on all models except Linears.
• No Manual 6-speed, only 5 speed (USA only).
• Tire Pressure Monitors-gone,
• Passenger side lumbar support-gone.
• Navigation added for the US market.
• OnStar gone.
• Driver's side door trunk release...no longer illuminated.
• Storage console in rear centre armrest gone.
• Moonroof has plastic trim around it instead of black flocking.
• 'SAAB' embroidered logo on front floor mats gone.
• Passenger floor mat holders returned.
• Parchment floor carpet changed so all models have Grey carpet.
• Colors Espresso Black, Graphite Green, Merlot Red, Hazelnut, Glacier Blue gone.
• Colors Chili Red, Parchment Silver & Smoke Beige added.

MY2006

• Sportcombi Added! (Never available in any shade of white however.)
• Body coloured door handles.
• 250bhp 2.8T engine with dual round tailpipes for Aero model
• Bosch engine management for 2.8T.
• Stitching on leather shift knob is different.
• Phone button is now spelled out PHONE instead of the handset picture.
• Plastic moulding around sunroof is different.
• Floor mats are different.
• Aero steering wheel has silver thumb inserts.
• There is a airbag off indicator on the right side of the instrument panel.
• 20th Anniversary Edition for Convertible with:

Electric Blue Metallic paint, Electric Blue tonneau cover, Electric Blue interior door trims.

• Parchment coloured leather sports interior with matching Electric Blue trim lines in the centre.
• 2.8L V6 and in Aero trim (NA only, ROW had all engine/trim choices)
• Touring Package (NA only, ROW have as option)
• Rear spoiler (NA only, ROW have as option)
• Unique double five-spoke 17" aluminium wheels (optional 18" 10 spoke aluminium wheel in ROW)
• 13 speaker audio changed to 10 speaker audio.
• Aero automatic transmission now 6-speed instead of 5-speed.
• 6 speed manual returns, but only with Aero 2.8T
• Linear model and 2.0t (175 HP) engine no longer available in North America.
• Arc model name dropped in North America. Now referred to as 2.0T
• Garrett turbo previously used in 1.8t and 2.0t from 2003-2005 is no longer used for these engines. All turbos for 4 cylinder engines now sourced from Mitsubishi.
• Colors Jet Black, Fusion Blue, Arbor Green & Electric Blue (20th anniversary convertible only) added.

MY2007

• A new dash!
• Premium audio is no longer 10 speaker 300W Clarion/Pioneer, but Bose system with 260W and 9 speakers
• Felt added to door seals, replacing rubber
• Additional sound damping materials added
• 60th Anniversary Edition available.
• Colors Arbor Green & Sapphire Blue gone.
• Colors Titan Gray (sedan and combo only), Ice Blue (60th only), & Silver Added

MY2008

Saab 9-3 Aero

• Exterior refresh!
• Xenon cornering headlamps
• Two types of leather now available: leather appointed and natural leather
• Black leather now optional on all models.
• 5-speed manual dropped on 2.0T, 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic only for 2.0T. Aero transmission choices identical to 2006/2007.
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution standard.
• Late model year introduction of Turbo X with:

2.8T engine producing 280 HP and 295 lb/ft TQ, XWD, eLSD, 18" wheels, Jet Black only,

• Colors Chili Red, Lime Yellow, & Silver...gone
• Colors Snow Silver, Pepper Green, Steel Grey (not available in North America, vert only), Lynx Yellow (vert only), & Arctic White (vert only) Added

MY2009

• XWD now available on 2.0T. Now standard with Aero trim package. Not available on convertible.
• Colors Carbon Gray & Glass Gray added.
• Introduction of 9-3X.

MY2010

• 2.8T V6 dropped

MY2012 (Griffin)

Saab 9-3 Griffin MY2012

• Revised front bumper with new fog lights.
• Headlights are now blue tinted.
• 'SAAB' used in place of griffin badge on boot/tailgate handle.
• New interior trims with bamboo textured leather
• New dashboard trim with the option of Titan Silver or Cubic.
• New alloys, ALU 88 and ALU 90.

MY2014 (NEVS)

• All badges replaced with new style "SAAB" badges.
• New seats with one pice anti-whiplash head restraint.
• Only available in Aero trim level.
• Only avaliable in silver or black.
• Only available as SportSedan

Engines

Model	Years	Engine and type		Displ.	Power	Torque	Turbocharger
1.8i	2004–2009	I4 16V	Ecotec	1796 cc	90kW @ 5800 rpm	167Nm @ 3800 rpm	None
1.8t	2002–2014	I4 16V	Ecotec LK9	1998 cc	110kW @ 5500 rpm	240Nm @ 2000–3500 rpm	Low-pressure
2.0t	2002–2014	I4 16V	Ecotec LK9	1998 cc	129kW @ 5500 rpm	265Nm @ 2500–4000 rpm	Mid-pressure
2.0T	2002–2014	I4 16V	Ecotec LK9	1998 cc	154kW @ 5300 rpm	300Nm @ 2500–4000 rpm	High-pressure
2.8T V6	2005–2007	V6 24V	LP9	2792 cc	185kW @ 5500 rpm	350Nm @ 1800–4500 rpm	High-pressure
2.8T V6	2007–2008	V6 24V	LP9	2792 cc	188kW @ 5500 rpm	355Nm @ 1800–4500 rpm	High-pressure
2.8T V6	2008–2010	V6 24V	LP9	2792 cc	206kW @ 5500 rpm	400Nm @ 2150 rpm	High-pressure
1.8t BioPower	2007–2014	I4 16V	Ecotec LK9	1998 cc	129kW @ 5500 rpm	265Nm @ 2500–4000 rpm	Mid-pressure
2.0t BioPower	2007–2014	I4 16V	Ecotec LK9	1998 cc	147kW @ 5500 rpm	300Nm @ 2500–4000 rpm	High-pressure
1.9 TiD	2004–2014	I4 8V	Z19DT	1910 cc	88kW @ 4000 rpm	280Nm @ 2000–2750 rpm	High-pressure
1.9 TiDS	2004–2014	I4 16V	Z19DTH	1910 cc	110kW @ 4000 rpm	320Nm @ 2000–2750 rpm	High-pressure
1.9 TTiD	2007–2014	I4 16V	Z19DTR	1910 cc	132kW @ 4000 rpm	400Nm @ 2000–2500 rpm*1 370Nm @ 2000–2500 rpm*2	High-pressure twin turbo
2.2 TiD	2002–2004	I4 16V	D223L	2171 cc	92kW @ 4000 rpm	280Nm @ 1500 rpm	High-pressure
*1 For vehicles with manual transmission *2 For vehicles with automatic transmission