First look: Saab reveals production 9-3 wagon

SAAB has unveiled a long-overdue all-new model which will play a vital role in resurrecting the struggling Swedish brand’s fortunes in Australia and overseas.

Set to make its world debut at next month’s Geneva motor show, the 9-3 station wagon dubbed the ‘SportCombi’ is certain to create new sales opportunities for Saab when it arrives here early next year.

Its importance cannot be underestimated as the General Motors-owned company’s narrow product offering and at times slow model variant rollout has limited its ability to appeal to a broad audience in Australia.

Sales of the ageing 9-5 large car have dropped off significantly since 2003, due in large part to cannibalisation from the smaller 9-3, while new vehicle lines have hit some critical hurdles before reaching our shores.

Specifically, the 9-2X all-wheel-drive small car was abandoned for sale here after Subaru Australia won its appeal – the car is based on the Impreza WRX – and the 9-7X medium-size luxury SUV (based on the Chevrolet Trailblazer) was not built for right-hand drive markets.

There is also doubt over whether Subaru’s forthcoming B9 Tribeca crossover wagon unveiled at the recent Detroit auto will make it Down Under in Saab clothing, despite other right-hand drive markets including Britain investigating a conversion program with diesel engine variants.

And there’s still no sign of a replacement for the 9-5, which could be another vehicle reliant on collaboration with Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru).

“We do some research tracking and that validates that we’ve got strength with the brand name – but the area that we are weak is our capacity to keep hold of some of those (customers) because we have a narrow product portfolio,” former Saab managing director Tony Jennett, who was replaced by Holden director Ralph Stevenson in January, told GoAuto last year.

“As we look forward under the banner of opportunities, all of the key people within GM – Rick Wagoner, John Devine, Bob Lutz, Carl-Peter Forster, Fritz Henderson – they’ve all come out and publicly said the thing we need to do to support Saab and the way to help Saab grow is to populate the portfolio.

“That’s seen as the key element that’s holding Saab back, so it’s certainly a strong commitment as to what we’re going to get in the years ahead – but that period is probably a 2006-10 timeframe rather than directly around the corner.” Scheduled for a local debut at the Australian International Motor Show in October, the 9-3 wagon also introduces the first turbocharged version of General Motors’ new global V6 – expected to derive from Holden’s engine plant in Port Melbourne.

Initially destined for all 9-3 Aero models, including sedan and convertible derivatives, the 2.8-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 features variable valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger. Maximum output is 184kW – 29kW more than the current 2.0-litre high-output turbo HOT engine.

While lower-spec models will feature Saab’s signature front-wheel drive transaxle, AWD variants dubbed 9-3X should also follow soon after.

Visually, the 9-3 SportCombi is very close to the 9-3 Sport Hatch wagon concept previewed at the 2003 Frankfurt motor show, with only detail changes for production viability.

It has a twin-floor system featuring an area underneath the cargo floor for concealing objects. At 1273 litres, its luggage volume beats the 1184-litre Audi A4 Avant but lags behind the Mercedes C-Class Estate and Volvo V50 by 81 and 34 litres respectively.

The SportCombi is the first Saab to achieve zero lift levels at both axles – a corollary of its good aerodynamics (aided by an integrated rear roof spoiler) and high-speed stability. Torsional rigidity is said to be only marginally behind that of the sedan.

Although it is too early for sales projections or sedan-to-wagon sales ratios – 5:1 wouldn’t be too far off the mark – Saab Australia spokesman Paul Ellis said the 9-3 wagon would lead the brand’s sales recovery starting in 2006.

“The 9-3 SportCombi is a great car coming at a great time for Saab – it is the spiritual successor to the popular 9-3 hatch of the past, albeit in a thoroughly more modern and dynamic way,” he said.

“It promises versatility and will be fun to drive. It’s a car for people with active and youthful lifestyles that need versatility and performance more than they need all-wheel drive capability.” Presiding over his first vehicle launch as Saab Australia director at the 2005 9-3 Convertible range in Queensland last week, Mr Stevenson reiterated the need for Saab to break out of its two-model mould while pushing the boundaries of its existing cars.

The massive model realignment of the 9-3 Convertible is the latest evidence of this, to be followed in the coming months with value-added, limited-edition variants of the 9-3 sedan and 9-5 range.

This is seen as the means Saab can raise its profile without resorting to what Mr Stevenson considers “dangerous” heavy discounting or debt-ridden “buy-back” schemes.

With a revised Audi A4, all-new BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS on the horizon, the 9-3 will need all the help it can get to help maintain – let alone grow – its standing.

As for the 9-5, the eight-year-old car is believed to still have at least another two years to run before its much-speculated replacement arrives.

Other than the Subaru question, there are issues such as will it be rear-wheel drive and based on Holden’s Zeta (’06 VE Commodore) platform? Is an AWD derivative on the cards? Will it be built outside Sweden? Is Adelaide an option? Saab isn’t saying. One insider told us: “We honestly don’t know. No decision has been finalised.” Saab management will confirm that it urgently needs to reverse the debilitating sales performance in Sydney, where a lack of proper dealer representation in key areas – especially south of the city – has seen it perform well behind expectations.

Other work being undertaken includes leveraging off the existing Holden infrastructure, from purchasing and cost savings to systems and logistics efficiencies, and tapping into Holden’s vast fleet market.

The area of novated leasing is a further key area Saab wants to explore with Holden’s help.

Australian Saab sales have fallen from a 1994 high of 3463 (when the second-generation 900 was released) to 2631 in 2002, 2152 in 2003 and 1848 last year.

It has forecast a modest sales rise of about 300 units, to 2155, for this calendar year, driven by re-organised Sydney dealers and new fleet conquests.

And how serious is Saab about its comeback in Australia? “We live and die by what we do,” Mr Stevenson proclaimed.