Mini Test Road Test
It's not often we run a lead photo of the hind end of a sporty new car, but these dual exhaust pipes are about the only way enthusiasts will be able to tell that this Saab 9-3 Aero is packing the most powerful engine ever stuffed into one of the snappy sedans from Trollhättan, Sweden.
The power source is a turbocharged version of the all-new GM "global" V-6, a most modern all-aluminum, 24-valve engine with dual overhead cams that makes 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque-37 more than Saab's current top-performing turbo-four sedan. The 2.8-liter engine uses a twin-scroll, water-cooled Mitsubishi turbocharger that smoothes out the boost delivery. Some drivers like the traditional Saab shove in the back when sudden acceleration is needed, while others aren't fans of the on-and-off turbo dance, but this new model (the body remains unchanged) has a more gradual power flow. Saab says the V-6 hooked up to a standard six-speed manual will go from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds, which isn't a huge improvement over the 7.2-second time we clocked (to 60 mph) in a 2005 9-3 turbo four in a 2004 comparison test. Top speed is 155 mph.
In a first drive over the Swedish countryside, we were generally impressed with its performance and what felt like a reduction in Saab's well-known torque steer on this front-drive car, despite the increased horsepower. And for the first time, there is a fairly thrilling exhaust note. The V-6, with an anticipated opening price of $35,000, will be joined in the sedan lineup by the 210-hp turbo four. The larger-engined car is due in the U.S. by mid-September.
