From Workshop Experiment To Rear-End Statement
When Mark V. Kampen first mounted a rough LED prototype on his own Saab 9-3NG SportCombi, the wires were visible and the alignment was still being refined. It was clearly a development piece – promising, but unfinished.
Today, that experiment has matured into a fully realized product.
The Saab 9-3 SportCombi LED bar is now officially offered by KM-Tronics, no longer as a test unit but as a production-ready component that reshapes the rear identity of the estate model. And for those who have followed this story from the beginning, the transformation is striking.
The Look Saab Never Gave The SportCombi
The Saab 9-3 SportCombi has always had strong proportions and distinctive vertical rear LED lights. But unlike the 9-5NG, it never received a continuous LED light signature across the tailgate. That absence is exactly what this product addresses.
Mounted beneath the rear window and centered around the SAAB lettering, the LED bar visually connects the two taillight clusters. At night, the effect is immediate: the car appears wider, lower, and more contemporary — without losing its original design character.
On darker roads, especially in wet conditions, the reflection of the red strip across the glossy paint creates a subtle but unmistakable modern presence. This is not an aggressive aftermarket look. It feels evolutionary.
Configurable, But Still Saab
Unlike a one-spec accessory, KM-Tronics allows owners to tailor the final appearance. Glass tone, lower trim finish, light intensity, and strip configuration can all be selected.
Some versions remain understated, blending into the rear panel during the day and glowing cleanly at night. Others are bolder, closer in intensity to the OEM side rear lights.
The pricing reflects these variations, starting from €190 and reaching €410 for the most elaborate configuration. But the real story is not the price list. It is the fact that the 9-3 Estate now has a rear lighting option that feels aligned with the Griffin-era philosophy Saab introduced late in its production life.
Built To Be Installed By Enthusiasts
The currently available version is a DIY concept. It integrates into the original license plate light hub, without requiring soldering.
Mark has documented the entire installation process in a series of YouTube videos, covering everything from basic fitting to alignment refinement. For those who enjoy working on their own cars, it is a weekend project. For those who prefer a professional touch, a mail-in premium installation version is planned.
The installation process itself reinforces something important about this product: It is not a generic LED strip glued onto a trunk lid. It is engineered to work with the structure Saab already designed.
Real-World Character
There are, of course, practical notes. High summer temperatures can influence resin behavior. Minor glass imperfections may be visible on close inspection. Alignment can require attention on very hot days.
But this transparency is part of the appeal. This is not a mass-produced anonymous lighting module. It is a low-volume enthusiast-driven component developed within the Saab community.
And when you see the bar illuminated at night – especially in combination with the vertical rear LEDs – the effect feels cohesive rather than forced.
The Beginning Of A Lineup
The SportCombi is only the first step. Mark has confirmed that Sedan and Convertible versions are planned, meaning the entire 9-3NG range could soon share a continuous rear LED signature.
If that happens, the 9-3 family will finally have a visual element that connects it more directly to the 9-5NG – a model many consider Saab’s final fully realized design statement.
A Subtle Recommendation
From our perspective, the most balanced versions are those where brightness matches the OEM rear LED intensity as closely as possible. When the light bar harmonizes with the factory vertical LEDs instead of overpowering them, the result feels factory-consistent.
And that consistency is crucial. Saab owners rarely want dramatic visual noise. They want refinement that looks as if it could have left Trollhättan that way. This LED bar, in its most balanced configuration, achieves that effect.
A New Rear Identity For The 9-3 Estate
What started as exposed wires and prototype resin has evolved into a configurable production product now available through KM-Tronics.
For years, enthusiasts have asked what a Griffin-era 9-3 Estate might have looked like had Saab continued developing it. This may be the closest visual answer yet.
