German magazine Autobild recently compared the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 Aero SportCombis, offering a surprisingly appreciative outside perspective on Saab’s final era. In this SaabPlanet analysis, we explore their findings and place them within the broader arc of Saab history.
A once-modest 150 hp Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD has been transformed by Polish workshop Auto Krak into a 290 hp, 580 Nm powerhouse. Using a GTB2260VKL turbo, Insignia-spec fuel system, and a custom ECU map, the team doubled the output while keeping Saab’s trademark drivability and refinement. It’s one of the most impressive diesel tuning stories yet - and still, another Saab TiD holds the record with 310 hp.
This 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector spent its entire life on Sweden’s salt-free island of Gotland — a place where rust is almost unheard of. After two decades and over 300,000 km with one family, the car was moments from being scrapped when Alexander Andersson rescued it, gave it a new engine, restored its red paint, and brought it back to life in Stockholm. What began as a routine rescue became a tribute to Saab’s enduring spirit — individuality, engineering, and heart.
Before Saab’s story came to an abrupt end, design chief Jason Castriota was shaping a bold new 9-3 meant to lead the brand’s rebirth. More than a decade later, Swedish artist Henrik Bergman uses AI to reimagine that lost design — revealing what Saab’s future could have looked like had the lights in Trollhättan never gone out.
In a refreshingly candid review, Automobile Depression shows how a used Saab 9-3 Convertible can still be a brilliant summer companion. From oil-pan must-dos to roof hydraulics and electrics, here’s what makes it work—and what you must check before chasing sunsets.
Lammertse Techniek in Oldenzaal has transformed one of the Netherlands’ best-known Saab 9-3 Turbo X cars into a fully restored masterpiece. After a complete mechanical and aesthetic overhaul, the car is now offered for sale to the next Saab enthusiast ready to carry its legacy forward.
From a 617,000-km Saab 99 on AutoScout24 to a 900 SPG with one million miles, Saabs prove their unmatched durability when cared for by devoted owners.
KM-Tronics has unveiled the first working LED bar prototype for the Saab 9-3NG SportCombi. Now Mark V. Kampen is asking Saab enthusiasts: should it shine brighter, or is it already perfect?
A 2008 Saab 9-3 1.8t Cabriolet in Electric Blue Metallic with just 28,141 km is one of the finest youngtimers in Sweden. Despite bids nearing €20,000 at Bilweb Auctions, it failed to sell due to the reserve price not being met. That’s not a disappointment—it’s proof this car is worth far more.
In an era when most Viggens are locked away as collector’s trophies, Dutch enthusiast Gerrit Jan Hallink keeps his Lightning Blue 9-3 Viggen alive the way Saab intended—on the road, even in winter. What began as a risky purchase from Luxembourg, with a Lithuanian backstory and English origins, became one of the most fascinating Viggen stories AutoWeek has ever reported.
