Saab 9-3 History

The first-generation Saab 9-3 debuted for the 1999 model year as a substantially revised evolution of the NG900, retaining the GM2900 platform but with updated styling and a revised engine range. It was offered as a three- or five-door hatchback and a two-door cabriolet — the convertible still built by Valmet in Finland. The Viggen performance variant (230 bhp, 0–62 mph in around 6.5 seconds) was the halo product, named in honour of the iconic Saab fighter jet. Total first-generation production reached 326,370 units.

The second-generation 9-3, launched for 2003 on GM's Epsilon platform (shared with the Opel Vectra), was a more conventional car — it abandoned the hatchback in favour of a four-door saloon at launch, adding the cabriolet in 2004 and the SportCombi estate in late 2005. The Epsilon platform gave better dynamics and a more spacious cabin. The Aero trim with the 2.8-litre V6 turbo and, from 2008, Saab's XWD all-wheel-drive system, represented the performance peak. A facelift in 2007 refreshed the interior and exterior.

When Saab filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, production of the second-generation 9-3 stopped in Trollhättan. NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden), which purchased the bankrupt assets in 2012, briefly restarted limited 9-3 sedan production in December 2013 for the Chinese market, building a small number of MY2014 Aero sedans before losing the Saab brand licence in 2014. Those final cars make the 9-3's official production span 1998–2014.