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Saab
Automaker Saab from Sweden, operating now in the folds of General Motors, for 2008 builds two different sizes of luxury and performance cars plus one bona fide sport utility vehicle. Repeating lines are the 9-5 series with a luxury sedan and SportCombi wagon, and Saab's big five-door SUV badged as the 9-7x. The 9-3 group -- a sports sedan and premium convertible plus SportCombi wagon -- show powerful new exterior styling and gain in power from a turbo engine.
Saab's luxurious flagship four-door sedan and five-door 9-5 SportCombi wagon tote a 2.3-liter high-output turbo four-cylinder engine pumping 260 hp. Transmission is a manual five-speed or Saab's automatic Sentronic five-speed with steering wheel shift controls. The optional Aero package applies a sport-tuned chassis, sport seats and metallic cabin trim, while a Visibility package brings xenon headlamps and a rear parking assist (RPA) system. More standard gear for safety go to 2008 models, such as GM's OnStar telecommunications equipment, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Appointments include leather seat upholstery and a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel.
Saab's 9-3 mainline cars conform as a sports sedan, drop-top convertible and five-door SportCombi touring wagon. Models of 2008 show new exterior styling with a forceful front containing a larger grille, wrap-around headlamps and V-shaped hood. Also new for 9-3 Aero is the 2.8-liter V6 with water-cooled turbo-charging to achieve 255 hp. This plant ties to a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed Sentronic automatic with steering wheel tab controls. 9-3 2.0T models pack a 2.0-liter four-in-line with turbo-charging booster to 210 hp. The 9-3 SportCombi has two rows of seats for five plus a cargo bay and posh appointments.
Saab's 9-7x mid-size SUV shows cushy leather-clad seats for five passengers, two powertrain choices and standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. A smooth aerodynamic package projects Saab's three-port grille up front. The cabin contains bucket seats in front of a bench for three with a generous cargo bay in back. Standard powertrain is a 4.2-liter six-pack which makes 285 hp with a four-speed automatic transmission. 9-7x V8 brings a 5.3-liter V8 primed to 300 hp. The V8 employs GM's Active Fuel Management (AFM) technology to conserve on fuel. New 20-inch wheels are optional for all 2008 9-7x models.
