First things first.

If you haven’t done so yet (it was posted earlier), watch the following video….

OK, now that that’s over, I’m pleased to present the story behind it. This was send in by Widde, webmaster of www.900aero.com.

Click on the images to enlarge.

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The Event

Early in November last year I got an invitation in the mail from SAAB as they were launching the new XWD system. The invitation was a shiny black folded piece of hard paper hold closed by “velcro”. After following the instructions inside and registering on a special website the waiting began. Then in February, the confirmation came and it also said that the Turbo X would be available for test driving. The event was bigger than I expected. It included a stay over at a hotel including dinner and a 2 hour test drive.

So my brother in law and I traveled to Åre, a ski resort in the north of Sweden, with high expectations and a stupid smile on our lips. When we arrived in Åre we discovered that SAAB had done a big event in Åre, a shiny Turbo X was parked on a platform surrounded by Ice (same ice as the Ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi is built of) and they also had a “Driving on Ice” event on the lake below the town.

When we reached the hotel, a quick walk/climb from the town square, I got hold of a SAAB representative right at the place where we checked in. I asked rather bluntly about the Turbo X test drive and we got a time in the Turbo X right away! From 16:00-18:00.
So we went to fetch the cars, then we also booked a free ice event the day after. We went outside and to the back of the building and there the 2 black beauties stood, eagerly waiting to be driven hard.

There were 2 Turbo Xs, one manual, one automatic, both sedans. After some short instructions we were on our way.

We navigated out from Åre village and to the icy roads on the mountains around. Now the fun really started. We drove on regular roads with conditions from pure snow slush to pure ice and later on wet tarmac. We did some ESP, brake testing and accelerate testing on different roads. All the time supervised by a lead car and we were give instructions over a walkie talkie. As I asked about filming and photos the very nice guide sorted that out. He took us to a closed area there he showed us what the Turbo X really could do. Then off again to do even more test driving.

Next, it’s my turn!

The lead car is communicating over the coms, free & safe to drive! “Car Two, go ahead” standing still, holding revs around 4000 rpm, sidestep, clutch biting as a rabid dog, planting the tall pedal firmly to the floor mat, the car is slightly turning around its center axis.

After a few milliseconds the car is sucked down to the ground and you are grabbed by the Viking god Thor’s mighty hand and pulled back into the magnificent leather seats. As the mighty Sleipnir (now embodied through the 280 hp 400nm turbo V6 and the XWD system) slings the Turbo X forward. Speed is rising incredibly fast on this road condition. Now fighting to keep up with the stick to throw in the gears… adrenaline, euphoria, joy… and braking. Sadness mixed with satisfaction, but then a moment of happiness as the voice over the coms says “we will do this again! So look over your shoulder and signal and we are off”

We returned after 2 hours of intense driving and got ready for the dinner and then sleep.

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Day 2:

We were scheduled for the Aero XWD test drive at 13:00-15:00. My brother in law was planning to ski all day so I got all the 2 hours for me! This time we had 4 cars: the lead car, the 2 Turbo X, and me alone with my camera in a Aero XWD. Once again, happiness, euphoria for 2 hours! But also a bit of envy, watching the 2 Turbo X driving in front of me, whilst I was only driving a 400nm (280hp) Aero with XWD.

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Summary

So I had driven both the Turbo X (manual 6 speed and automatic) and the Aero XWD (manual 6 speed). What is the difference? Is there any? And what are my thoughts?

First of all, I want to thank SAAB for letting me experience this unique event. It was Awesome!

Interior:

Going from the Turbo X to the Aero XWD, the first thing that hits me is that the Aero XWD feels “cheap”, but all’s relative. The regular aero steering wheel, the plastic aluminum lookalike panels, the panels in the doors. In the Turbo X all “design” panels are carbon fiber, not the “cheap fast-and-the-futile fake carbon panels picked up for a dime at the local toy store” but dark sober carbon fiber panels that can be examined correctly at just the right angle.

The steering wheel, all leather, a bit thicker than the regular aero steering wheel, more “grippy” and so perfect in the car. The rest of the interior was nothing special IMO, all leather, good materials (way better than the old 2004-2006). The sound system was the largest including the navigator. But I never turned it on. The music from the engine and the exhaust was enough.

Brakes:

The brakes on the Turbo X are larger than the Aero and it is noticeable! When (not if) I buy the Aero XWD (unless i can get hold of a Turbo X) I will fix the brakes. The larger discs makes the total feeling of the car so much better, it really stops. During brake tests the Aero felt like it was stopping much slower and during a track day the larger discs are preferable.

Power:

Both cars have the V6 400nm (280hp) engine, but the Aero felt more sluggish, it could be the car/fuel. But as I heard the Turbo X hasn’t got the torque limiter on the first gears as the Aero XWD has, I suspect that was that.

But still… both cars, loads of power when you need it, the torque range is just awesome. I rarely speak of HP, I want to see the complete torque curve. Just to make me grasp the “feeling” of the engine. The engine is a great engine, smooth and powerful. But it has no life, no temperament, no fluctuations in the torque curve. Just plain predictable power. Hmmm… I must be old.

Handling, XWD & Wheels:

The important stuff, The Turbo X has the eLSD and the Aero XWD didn’t. The Turbo X has a different suspension (10 mm lower than the Aero XWD), The Turbo X sat on 19″ low profile M/S studded tires the Aero had 17″ M/S studded tires.

The feeling… Both cars are wonderful to drive, too easy IMO, but still. An inexperienced driver need to have all the help they can get when driving a car like this. It’s a Playstation car! It goes where ever you point the steering wheel. The seamless integration of the XWD and the ESP makes it one of the most forgiving cars I ever driven. You turn the steering wheel rapidly from side to side on a icy road to induce a slide, and the cars just shivers a bit before the systems takes over and puts the car on the right track.

This is especially noticed with the eLSD, accelerating in a icy curve the car just senses when something is about to go wrong and helps you by transferring power or braking one wheel and cutting the throttle. You can actually have the gas pedal floored through a corner and the car just is like “Yes, I hear that you want to go fast, but I can let you do that Widde, as it not safe. I will add the power when the car stopped sliding” And then, when it’s safe, the power comes back and you are shot like a “bat out of hell” in the direction you want.

The big difference between the XWD with eLSD and without the eLSD is when all help systems are turned on the no eLSD car is slightly more over steered, you can actually find point where you can let the back end drift a bit before the ESP cuts in and stops the fun. But during the 2 hour drive I found that it was easy to find that point and keep the car drift a bit during icy corners. But the eLSD won’t let you do that. The eLSD feels it and corrects it, it’s more efficient and safe. But it takes a bit of fun out of it. There’s a solution to this BIG problem… turn the ESP off. But then, you are on your own. Only recommended if you know how to handle a car correctly.

The suspension: the Turbo X sits better on the road compared to the Aero XWD, but not too much. The winter road’s roughness was swallowed amazingly well even considering the 19″ wheels. So the comfort riding it wasn’t even an issue, until this time when I’m writing this review. The Aero XWD has a bit more sway, but that’s only compared to the Turbo X. The suspension is well put together. I noticed that when trying to get back to the group of cars, after a letting some other cars through, it was a tight road. In the clouds/fog up in the hills I hit a large unseen “bump” in the road and sent the Aero XWD flying a bit… nothing really happened. Just a safe short flight, I know that SAAB is “born from jets” but that was just amazing.

So what would I buy? The Turbo X or the Aero XWD. Hard choice, but I make it easy for me…

As the Turbo X is now sold out, I need to wait until 2009 to buy a 9-3 Aero XWD with the eLSD, do not get a car with out the eLSD.

The interior could be fixed, just get me something to hide the aluminum panels and get me that Turbo X steering wheel. Then I will get the Hirsch brake kit (345 mm discs and calipers) and fit them. It’s amazing that the Hirsch kit is the exactly the same size as the Turbo X “stock” brakes…

After that get me some good aftermarket suspension, and try to hook me up with some nice Turbo X software in the engine/transmission/XWD.

And “presto”…I can have fun! with the ESP off of course. But it’s not the Turbo X.

Happy SAABing
Widde
Webmaster - www.900aero.com