What we missed - the full 440 series
I’ve recently heard from a Djup Strupe who’s confirmed the model range that was planned for Saab back in the early naughties.
I first heard about all these whilst chatting with another Djup Strupe in Trollhattan last year, at the Saab Festival. It’s good to get some more detailed information about them here today.
This is to do with the 9-3 range only. I’ve never heard of any missed variants of the 9-5, but with the 9-3 we’ve certainly missed out on a few interesting models. The car was known at the time, I presume internally, as the 440 series. Here’s what was planned:
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440 is the 9-3 Sport Sedan
441 Was a very nice 2-door coupé but the rest same as the SS, this was the first model that was put on ice by GM.
442 Is the 9-3 Convertible
443 Is the 9-3 Sport Combi
444 Was a 9-3 SC but a bit higher like the Audi Allroad or Volvo XC70 with 4WD. Also iced by GM but much later than the 441
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As you can see, we got three of the five variations in what I guess you could say was reasonable time. The SportCombi was the last of these, and appeared in MY2006.
The “allroad” version went as far as having a mockup made, which we’ve seen in some old spyshots. The pin was pulled, however, as part of GM’s crackdown shortly after the 9-3 SS made it’s debut.
I’ve never heard of anyone seeing a lifesize version of the coupe, but that’s sure the one that I’m regretting the most. I love coupes and I think the 9-3 shape really lends itself to coupe styling.
Maybe someday……
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The local Trollhattan newspaper, TTELA, has a story about the fact that there will be three new Saabs coming next year.
One of these will be the 444 mentioned above, the “allroad” version of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi. It’s the one I’ve been referring to here as the Saab 9-3x.
That’ll make 4 out of 5. We just need that coupe.
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That fills some gaps in my little story. So there never would have been a hatch option?
Funny thing is, looks like the 444 is being resurrected now.
Anyone who has used the service manuals or parts catalog will also notice how that number system corresponds to the manual/catalog system. “9440″ is the number designated for the ‘03+ 93SS in both.
They could make a pillarless hardtop coupe like was once planned for the NG900/OG9-3. That looked quite nice, but I think it would’ve killed the 3 door, my favourite.
The 441 cancellation is one of the biggest mistakes did by GM/Saab. With the increase of single people around the world, like the Gay community for the companies to launch products that stretch to the requirements for the single people is becoming more and more necessary.
If they launched the 9-3 coupe I will have it instead of the 2003 9-3 I have now.
What a big mistake!!!
everyone they see the 9-3ss, they asked about the “coupe” style of the car and if there is a coupe version.
regards
this is what it should have been
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g274/buitrictor/Saab9-3CoupeBTRfirma.jpg
by the way i am not the one responsible for this picture- it someone elses brilliant idea
Dan, looks okay except for the door handles. Needs proper Saab ones, NOT GM generic either!
It is a pillarless coupe a bit like Saab planned for the MY1997 NG900 which I think would’ve replaced the 3 door hatch, but never got the green light. Anyone got a good picture?
Perhaps the 440/9-3X delay was a good thing as it may not have had the Haldex gen-4 XWD at that time ?
Yeah, Saab has always had the model nomenclature system that bears no resemblance to the “public” model name much like Mercedes (W124, W126, W210 etc.) and BMW (E36, E46). In fact when I was placing my order for my ‘07 “9-5 Aero SportCombi,” there is no mention of this model in the Saab ordering system. You simply see “555″ (Aero Combi w/vent seats). There is also a 554 (Aero Combi sans vent seats), 545 is a Aero sedan w/vent seats, and 544 is Aero sedan sans vent seats.
The ‘real’ 9-3X Crossover Coupe would’ve had an advanced system of “all wheel drive”, but I don’t think it was ever disclosed which system it used. Perhaps the 444 variant would’ve been based on this?
THe 9-3X coupe, was the first glimpse to the Haldex XWD 4th generation. Saab in 2000 revealed the development of a new AWD system with Haldex.
In the press info of the 9-3x, they said that the 9-3x and the 9x uses an all new AWD system from haldex that was in development.
OG 9-3 is known as 9400 internally and 9-5 is 9600. Current 9-3 is obviously 9440
This maybe just a rumour but I remember being on a Saab Technical training course back in Jan 2000. We were talking about future products and the instructor mentioned the replacement for the 9-3 was known in Sweden as the “440″
He said (and this maybe the rumour bit!) that 440 was chosen so that when engineers were talking about the car during testing in public places people would think they were talking about a Volvo!!!
May just be a load of old rubbish but that my first memory of project 440