UPDATED below!!!
–
In Australia it was unveiled as the Spring Edition Convertible just over a week ago.
Today, SaabUSA announced it as the Special Edition, and it’ll debut at the LA Auto Show. Here’s the press release.
——
Saab Celebrates 25 years of Convertibles with Special Edition
DETROIT – The first ever Saab Convertible made its world debut at the Frankfurt auto show in the fall of 1983. Now, 25 years later, a Special Edition makes its American debut at the Los Angeles International auto show which opens to the public on November 22. This new version of the Saab 9-3 Convertible will be showcased in a unique bright champagne metallic color.
Saab surprised the automotive world when it pioneered the concept of a ‘four season, four-seat’ soft top Convertible. Designed to be practical and stylish, the Scandinavian-styled convertible changed the perception of open top vehicles to be used all the year round.
“Saab has sold more than a quarter of a million convertibles worldwide and this latest edition highlights the timeless design and responsible performance that Saab convertibles have always represented,” said Steve Shannon, executive director, marketing and product, Saab Automobile USA.
The special edition Saab Convertible will be available in three metallic colors to include Jet Black, Carbon Grey and the new Bright Champagne. It will feature Saab’s signature 2.0-liter, 210 hp four cylinder engine and can be matched to six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions.
Special content includes influences from the Turbo X performance model, such as the design of the front bumper and steering wheel plus carbon fiber interior finishes and black floor mats with grey binding. Like the Aero version, the rear shows dual exhaust pipes and an anthracite grey bumper insert. Five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels will be standard.
Expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in January 2009, the Saab 9-3 2.0T Special Edition Convertible will be priced starting at $ 46,725 including destination charges.
——
One note about this car……
Could this be the first inkling of Hirsch appearing in the US market?
It’s a 2.0T model, but it’s available with twin exhaust pipes? There’s no 2.0T with dual exhausts in the US market, or any other market. The only way you can get twin exhausts on a four cylinder Saab is to buy a TTiD Aero or get a twin exhaust kit from Hirsch.
I won’t count on getting a straight answer, but I’d be very interested to know if Hirsch are involved in this one.
UPDATE: Dual exhaust pipes were mentioned in the 2009 Saab 9-3 model details that I published back in July. It seems it’s going to be an option on the “Sports” package that’ll be available to Aero-up your 2.0T.
–
In the Swedish market you can buy a 2.0T XWD with twin exhaust pipes. I know, I just did.
Hjalmar: I hate you.
Please, somebody with ability to comment at Jalopnik go here and straighten out the adolescent commentators!
Since when did “intelligent” become synonymous with “quirky”?? If I see that “Q word” one more time I’m gonna be SICK!!! saabyurk, “adolescent commentators” indeed!!!
saabyurk,
The comments are immature…but are they really all that far off? GM is truly out of touch. $46,725 + dest is a truly outrageous price for this car. Most people don’t know about the incentive pricing.
LOL, most companies go the opposite route… ie. prominently display a very low MSRP to get you into the dealerships…and then get you on the options. Saab on the other hand, prominently displays a high MSRP and then advertises the hell out of incentive pricing. Sorry, that method just doesn’t work.
I love Saabs, but if it weren’t for the poor resale values, I really doubt I would have purchased my ’04 9-3 Arc earlier this year.
The 2009 BMW 328 convertible with a 230hp V6 starts at $44K. And the 9-3 with a 4-cylinder is $2000 more? I think Saab lost track of the competition..
Bright Champagne looks like an interesting color though. The blue 20 Year Edition Aero is still my favorite convertible. Awesome color, V6 and the button dash. And it was only $44.6K. A comparable 2009 Aero Vert would be about $10K more at $55K these days? I’ll keep on dreaming of owning one some day.
Am I alone in being annoyed that the Special Edition has the same 17″ Wheels as every 2006-2007 Aero and every 2008 and newer 2.0T with 17s? Europe gets the good stuff. The Turbo-X is still the only car SaabUSA has let us have with 18″ Wheels. For ’09 they almost let us have an optional 18″ but within the last three weeks the option was pulled. What gives?
Am I mistaken in thinking that Saab already released a 20th Anniversary Edition convertible in 2006 (20 years from when the first Saab convertibles went on sale in 1986)? I remember that when they ran out of the special 60th Anniversary Edition 9-3 wheels in 2007 they started substituting leftover wheels from the Anniversary Edition convertible. It’s only been two years and now we’re getting a 25th Anniversary Edition? What’s their logic? The first convertible concept showed in 1983 and now in 2009 we’re getting a 25th Anniversary Edition? 2009 minus 1983 equals 26. Am I going crazy?
And it looks from this press release that Steve Shannon has gone from President of Saab USA to General Manager of Saab USA to executive director, marketing and product, Saab Automobile USA in less than two years. Jeez, my condolences, Steve. You deserve better.
@Wulf: I think you meant “I6″ in the BMW rather than “V6″, but your point is well taken. Six cylinders versus 4 for $2K less…
I wonder why do they keep those old style door handles on a convertible? If they facelift the front and interior what’s wrong with the handles?
basas: They are real Saab door handles, not the horrible generic GM ones that have been tacked on to other 9-3s!
Markac: I didn’t mean the old ones ain’t cool – to me they really look and feel much better than those new GM ones. It just seems strange they uplift the front and forget(?) the handles.
basas: The convertibles are made in a different factory in Austria. It probably wasn’t worth the cost to re-tool the vert doors for the GM handles. I remember someone at Saab saying a while back that Saab would use GM bits where you wouldn’t see them. That didn’t last for long! I really hope the new 9-5 has proper Saab door handles and not the same ones as on an Insignia.
I know in Tasmania, you can begin to believe that you are not the center of attention, but consider this. For years all the big convertible launches have been just before winter in the US. Maybe in Trollhattan they know that its the people down under who really matter and time their convertibles for you. Oh, that we could have a Spring Edition.
It’s not true… in many Europe markets there are Aero versions with 2 litres engine 210 hp and the twin exhaust (Switzerland and Germany for example).
Bye from Italy
I believe the door handles on the current 9-3 sedan and combi were from the Cadillac BLS. Because the BLS doesn’t have a ‘vert version that’s why the Saab ‘vert didn’t get the doors with the “new” generic GM door handles.
It’s sad, but the new 9-5 will probably have handles just like this.
Hopefully the new 9-5 is a much better car than this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/new_car_reviews/article4875087.ece
I hope the new 9-5 doesn’t get the same door handles as this.
Hopefully the new 9-5 is a much better drive than this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/new_car_reviews/article4875087.ece