The occasionally-monthly Hirsch update recently hit my inbox.
Here’s all the recent news from Saab’s official tuning house in Switzerland.
——
Power Upgrade for 2.0T with XWD
The long awaited Saab 9-3 2.0T XWD has arrived and it is a great car to drive. Independent of weather conditions it provides enough grip to feel secure at all times.
The Hirsch Performance software upgrade adds an additional fun factor to the car’s overall driving experience, and makes it a true driver’s car.
The following figures are for Manual 6 speed (with 6sp Auto in parenthesis)
Top speed - 245 km/h (240 km/h)
0-100 km/h – 7.3 s (7.5 s)
60-100 km/h (4th gear) – 6.4 s (n/a)
80-120 km/h (5th gear) – 7.8 s (n/a)
Fuel consumption combined – 8.2 l/100km (9.6 l/100km)
CO2 combined – 195 g/km (227 g/km)
The new performance upgrade for the Saab 9-3 2.0T XWD delivers 240 hp/350 Nm and will become generally available at the following times:
Week 49 for all TÜV markets (DE, GB, BE, NL, AT, IRL …)
Week 51 for other EU markets (SE, NO, DK, FIN…)
Week 52 for Switzerland
——
New: Stainless steel dual sports exhaust system for the Saab 9-3 V6 XWD
The best sounding Saab ever. For those who enjoyed the sound of the Turbo X, here is more of the same! Despite the distinctively sporty sound, the Hirsch Performance sports exhaust for the V6 XWD has been finely tuned to avoid the typical booming at motorway speeds that can be an annoying companion for many sports exhausts. This exhaust system was developed for the recently launched Saab 9-3 Performance by Hirsch special edition vehicle.
The sound could be described, but should be experienced.
As an option, the exhaust system is also available as a set together with the new Hirsch Performance rear diffusor.
——
Carbon leather interior trim kit
There was one piece left to complete the Hirsch Performance interior design, and here it is: the new carbon-leather interior trim kit. It includes the center console trim, glove box trim (SS/SC/CV) and the door trim (SS/SC – front- and rear door).
A perfect match to the already available carbon leather instrument panel and the leather door handles.
——
Brushed aluminum door sill trim
Now there is a Hirsch Performance door sill trim that adds a special touch to the car’s interior, and perfectly matches the Hirsch Performance aluminum pedals. The door sill trim fits all Saab 9-3 from MY03-.
——
Saab 9-3 Leather Seat frame covers
The all new seat frame covers in black premium leather are elegant and easy to install. They feature visible stitching and smooth, natural grain leather. The perfect add-on for any Saab with the premium leather option.
The covers are available for Saab 9-3 MY03- LHD with electric seats and memory function.
One set consists of driver and passanger front seat frame covers.
——
Software performance upgrades for used cars
Starting December 1, 2008, a 30% discount is offered on all Hirsch Performance software performance upgrades for vehicles from MY05 and older. This special offer gives owners of used Saabs a chance to enjoy the Hirsch Performance driving experience at a very attractive price.
The offer is valid for software upgrades for the Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 from MY05 and older.
——
Phase-out of the classic Hirsch Performance wheel
After more then 10 years of representing the Hirsch Performance brand all over the world, the last set of the classic 18×8″ six spoke wheel has left the Hirsch Performance warehouse.
Still in the line-up are all the new Hirsch Performance wheel designs, available in both 18″ and 19″. These designs have been specially designed to match the design of the current Saab 9-3 and 9-5.
——
Ed note: It’s certainly sad to see the end of the line for the classic Hirsch six spoke. Farewell old friend. I wish I’d had a chance to use your services, but then I’m a dumbass who crashed his Viggen!!
–
Pure friggin’ hotness!
Mmmmm… We are so deprived!!!!!!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YUMMY!
Grounds for seeking political asylum? I could relearn my German, but actually have researched Norway.
My 1999 9-3 was a leftover promotional car (so they said) in Cosmic Blue with black leather seats at 20% off sticker in July 2000. The only reason I caved for automatic.
Maybe tonight I will have a Saab dream, manually shifting my way through the Berkshire Hills in the first snow… thanks!
Karen: I am not sure I understand you. Researched Norway?!? As in “thinking of moving to Norway”? Are you insane? My 1.8t BioPower costs more here than a TurboX in the USA! Norway surely has the highest tax on cars of any country out there? And our roads are third-world. Assuming you get to see them, there’s so much snow here half the time you think you’re out in some field somewhere. And when spring comes, you will be lucky if your car is still moving, because most cars simply disappear because of all the salt they put on the roads during winter.
Sweden is probably better. At least cars are affordable there. SAABs doubly so. And it isn’t a long drive down to Germany, so you can test your wheels on the autobahn. (I wish I would be able to some day figure out how the h— I managed to hit 245kph, because now it barely reaches 230kph)
Oh… The Norwegian government takes environmental issues seriously. They offer a 10000 kroner rebate on cars that run on ethanol. So my car only cost 380000 NOK instead of 390000. Whohooo! (Norway, the country where corrupt politicians grow on trees) I guess it makes some kind of sense, seeing as SAABs tend to be more expensive here than anywhere else in the world. (a “Gripen” reference there, for those of you following news concerning military aircrafts)
On a more positive note: Driving in the snow is fun! I’m thinking of heading out tomorrow for some snow-filled action!
Hopefully not melted away by then.
–
Rune
No more 18inch Classic wheels….
Soooo Swadey who will be selling there current stock of them for run out prices?
a.
If I remember right the wheels were done on order by Tecnomagnesio, now owned by MIM in Italy. At least thats what I have been told by one owner of hirsch-ed SAAB.
These look similar and some archived pages from eshops still have 17″ versions.
Papluh,
I have heard the same thing also,
Hirsch effectively “own” the 18′s that they make, and thats the reason why Tecnomagnesio only sell the 17′s
a.
Rune (the other one): thanks for the tip – I researched Canada, Sweden, and Norway after our 2004 elections. Canada has a point system, and I lose on age >50, and not being fluent in French. Sweden has/had a very hostile system – you even have to deposit your return air ticket with them to prove you do not really want to live there. Norway seemed ok as long as you could afford to buy a home. I did not check Germany.
All you have to do is watch U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearings to understand this country is being run by lawyers who do not have a clue about the real economy. I do not see that changing with the new president, based on his economic team and tendency to be risk-averse on everything.
Since I am heat-intolerant past few years, I only consider cold countries where I have a chance of speaking the language, which rules out Finland, Russia, and Poland.
I don’t think Sweden would give me a break even with my devotion to Saab .
I did just read that Angela Merkel and the German government will act before Christmas on financial aid for their auto industry, including Opel.
When America let the finance guys take over, first they monetized/securitized/indebted U.S. industrial assets 1978-2000, followed by housing. Between the MBAs and the lawyers, U.S. manufacturing has been gutted. Just try to tell one of them that Germany is still the #1 exporter in the world with the highest labor costs. Total denial.
It extends to education. A few years ago, Mayor Bloomberg shut down the best high school votech program in auto repair at Kennedy HS in The Bronx. All the Manhattan dealers testified they relied on these students. No, Bloomberg thinks we need more lawyers and everyone should go to college.
It’s a disease that the Germans are inoculated against.
Sorry for cluttering up this post on dreamy styling and technology.
Karen, I see your problem. Allow me to offer some additional thoughts. Yes, you’ll probably be fine moving to Norway. We love americans. My soon-to-be-wife from Georgia (the original Georgia, not the US state) OTOH will face quite some paperwork before they let her join me here.
In any case, I have quite a few friends here who are of foreign origin. Dutch, Czeck, Serbian, Russian and Georgian to mention a few. I’ve also worked with Australians and Americans. Many of them are surprised (read: shocked) when they learn where the income from our oil production goes.
You say your country is run by bankers?
Well, in Norway, we spend our oil money on infrastructure and we invest heavily in industries and businesses…. in the States. We see very little of all that money ourselves. On the positive side, we have absolutely no foreign debts. But our roads are full of potholes, we have an extreme lack of highways, our hospitals are understaffed, our schools are filled with second rate teachers working in buildings held together with low quality chewing gum and our news media is mostly focused on the wolf problem (there are a dozen or so wolves left in the deep forrests, and they’ve killed one or two sheep the last couple of years, so naturally our newspapers are filled with outraged people demanding their immediate termination).
Case in point: Norway’s leading politicians have for a long time spouted the belief that investing oil money in infrastructure will cause a rise in inflation and decrease the value of our pension fund (that is needed to cover the baby-boom generation about to retire over the next couple of years). Highly educated economists working for our country’s bureau of statistics calculated that 10000 million dollars (IIRC) could be spent on infrastructure alone, without noticably affecting inflation. The minister of transportation, a woman with 9 year of basic education (maybe 12 years), looked at the report and simply stated “no, my political party has already concluded otherwise” without even bothering to consult any of her own staff. She is stupid as a loaf of bread, but she is part of the system that makes sure no positive change can happen.
Add to that the way Norway recently decided on which fighter aircraft to choose. Eurofighter backed out of the process years ago, stating that the choice had already been made; the Norwegians would choose the american fighter aircraft (JSF/F-35) no matter what. The requirements mirrored the JSF’s specification sheet almost to a point. However, to defend Norwegian territory, we need a fighter aircraft, yet the JSF is mostly ideal for bombing missions… What targets do we need to bomb while defending our country? What on Earth will we do with stealth capabilities? Hide from our own radar facilities? The process was a farse. Why I mention this? SAAB, the military airplane company, stupidly decided to stay on. They remained optimistic. Unfortunately, the Norwegians calculated that the JAS Gripen would cost Norway 10000 million dollars (again IIRC) more than what the Swedes had estimated. So, not only did SAAB loose the contract, by staying in the loop they were rewarded with severe bad publicity, which might cause them to loose other contracts as well.
SAAB (neither airplane nor car manufacturer) cannot win on technology alone. They cannot compete on price. They depend on people being educated enough to pick a superior product. Unfortunately, the majority of people are stupid and/or lazy. The majority of people will easily buy into “ethanol kills poor people” soundbites, without realising that the price of food rose just as the price of gas soared. And politicians have to cater to the stupid people, otherwise they won’t get elected… The present system doubly awards stupidity.
It is my belief that this entire planet is run by the oil industry. Look at the princes in Saudi-Arabia. Where do they invest their oil money? In the US. Which country receives all that oil at a great discount? The US.
Do not get me wrong. I would be honored if you decided to move here (and me and my missus would love to hang out with you some time), but I am far from convinced you will be able to escape all of the problems you mention by moving here. But at least most Norwegians are sufficiently fluent in English to understand you well. And we do not dub american movies, so you can safely watch TV as long as the subtitles do not distract you too much. I am suprised by your research showing Sweden to be difficult to migrate to, but I have not researched that at all. They like Norwegians though, so you could live here for five years, become a citizen, and then move to Sweden.
Alaero: Hirsh had also 17×7.8 some time ago, but you might be true about the exclusivity as the ones found in cache were only 17×7.
Compomotive has very similar design here
The MO1771 should cost about 250Eur. But there are indications at least some of the wheels are not street legal (no TUV in europe)
Also they have Ronal Turbo copies
I must be missing something in the above posts? But Hirsch isn’t a Norwegian or Germany company – it’s Swiss… very strange posts not relating to the Hirsch story!
I just checked at Elkparts and they appear to have the classic 18 ” still in stock. So Alero hurry up as the bill came at $2.6 K + $0.5 K shipping in A$. Don’t delay as you’ll regret it !!!
papluh & alaero:
Technomagnesio is a small company and the woman who owns the company has told a friend of mine in the wheel business, that the moulding/cast thing for the 17 inch wheel is bust/broken and that the company does not have the money to make a new one.
It is correct that Hirsch are the only one allowed to sell the larger versions.
sab,
Absolutely related! Saabista looking to move to a country where she can acually buy Hirsch stuff (listed as one of the markets receiving the new stuff soon). Can you readily get Hirsch stuff here in OZ? Karen is in the U.S. where it’s just not readily available and certainly not supported by Saab.
Thanks Turbin. I need a new avatar – Saabista. I love it!
So who wants to buy my Bronx apartment and house in Ashfield, MA so I can move to a safe Saabhaven? Ah well, stuck until at least 2010, when hopefully Saab will be free of GM.