Saab is in a conundrum. General Motors needs to "grow the brand," as they like to say in Detroit. GM figures it can do that by playing up Saab's weirdness--the floor-mounted ignition switch and all. But part of that weirdness is Saab's low-volume exclusivity. The SportCombi, something between a hatchback and a wagon, is expected to add just 2000 to 4000 units in the U.S., but in Europe and the U.K., the SportCombi is poised to become Saab's best-seller. The car launches here in the fall with a new, optional 250-horse, 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 to be offered throughout the 9-3 line (the 210-horse turbo four remains the base engine here).
The 60-degree V-6 is from GM's all-aluminum high-feature engine family and boasts 258 pound-feet from 1500 to 5500 rpm. It has a twin-scroll turbo, variable-valve timing, and sodium-filled valves. Yes, a naturally aspirated version of the 2.8 is the standard Cadillac CTS engine, but then, the 9-3 itself rides on the GM Epsilon platform, so this is as Saab-independent as it gets. The SportCombi will come in Linear, Arc, and Aero trim levels, starting under $30,000.