New Saab 9-3 Aesthetics

[ZinXin]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the new Saab 9-3 is officially a visual disappointment . Aero-X "inspired", yeah right. I'd say that front is more "inspired" by some underpaid interns

I'd rather take the 2007 Saab 9-3 over the new one any day. The 03-07 9-3 looks absolutely gorgeous, with very clean lines.

Here is a link for anyone who hasn't yet seen the pictures.

Agreements/Disagreements on this opinion?

[Corn Cob]

It will do I guess, I don't think any of the newer ones look very "saab like" though. From the old two-strokes up to the first generation 9-3 they had the saab shape. Now without the hatch, they just blend in uninspiring imho.

[SaabKen]

You can be sure there'll be agreements/disagreements on your opinion. And that's what's great about this forum, because it's where Saabers from all walks of life can come together and share their opinions.

I think it's time for another group hug. Starting with folks who drive automatics

[Saba]

It doesn't look too bad in comparison. I like the grill but not the clamshell bonnet/hood. That's just so 90s. But I think they missed an opportunity to really make a statement. I hope they do something with the interior. The 2007 'refresh' is just PLAIN ordinary.

[Warren Demontague]

Agreed. I think the new front end is overdone, and I don't know what the obsession is with white tail lights. They're about 6 years behind the curve there.

[redrum]

It looks as if they were on a good track, and then stopped halfway through and threw a ton of black plastic at it.

[mikewitdaspike]

ack! too much plastic but it does have a more... agressive look about it than the old one

[1985 Gripen]

Originally Posted by ZinXin

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the new Saab 9-3 is officially a visual disappointment .

You can't say "officially" until it's officially been released. The latest pictures you've seen are still "spy shots" and could very well be a testing mule with styling that won't make it into the production model.

Wait and give SAAB a chance to officially unveil the official product before making an opinion on it. Also, things look much different in person than in pictures. The Aero-X looks quite a bit different in 3-D than in 2-D.

That said, judging by the spy shots alone I'm not impressed either. But I'll have to get used to it. It seems like black and chrome and more aggressive is where SAAB's going with its styling (away from understated).

[ZinXin]

I completley agree, I hope they still improve upon their current designs... but I think we should face up to the fact that it will probably look a lot like it does in those pictures

[saabassguy]

i like it alot. of the 'spy shots' i've seen, i've only been impressed. i do think the official my2008 will look even better. Hopefully the interior has been refreshed as well, but i'm not holding out on that one.the front end is def. more agressive, and I think this is what Saab needs to continue their sporty heritage. i have a 2003 9-3 and while i love the car, i think it lacks just a little in the front end with 'aggressiveness'. just my opinion.

[1985 Gripen]

Originally Posted by saabassguy

i have a 2003 9-3 and while i love the car, i think it lacks just a little in the front end with 'aggressiveness'. just my opinion.

No offense, but some of us don't want an aggressive front end. A lot of us like SAABs because they're understated rather than showy. If SAAB wants to go to aggressive front ends they can take a page from Subaru and the WRX, but that would make the car much less of a SAAB and more something else.

I think they should have spent more time fixing the things keeping people from buying SAABs with this refresh (poor reliability, sub-par interior materials) than appealing to those with racing fantasies. SAABs are for "real world" driving, not for racing. If you want a racing car, may I suggest a Bimmer?

I just don't understand SAABophiles who complain that SAABs don't have the most horsepower or huge engines or aggressive styling. It seems to me they're missing the point entirely. Why are they driving SAABs?

Again, I mean no offense to anyone with this post.

[SaabKen]

Precisely. Rather than cross-posting, here's my thoughts in a parallel thread in the News forum:

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=956511&postcount=47

Originally Posted by 1985 Gripen

No offense, but some of us don't want an aggressive front end. A lot of us like SAABs because they're understated rather than showy. If SAAB wants to go to aggressive front ends they can take a page from Subaru and the WRX, but that would make the car much less of a SAAB and more something else.

[ZinXin]

I agree, if you want an "aggressive" car, get one of those cars geared towards the aggressive market. Saabs, I believe, are more about refinement, clean lines, clean looks, and a spark of unique and somewhat high-tech styling. All that this new 9-3 is failing to achieve

[84Saab900TURBO]

Meh, who cares. It's what's under the hood that really counts - that's what I'll be waiting anxiously for - driving impressions.

Plus, one of the things that magazines seem to bash the current 9-3 for is it's "bland styling." Don't get me wrong, I love how the current one looks, but I don't think this new one looks bad. I actually like how it looks and I think it will grow on me.

Anyone know what month it will come out? I want to hear how it drives - let's see if the magazines will match it up a little more closely with BMW and Audi.

[ZinXin]

from everything I read, the changes are almost entirely aesthetic... theres not going to be much of anything new "under the hood"

[Mag-X]

Originally Posted by mikewitdaspike

ack! too much plastic but it does have a more... aggressive look about it than the old one

That's not plastic; It's tape. http://www.trollhattansaab.net/image...ab9-3front.jpg

I for one think that the new design looks great. (I also like the new 9-5 for what it's worth.) I've always considered the 93SS to be the one Saab I wouldn't ever want to own simply because it was so generic.

[Mag-X]

Originally Posted by ZinXin

from everything I read, the changes are almost entirely aesthetic... theres not going to be much of anything new "under the hood"

All wheel drive and more horsepower isn't just for looks.

[RBatsch]

From what I can see that's just a nose job and butt job....nothing NEW! Starting to look very Pontiac-ish....even old Pontiac-ish. Looks like GM's in a holding pattern at Saab...like the 9.5. Do some cosmetics and make it last another year.

For Saab's sake I hope there's something better under the hood....
Robert

[84Saab900TURBO]

Originally Posted by RBatsch

From what I can see that's just a nose job and butt job....nothing NEW! Starting to look very Pontiac-ish....even old Pontiac-ish. Looks like GM's in a holding pattern at Saab...like the 9.5. Do some cosmetics and make it last another year.

For Saab's sake I hope there's something better under the hood....
Robert

Like Mag-X said, there will be AWD and most likely a high power edition codenamed "black turbo" that will produce around 300 hp. I sure hope so because they have to compete with the new 335i.

[ZinXin]

Yeah, the black turbo will definetly be some new stuff under the hood. But I get the feeling they're produce fewer of those than they made Viggens

Why didn't they just call it a Viggen anyway? Wasn't that a perfectly good Saab name for a spirited version of some model? Why oh why do we have this "black turbo" business