Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson

Saab has got experience of producing special editions in honour of rally driver Erik Carlsson, having previously named versions of the 900 and 9000 after him during the late 1980s and early 1990s.



Now it has decided to do it again, this time to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Swedish driver’s first win in Britain’s RAC Rally, which was achieved at the wheel of a Saab 96.



Thankfully, the company has resisted the urge to just bung some fancy alloys and a few other extra bits onto something like a mid-range diesel model. Instead, it appears to have resurrected the limited edition Turbo X from a couple of years ago, as the new edition similarly features a turbocharged 2.8 litre petrol V6, Saab’s XWD all-wheel drive system and a six-speed automatic gearbox.



The result is the 9-3 Aero Carlsson saloon, which turns out to be a very rapid car. With 276 bhp (205 kW / 280 PS) and a healthy 400 Nm of torque, the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) dash takes just 6.9 seconds. But it’s in the mid-range that it really impresses: the 50-70 mph (80-112 km/h) acceleration time is only 6.3 seconds, perfect for overtaking. Top speed is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

Erik Carlsson with the Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson special edition

Naturally, with that powertrain, the Saab was never going to be the greenest of cars. CO2 emissions are 269 g/km, and it’ll only manage a modest 25mpg (11.2 l/100km) on the combined cycle.



But if the 9-3 Aero Carlsson is going to cost a bit to keep fuelled up, potential owners will be consoled by knowing that they probably won’t need to spend any money on optional extras. That’s because Saab seems to have added most of them already.



Standard specification includes satellite navigation, Bluetooth telephone connectivity, Bose stereo, sports suspension with rear body levelling, bi-xenon cornering headlights, 19” alloy wheels, leather interior trim, electric front seats, twin exhaust tailpipes and a rear boot lid spoiler.



So, lots of horsepower and loads of kit… but how much? Incredibly, the 9-3 Aero Carlsson is priced at just £26,495. That’s actually £560 less than a ‘normal’ 9-3 Aero 1.9TTiD 180.



However, anyone interested will have to be quick - only 96 examples will be produced (that number being a nod to the Saab 96 that Carlsson drove back in 1960), and they will be available in the UK only.



There aren’t too many all-wheel drive compact saloons on the market with more than 250 bhp, so direct competitors for the 9-3 Aero Carlsson are somewhat thin on the ground.



Vauxhall has the Insignia VXR 4x4 which, with its 320 bhp (239 kW / 325 PS), can boast quite a bit more power than the Saab. It’s also quicker - 0-60 mph (96 km/h) takes 5.6 seconds - but it also costs more. The list price is £33,125 and leather is extra, but the current ‘Vauxhall Internet Only’ price of £28,350 indicates that there’s plenty of room to haggle.



Another potential rival is the Audi A4 Saloon. However, to get all-wheel drive and similar performance levels to the 9-3 Aero Carlsson, buyers would probably have to go for the 3.2 FSI S Line quattro tiptronic. That version costs £35,910, almost £10,000 more than the Saab, although that’s before any of the options needed to match the spec of the 9-3 have been selected.