SAAB Turbo X 2008-2012 Photos, engines & full specs

In 2008, Saab unveiled the Turbo X as the ultimate performance version for the 9-3 range and the top-performer model for the Swedish carmaker family.

While the world economic crisis started to take its toll among the carmakers, Saab struggled to survive. Its cars were already too expensive for the market, and its sales plunged. The carmaker needed a desperate move and charged with a unique version of the 9-3 range: the Turbo X. It showed up late, in the autumn of 2007, exactly three decades after the unveiling of the 900 Turbo, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in two body versions: sedan and station wagon.

Its look was distinctive compared to the rest of the range. First of all, it was available only in metallic jet black, with the front grille and all exterior detailing accented in a matte gray titanium-like finish. It represented an updated interpretation of the 900 Turbo, the first turbocharged production vehicle sold by Saab. Unlike the rest of the 9-3 range, the Turbo X featured different front and rear bumpers, with silver adornments around the fog lights and rear diffuser. From its sides, the 18” light-alloy wheels sported a unique design.

Inside, the 9-3 Turbo X featured an instrument panel with three large dials. The speedometer took the center stage flanked by the tachometer on the left and a specific dial on the right, which showed a turbo-gauge like the 900 Turbo, the fuel level, and the coolant temperature.

Under the skin, the carmaker installed a turbocharged V-6 engine paired with a six-speed manual, which sent the power in all corners via an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. That distributed the torque between the front and rear axles and the left and right rear wheels thanks to an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.