Saab Turbo X Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Saab Turbo X
Prices: £32,600-£33,600 - on the road
Insurance Group: 18
Emissions: 239g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 6.7s / Max Speed 155mph
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 28.2mpg
Safety: Twin front & side airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Stability Control, Cornering Braking Control, Saab Active Head Restraints
Dimensions: [4dr] Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm

X MARKS THE SPOT

Our Rating: 7.0 / 10

Saab are celebrating the launch of the XWD all-wheel drive system in the 9-3 with this Turbo X model. Jonathan Crouch checks it out

It’s rather curious that it’s taken Saab so long to get round to producing an all-wheel drive car but such is the case. Still, you can now talk to your dealer about specifying XWD, the company’s innovative new all-wheel drive system, on your 9-3 saloon or estate and to celebrate its availability, the Swedes are bringing us a special model, the Turbo X, showcasing the new technology in a package intended to evoke memories of the old black 900 Turbo models of the Seventies and Eighties. Buyers of this car get the 9-3’s fastest engine – a 280bhp V6 Turbo – allied to a sport-tuned chassis with unique suspension, brakes and wheels.

So what is XWD? Well, it’s an ‘active’ 4WD system that not only splits torque delivery between both axles, but also between the rear wheels. In effect, this stretches the performance envelope of the chassis, for example, raising the threshold at which ESP throttle and braking interventions are triggered. In other words, though Saab might be late to the all-wheel drive party, they have at least come well dressed for the part, offering a level of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never seen before from a car bearing the Griffin badge.

The really clever part of this whole process is the way that torque is split between the rear wheels, depending on which has more grip. It’s all down to what Saab call eLSD, the first application of an electronically-controlled, rear limited slip differential in this segment of the market. It uses inputs from the rear wheel speed sensors and can transfer up to 40 per cent of torque between the drive shafts, to whichever wheel has more traction. When cornering hard, this yaw damping effect helps the rear of the car more closely follow the direction of the front wheels.

The driving benefits of the XWD system are best appreciated out on the open road. Data from the ABS/ESP sensors – measuring wheel speed, yaw rate and steering angle – is utilised by the Saab XWD control module. Rear drive is instantly applied to balance oversteer and understeer characteristics, improving stability and roadholding.

In an effort to exploit the full benefits of XWD, the chassis of the Turbo X version we’re looking at here has been lowered by 10mm and the springs and dampers stiffened to minimise body movement. To maintain a constant ride height irrespective of load, self-levelling dampers are fitted at the rear. Stopping power is also increased with larger brake discs fitted: internally ventilated (345 mm diameter x 30 mm) at the front and externally ventilated (292 mm diameter x 20 mm) at the rear. Standard 235/45 R-18 tyres ensure strong mechanical grip for the 18-inch alloy wheels.

The powerhouse at the heart of the Turbo X is a 24-valve, 2.8-litre V6 turbo engine generating 400Nm of torque between 2,150 and 4,500 rpm and maximum power of 280bhp. The engine specification includes a lightweight, all-aluminum construction with a 60-degree angle between the cylinder banks for perfect balance, variable inlet valve timing and twin-scroll turbocharging. It is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

If you want a Turbo X, then you’re going to have to like black, since that’s the only colour on offer – a homage, Saab say, to its illustrious black 900 Turbo forebear. To be fair, the metallic finish does look very smart, with the front grille and all exterior detailing accented in a matte grey titanium-like finish. At the front, a deeper lip spoiler and integrated air intake contribute to reduced drag while also increasing air flow to the engine and intercooler.

At the rear, the re-profiled bumper and insert panel lower the point of air flow separation, further reducing drag and assisting high speed stability. The Saloon features a rear spoiler that extends the line of the boot deck, reducing high speed lift forces at the rear axle. The standard SportWagon estate already has a similar spoiler that extends the rear roof line.

The Turbo X is further distinguished by unique, 18-inch alloy wheels (though you can have 19-inch if you really want to bring t