Drop-Dead Crazy Saab 9-3 Sport Combi at Bilsport Show
Wild cars are nothing new at the Bilsport Performance and Custom Show in Jonkoping, Sweden. Blog site SpeedHunters.com has an incredible gallery of over-the-top tunermobiles from the show, including a carbon fiber-bodied 9-3 Sport Combi you'll just have to see to believe.
If you've got a SportCombi and have been lusting for the Hirsch treatment, check out this latest addition to our photo galleries. The Swiss Saab tuner added a high-res profile shot of the SportCombi body style complete with their full aero package and Taras wheels.
Headlines of Swiss-based Saab tuning house Hirsch Performance coming to America over at TrollhattanSaab made our pulse quicken today. The editors there received a hopeful email saying "Please check our website regularly the following months. We might announce details about the availability of our products in the U.S.," and from that are theorizing Saab might sell Hirsch products through dealers.
Several years ago, that was the intent as Saab North America ran a press release suggesting it could happen. Not much came of that program though... so what do we think of the news from TrollhattanSaab?
Well, to be fair ElkParts already sells a fairly wide range of Hirsch parts. Another option might be establishing a Hirsch Performance North America dealer and wholesale program as other hallmark tuning houses like Heico Sportiv (Volvo) and Abt Sportsline (Volkswagen and Audi) have done. This would give Hirsch a market presence and possibly even dealer sales without jumping through so many federalization and testing hoops. Whatever they do, we vote 'yes please' to any consideration of further tackling the American market.
We've just gotten access to additional information surrounding the aerodynamic testing and quality measures undertaken by Swiss Saab tuning house Hirsch-Performance for their aerodynamics and appearance package for the latest-generation Saab 9-3. Combine that with a look designed by the Saab 9-3's own designer Taras Czornyj and we're most impressed with the OEMplus theme being taken to an all-new level in the field of aftermarket aero. To accent this new info, we've gone ahead and photoshopped numerous body and wheel color options based on Saab's own order guides and Hirsch's wheel finish listing. Enjoy more after the jump and in the accompanying picture gallery.
Nose-diving economy be damned... Switzerland's Hirsch Performance continues to roll out products for Saab's capable new 9-3 Aero XWD and Turbo X. Most recently is the company's new dual stainless exhaust. Check out the full press release, pics and even an MP3 sound clip after the jump.
Are you a 'dashstroker'? The term means you take pleasure in the touch, feel and look of your car's interior. Cruising along in a vehicle, you might appreciate the soft-touch plastic of a dash top or curse the faux-wood trim in a rental. We're admitted dashstrokers, and in as much are big fans of Hirsch Performance's leather bits like their instrument cluster surrounds for the 9-3. In this month's news rotation from the Swiss Saab tuner, they've announced a few new products including carbon fiber-look leather for center console and door trim inserts (Turbo X owners take note). More after the jump.
Alas, all good things come to an end. Hirsch, it seems, is putting its classic six spoke wheel design out to pasture. Those in-the-know in the Saab aftermarket are likely familiar with the alloy design even if they don't know Hirsch first hand. Word from Switzerland is that the last set has left the warehouse. If you want a set, find them in local stocks or on the used wheel market.
Saab recently announced its 2.0T would be paired with their Haldex-based XWD system. Swiss Saab tuning house Hirsch wasted no time taking advantage of the efficient engine's pairing with traction at all four corners and has released a 240-hp package for the new drivetrain. With the manual transmission, 0-62 mph runs are brought down to 7.3 seconds and consumes an average of 28.7 MPG.
A representative of the Swiss Saab tuning firm Hirsch has a Flickr account that we like to check in on from time-to-time. As of late, he's been posting shots of the 9-3 Aero XWD with full Hirsch body kit, wheels, brakes, suspension and more. Two of the latest uploads also show rear upper spoiler for the SportCombi. The shots don't technically show anything that Hirsch hasn't released yet, but seeing it on the car and in real life rather than studio PR shots makes us lust after these upgrades even more.
Another tuner has released a software upgrade for the Saab 9-3 Turbo X and Aero XWD - this time Sweden-based BSR. The BSR package nets 300-hp and 354 lb-ft. of torque that can be installed via the brand's PPC OBD-based tool. The BSR package also comes with added features like launch control and programmable top speed limiter. More after the jump.
If you're like us, you're probably always looking for more power. If you're like us, you probably also appreciate factory quality. Enter Hirsch and their latest upgrade for 9-3 Turbo-X and 9-3 Aero XWD. The Kit is comprised of ECU upgrade, intercooler and air filter, etc . Even better, in Europe at least, the upgrade won't void your factory warranty.
It's rare that you see a modern Saab 9-3 tuned to the level of Pers-Anders Johansson's 9-3 Aero "X4R" sedan. Just how tuned is it? How does 802 bhp, 572 lb-ft of torque and a programmable hydraulic Tractive all-wheel drive system sound? Oh yeah, there's plenty more. Check out the feature article on his car that's over at EuropeanCarWeb.com.
Leather swathed dashbboards aren't just for Bentleys. In fact, Swiss-based Saab tuning house Hirsch Performance has been making leather instrument panels for the '07+ 9-3 with a carbonfiber-look leather for some time. Well, if you're looking for something not so racey or just don't want two carbon fiber looks going on inside your Turbo X, you may be interested in seeing their latest take - all-black leather with no texturing.
In the clean mantra of OEMplus design style within the tuning world, factory association or development of upgrades for your car are most coveted. If you're into OEMplus and into Saabs, most likely the name Hirsch Performance isn't new to you. The Swiss-based Saab tuning house is king of clean and factory-like upgrades. So it's with gret interest that we listen when Hirsch drops a new wheel design onto the scene, especially when said wheel can attribute its design to Saab's own 9-3 designer Taras Czornyj. Even better, Hirsch has just announced a Diamond Black finish alongside the usual Satin Silver.
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