2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi Preview

Chances are, should you spot one of these wagons on the road, you will have caught a glimpse of its tail, and with good

The 9-3 SportCombi is the vehicle in which Saab will introduce an all-new 2.8-liter turbocharged V6. (Photo: General Motors)

reason. The 9-3 SportCombi is the vehicle in which Saab will introduce an all-new 2.8-liter turbocharged V6. Derived from the new modular GM engine range, this particular variant serves up the latest motor technology including variable valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger. Rated at 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the new engine ties the 9-5 Aero as the most powerful production Saab to date, surpassing the previous generation 9-3 Viggen.

While Saab will offer five other engines in the Combi, including the all-new 1.9-liter, 150-hp TiD common rail turbodiesel motor, and the entire series of Saab-engineered inline-fours, North American buyers will have the choice between a 210-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo

State-of-the-art stability control program (ESP) is also standard, while Aero models will receive the higher-spec ESP-Plus and Hill Start Assist. (Photo: General Motors)

four, and the larger V6. Down the road, it's expected that Saab will also introduce the 175 hp variant of the 2.0 turbo four as an entry-level model. The new V6 motor in the SportCombi Aero will also appear on other 9-3 Aero models for 2006.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with a five-speed automatic as an option. State-of-the-art stability control program (ESP) is also standard, while Aero models will receive the higher-spec ESP-Plus and Hill Start Assist to prevent rollbacks when starting on hills, on cars equipped with the manual gearbox.