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-litre turbocharged V6. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

reason. The 9-3 SportCombi is the vehicle in which Saab will introduce an all-new 2.8-litre 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-litre, 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-litre 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 of Canada)

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. Saab's 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.