Saab 9-3: Interior Design

More Space and More Grace

• Focused driver’s environment
• “Profiler” customization function
• High position display
• Three interior “forms” – Linear, Arc, Vector
• “Intelligent” dual-zone automatic climate control
• Advanced infotainment and audio systems

“The interior is designed to be light in appearance. A consistent design theme for the shape and layout of all the controls and displays keeps them well integrated so they are pleasing to the eye.”
– Aamer Mahmud, Chief Designer, Saab 9-3

The new Saab 9-3 is designed to provide superior ergonomics as well as a near perfect driving position for the vast majority of drivers, almost regardless of size, thanks to a carefully formed, multi-adjustable driver’s seat and a steering wheel adjustable for rake and height.

The main instrument panel gently arcs around the driver, an evolution of the same theme in the previous model. In typical Saab fashion, the controls are all logically grouped, those most frequently used bring nearest to the hand and closest to the driver’s natural field of vision. The short gear shift lever is just a hand span away.

The main dials – a large speedometer, with a compressed scale above 90 mph, flanked by a smaller tachometer and a combined fuel/water temperature/turbo boost gauge – are recessed in traditional Saab fashion. They are white on black and continue to be softly illuminated in green as Saab believes this is the best choice for night driving.

Also located in the main instrument panel are twin adjustable air vents and audio or infotainment system with a monochrome display to show numerous functions such as radio presets.

The “Profiler” feature, standard on all models, can store custom settings for a wide range of functions. The system is particularly user friendly, allowing the driver to make selections with a single, rotating button linked to on-screen prompts. The operation of the air conditioning system, including air distribution, fan settings and defrosting; the clock/alarm; speed scale illumination, anti-theft alarm, and optional Saab Parking Assistance, rain sensitive wipers and heated seats can all be tailored in this way.

Saab’s unique Night Panel feature allows the driver to switch off all main instrument illumination at night (except for the speedometer). This helps removes visual “clutter” and potential distraction, allowing the driver to better focus on the road. Gauges will illuminate automatically when needed.

New for Saab is a center-mounted high position display, located in a housing at the top of the dashboard, near the base of the windscreen. For safety reasons, this is as close as possible to the driver’s natural field of vision so that information can be seen without any head movement or much eye re-focusing. The Saab information display (SID) shows local time, outside temperature, radio settings and various warning signals. It also shows information about the Profiler function and the car computer.

As befits a sport sedan, the three-spoke steering wheel is slimmer and sportier than previous Saab designs. It can host buttons for the infotainment system, telephone, and even gear shifting.

A substantial central console below the main instrument panel is inclined slightly towards the driver and sweeps elegantly down between the front seats. It accommodates the air conditioning or automatic climate controls, more minor switchgear, the gear shift lever, ignition switch, handbrake and a large central storage area with smaller, roll-top compartment and cup-holder.

A particularly innovative feature is the “disguised” handbrake, which is integrated in the edging trim of the console. It is a Z-shaped lever, self-adjusting and with a positive, easy-to-use action. On the other side of the console, mirroring the integrated handbrake is a ‘Smart Slot’ detachable sleeve, for further storage of small items.

In true Saab tradition, the ignition switch continues to be located alongside the handbrake, between the front seats. It is now entirely electronic in operation and the customary, mechanical Saab reverse manual gear lock is now replaced by an automatic, electronic steering column lock.

Seating comfort
Saab has earned an enviable reputation for class-leading seating comfort and the new Saab 9¬3 continues that tradition. All four seating positions are upholstered to be comfortable and supportive, without being too firm. The front seat lower cushions and backrests are well bolstered to give excellent under thigh and lateral back support.

The seats are clad in soft genuine leather on all models. The Linear features textile door panels, which the Arc and Vector models have leather door panels. The rear of each front seatback is also fully upholstered, including a large storage pocket, and carefully shaped to optimize rear seat leg room.

All four seating positions offer similar standards of comfort. Rear seat passengers in the new 9-3 benefit from with their own adjustable heating/ air vents, reading lights, cup-holders, a center armrest and generous storage facilities.

Saab’s new generation active head restraints (see Safety section for details) are installed in both front seats. The rear head restraints can be folded flat for improved rearward visibility without compromising seat comfort.

Interior decor
Each of the three “forms,” or models, for the new 9-3 is designed to create a distinct ambience or atmosphere inside the car. They can be specified in a “light room” (parchment) or “dark room” (charcoal gray) color scheme for seats, door panels, other main interior trim and carpets. However, the door cappings are always anthracite, as part of their integration with the dash fascia and main instrument panel, and the interior headlining is always off-white.

The line-up starts with the “Linear” form, intended to communicate a Scandinavian understated and modern environment. The seats are leather and door panels are covered in fabric. The door trim inserts and the center console molding for the gear lever are finished in anthracite.
“Arc” adopts real wood veneer and leather to hint at a more luxurious ambience. The seats and door panels are leather and the door trim inserts and center molding are finished in a satin-finish poplar wood.

“Vector” is more progressive and performance-focused. The main instrument display dials are highlighted with a chrome surround. The leather seats are sportier in shape, with more bolstering in the front seat cushions and backrests. The door trim inserts, center molding and steering wheel spokes are finished in matte chrome.

Heating and ventilation
All variants of the new 9-3 are fitted with highly efficient, Saab developed air conditioning systems, either manually or automatically controlled. The variable displacement compressor is programmed to cool only the volume of refrigerant that is required to maintain a temperature setting, thus eliminating unnecessary and wasteful running.

Both systems draw air into the interior through an extremely dense, chemically-charged filter which, for manually-controlled air conditioning, can extract dust, pollen and particles as small as three microns in size. For automatic systems, the filter also prevents odors from entering the cabin. Rear passengers benefit from adjustable, twin air vents at the rear of the central console, as well as outlets under the front seats.

The manual air conditioning is standard on the Linear model and is operated through familiar rotary controls. The automatic climate control, standard on Arc and Vector, is fully programmable and dual zone, allowing different temperatures to be selected for the left and right sides of the car, as first seen in the Saab 9-5.

The system is now taken a step further in the new 9-3 by incorporating an automatic airflow balance control, which compensates for changing conditions outside the car, such as the effects of direct sunlight or shade. A sensor at the base of the windscreen detects the position of the sun and the intensity of sunlight reaching the car. A balance control program is then activated, directing airflow inside as required so that passenger comfort levels remain constant.

The heated front seats now also benefit from an automatic temperature control, which will progressively lower seat temperatures as the interior warms up. Like the ACC system, this function can be pre-programmed using the Profiler customization menu.

Infotainment
The new Saab 9-3 benefits from one of the most powerful electronics systems to be installed in a series production car (see Electronics section for full details). Fiber optics are used to provide a high speed platform for the car’s extensive “infotainment” (communication and entertainment) functions, the first time this technology has been used in the automotive industry for a complete network. It is capable of handling likely future requirements in the fast-developing field of infotainment and driver communication, making it easy for owners to upgrade.

The cabin of the new 9-3 sets new standards for Saab in terms of interior refinement and noise suppression and it has allowed technicians to take audio acoustics to a new level. The interior is designed to provide excellent acoustics, regardless of seating position, and the new 9-3 offers a choice of two modular audio systems which can be changed or upgraded easily.

The ES1 system, standard with Linear specification, includes a 150-watt amplifier integral with the radio, single-slot CD, seven speakers and a single antenna integrated in the rear window. Redundant steering wheel controls provide easy tuning or volume adjustment.

The ES2 system, standard for the Arc and Vector models and optional on Linear, includes an additional, external amplifier (total system, 300 watts), 13 speakers, radio, in-dash 6xCD changer and telephone keypad. Sound quality is nothing less than outstanding.

Storage and load-carrying
Although the new Saab 9-3 is a sport sedan, in the practical tradition of all Saab products, it offers excellent on-board storage and load-carrying facilities.

There are more than a dozen places in the passenger compartment where various items can be stowed. Up front, there are two good-sized door bins; a large air-conditioned glove compartment (cooled to 46°F); two pouches at the front of the lower seat cushions; The multi-functional central concole incorporates coin slots and a 12-volt outlet for a battery charger within the main storage compartment under the arm-rest, as well as that input socket for an MP3 player and the roll-top compartment with a cup-holder. The Smart Slot provides convenient storage for items such as credit cards, pencils and a small wallet or notebook. A CD disc holder, cup-holder and ice scraper are available as accessory items for this feature.

Rear-seat passengers are also well served. In addition to the two door bins, there are large pockets in the front seatbacks and a flat storage area in the center armrest. A double cup-holder is also spring-mounted in the front of the center lower seat cushion.

The trunk is deep and tall with a wide opening and an ample 14.8 cu.ft. capacity. Two pull handles in the top of the trunk lower the 60/40 split rear seat-back, which includes a ski-hatch, to give a flexible and impressive load-carrying potential. The floor of the trunk also has four tie-down loops to safely secure heavy items.

New Saab 9-3 in Focus – World’s most advanced cupholder!
Most of the work of Saab engineers is, of course, a serious matter. But once in a while an opportunity comes along where they can indulge a creative extravagance. Designing the “ultimate” cupholder was just such an occasion.

The cupholder in the front of the Saab 9-5, which automatically swivels through 90 degrees from a vertical position, has earned wide acclaim for the beauty of its design. Indeed, one journalist from a leading UK national newspaper was so moved by its dynamics that he likened it to watching a Saab Gripen fighter jet rolling out of formation and lowering its undercarriage before coming in to land!

So when it came to designing a dashboard cupholder for the new car, the Saab team was determined to do something special as their “encore.” The result is “the Butterfly.” Here there are two separate movements in different directions, one for the base and one for the retaining hoop (the “wings” of the butterfly), both hinged from one arm. The highly geared action of the wings opening and closing as the arm moves in and out is, indeed, impressive to behold.

“It is, perhaps, a little over the top,” concedes interior safety engineer Richard Lindstrand, who coordinated the Butterfly’s development. “A number of us in the project team wanted to do something a bit special and most of the design work was, in fact, done in our own time. It really was a group effort and we like to think the Butterfly will bring a smile to the faces of a few people.”