Interior Design and Features

Flair and Functionality

• Integration of front and rear passenger areas
• ‘Fixed-head’ interior ambience
• Light colored headlining brightens interior – Saab ‘first’
• Unique front seats with integrated seat-belts
• Hydroblox water repellent textile upholstery – Saab ‘first’
• Profiler customization function
• Saab ComSense driver safety function to minimize distraction
• Two interior ‘forms’ – Linear and Vector
• Easy entry/exit for rear passengers
• ACC switches to heat settings with soft-top down - unique feature

As you would expect from Saab, there is more to the design of its Convertible than good looks alone. The current model offers a level of interior comfort and refinement and is, without doubt, the biggest step forward Saab has made in more than 20 years of engineering premium, four season, four seater convertibles.

The overall interior design reflects the curves and flowing lines of the exterior. In the same way, the fascia layout, the supportive seating, the shape of the door panels and trim, together with the feel of the tactile, soft-touch controls, are all very modern interpretations of classic Saab styling themes. It is a warm, harmonious interior, without undue ostentation, that is typically Scandinavian and could only come from Saab.

The high quality materials include the use of Hydroblox, the first water repellent seat upholstery to be fitted to a convertible. A polyester membrane lines the underside of the textile seat covering in order to prevent water penetration. This is a particularly useful feature for a convertible if the driver is caught in a shower of rain, for example, before being able to raise the soft-top.

The membrane has billions of tiny perforations as small as one micron in size which prevent water, but not air, passing through so that the fabric can still 'breathe'. Hydroblox is fitted as standard for the Linear specification interior. It is, of course, not necessary for leather upholstery.

The standard of fit and finish throughout is everything you would expect - and more - from a premium-class manufacturer such as Saab. For example, the lines of the large door panels are beautifully extended through into the rear side panels, creating a single sweeping shape that integrates the front and rear passenger areas.

Attention to detail, so typical of Saab, is everywhere to be seen, no more so than in the rear passenger compartment. In design terms, this relatively small part of the interior of convertibles has become somewhat neglected. As it is generally used only occasionally, and there are no carry-over panels, the standard of finishing trim and upholstery often lacks cohesion, failing to match the quality up front. However, rear seat passengers in this Convertible do not travel second class because Saab’s design team has paid close attention to this ‘forgotten’ area.

Both seating positions are well shaped and upholstered, with deep squabs far superior to the flat, narrow bench seats that are often seen. The rear seat cushion also extends outwards at each end, in a gentle concave arc, right up to the side panels. This complements the shape of the rear cabin and even the tonneau cover. The angle of back-rest is kept at a comfortable 21° from vertical and is not compromised by packaging requirements.

The integration of the front and rear areas is, of course, further reinforced by the unique Surround Trim styling line, described in the exterior design.

Fixed-head Ambience
An important aim of the interior design team was the achievement of 'a fixed head interior ambience', when the roof is in position, similar to that of a sedan. This has been accomplished by adopting a light, parchment colored interior headlining that is fitted almost seamlessly inside the soft-top.

Saab has led the premium convertible segment in introducing a light coloredheadlining for the soft-top as part of the car's standard specification. It contributes to an interior that is lighter and more welcoming than that of other convertibles, where the headlining may often be black

The feeling of being inside a fixed-head car is reinforced by the neat fitting of the fabric. Seams where the headlining is attached to the roof’s swiveling braces are barely visible and the edges sit smoothly over the seals on the side windows.

Up front, the color of the soft-top’s parchment colored header rail matches the headlining. It is slim and completely padded, locating invisibly on the windshield header where the small light console reinforces the impression of being under a permanent roof.

Unique Front Seats
The sporty, well-shaped front seats have been specially designed for the Convertible. They make a very visible contribution to the high quality appearance of the interior and demonstrate Saab’s excellent reputation for class-leading seating comfort.Both the seat cushion and back rest are deeply bolstered, giving good lateral and under thigh support without restricting seating comfort.

Both seats are manually adjustable for fore/aft movement, back-rest rake and height. Optional electrically-powered seats also have a driver's memory setting and a pneumatic lumbar support adjustment.

The seats have also been designed to provide easy entry/exit for rear seat passengers, allowing up to 243 mm of forward movement on their runners. On manual seats, this is done by simply lifting a lever on the outboard corner of the back-rest, which then folds down, allowing the entire seat to be easily pushed forward. The movement is spring-loaded and requires only a light pressure of seven kilos, equivalent to the modest effort required to push a drawer closed at home.

For electrically-adjustable seats, the process is completely effortless. The seat automatically moves forward once the lever is lifted and the seat-back folded down. For safety reasons, the seat will stop moving if the lever is released at any time.

Rear entry/exit is also greatly facilitated by the adoption of integrated seat-belts, used by Saab for the first time on a convertible, and eliminating the need for attachment to a B-pillar ‘belt tower’. Integrated belts are easier to use and more comfortable for the wearer. They are always optimally located, irrespective of the seat position, and less prone to any flapping in open air driving.

The seats also incorporate Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR), a proven way of helping to prevent serious neck injury in the event of a rear-end collision (see Safety section for details).

Driver focused
The Convertible offers a near perfect driving position for the vast majority of drivers. The multi-position driver’s seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for rake and height, provide a wide range of adaptation.

The main instrument panel gently arcs round the driver, as in the Sport Sedan. In typical Saab fashion, the controls are all logically grouped, those most frequently used bring nearest to 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 140 kph, flanked by a smaller rev-counter 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, a color that Saab believes is the most restful choice for night driving. In contrast, warnings are displayed in amber or red.

Also located in the main instrument panel are twin adjustable air vents and audio or infotainment system controls with, according to specification, a 6.5 inch, high resolution monitor screen displaying particularly clear graphics.

The Profiler facility, offering driver pre-sets for a wide range of functions is operated via steering wheel buttons with on-screen prompts and selections shown in the main instrument display. Automatic climate control modes, the clock/alarm, speed scale illumination and, where fitted, the anti-theft alarm, parking assistance, rain sensitive wipers and heated seats can all be tailored in this way.

Saab has been seeking to minimize potential driver distraction for many years and the 9-3 Convertible has Saab’s ComSense safety function, which includes the use of a 'dynamic workload manager' introduced with the first generation Saab 9-5 sedan in 1997. This enables the brief suppression of dashboard warning messages, or the interception of an incoming call on the integrated telephone, when a moment of high driver workload is detected by the operation of the indicators or heavy braking.

In the same way, the Night Panel feature allows the driver to minimize distraction by switching off, or dimming, all the main instrumentation illumination at night (except for the speedometer). The development of steering wheel controls for the audio system and telephone, as well as voice activation programs, are seen as further means of keeping the driver's attention on the road.
A small console in the center of the header rail above the windshield accommodates an interior light and two reading lamps. The rail itself is seamlessly padded and color-matched, contributing to the sedan-like quality of the interior.

The slim but thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel complements the Convertible’s sporty character and accommodates optional controls for the audio system and the Sentronic automatic transmission.

The central console below the main instrument panel is inclined slightly towards the driver and sweeps elegantly down between the front seats. It accommodates the automatic climate controls, more minor switchgear, the gear shift lever, ignition switch and handbrake..

A particularly neat innovation is the ‘disguised’ handbrake, which is beautifully integrated in the edging trim of the console. It is a Z-shaped lever, self-adjusting and with a positive, easy-to-use action. In true Saab tradition, the ignition switch continues to be located alongside the handbrake. It is entirely electronic in operation, the previous reverse manual gear lock now being replaced by an automatic, electronic steering column lock.

Interior Themes
The interior can specified in a choice of two ‘Forms’, or design themes, both Scandinavian-inspired for a distinctive, modern feel. The names of the forms – Linear and Vector - are derived from the world of architecture, each creating its own atmosphere inside the car. The style and design of the seat upholstery is unique to the Convertible.

Each form can be specified in a ‘light room’ (parchment) or ‘dark room’ (black) color scheme, including seats, door panels, rear side panels, the lower front fascia and other main trim items. The carpet remains black in both cases.

The line-up starts with ‘Linear’, a line or base element in architecture, although the trim is hardly basic as the seats are part upholstered in the innovative, water repellent Hydroblox textile.

‘Vector’ is more progressive and performance-focused, the mood changing to ‘industrial high tech’. The leather seats have optional contrasting black panels in the cushion and back-rest. The door and glove box trim inserts and the gear shift molding and steering wheel are now finished in matt chrome.

Aero’ is, of course, the ultimate performance expression of the Saab 9-3 Convertible and this interior adds a sports steering wheel with distinctive matt chrome inserts in the leather rim, a design inspired by the control column of an aircraft - hinting at Saab's aviation heritage. A rear spoiler is also fitted as standard.

A superb premium leather interior is offered as an option on all variants, including seats, door trims and armrests. The soft, luxurious feel of this leather is a result of its semi-aniline finish. The seats are bolstered further and available in parchment, black or a black/shark combination.

Heating and Ventilation
All variants are fitted with a highly efficient, automatic climate control (ACC) system. which have been adapted for the specific needs of a convertible. This includes, for example, ensuring a smooth engagement of the ACC system when the roof is closed under hot conditions and re-tuning control software, taking into account the different thermal properties of the soft-top and the smaller side window area.

Engineers are constantly seeking to raise the efficiency of air conditioning systems, often balancing conflicting needs, such as ensuring quick engine warm up in cold conditions while also providing an adequate supply of warm air for the passenger cabin.

For more consistent performance, Saab favors ‘energy balanced’ rather than sensor-controlled automatic systems. This means there are no sudden eruptions of the fan, for example, when a door or window is briefly opened.

The ACC functions on a ‘dual zone’ basis, allowing different temperatures to be selected for the left or right hand side of the car. This can be useful when the driver, for example, may wish to keep alert by having a slightly cooler setting.
It also switches automatically to manual control when the roof is open and reverts to automatic control, including all the previous settings, when the roof is closed. It is a feature unique to the premium convertible segment.

In open-top mode, the driver and front passenger can each select a different heat level to suit their own preferences. In this mode, airflow distribution is shared between the driver and passenger, although the system can be set so that, for example, air from the floor outlets is hotter than the output from the windshield defroster.

The heated optional front seats are included within automatic climate control, which will start and progressively lower the seat heating as the interior warms up. This function and other ACC settings, such as the fan and air distribution, can also be selected through the Profiler customization menu.

A final, thoughtful feature is the air-conditioned glove box. A useful place to store a cold drink to prevent it getting warm, or a bar of chocolate to stop it melting.

Storage and Convenience
As you would expect in a car from Saab, its Convertible offers some useful storage and convenience features.

There are two good-sized door pockets, a large, lockable glove box (air-conditioned) and pouches at the front of the cushions on electrically-adjustable seats.

The main storage compartment in the central console between the seats can be specified to incorporate coin slots and a 12-volt outlet for a battery charger, as well as a smaller roll-top compartment with a cup-holder.

A near accessory item can probably be described as the ‘world’s most advanced cup-holder’. It follows in the tradition of the cup-holder in the front of the Saab 9-5, which automatically swivels out through 90 degrees from a vertical position.
For the 9-3 range, Saab was also determined to create something special as a dashboard cup-holder. The result is ‘The Butterfly’. 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.

'Infotainment' functions
The new 9-3 Convertible benefits from one of the most powerful electronics systems to be installed in a series production car (see Body and Systems section for full details).

Fiber optics are used to provide a high-speed platform for the car’s extensive ‘infotainment’ (communication, information and entertainment) functions, a development of cutting edge technology first seen on the Sport Sedan. It is utilized by all three audio system options and, where fitted, the Bluetooth Phone Integration System (BPIS), which features voice control, the GPS navigation system with DVD reader and the OnStar telematics service (US market only).

This network is capable of handling all likely future requirements in the fast-developing field of 'infotainment' and e-services, making it easy for owners to fit upgrades.

A choice of three 'infotainment' systems is offered, each of which includes a CD player compatible with MP3 music discs. Also fitted as standard is an auxiliary audio input. The acoustic requirements of a convertible have been carefully examined. For example, the range of volume adjustments for the automatic, speed-sensing control has been increased, including the programming of a slightly wider base response. The BPIS microphone is also installed in the driver’s side A-pillar for convenient use in open top conditions.

The standard 'Saab Infotainment' system includes an RDS radio and single-slot CD player, 'Saab Infotainment CD Changer' adds an in-dash 6-disc facility and 'Saab Infotainment Plus' includes a satellite navigation with a large, 6.5 inch color touch-screen and voice control. In addition to a 'bird's eye view' map selection, direction arrows are now shown on the touch-screen.

All three 'infotainment' systems can be combined with a hands-free mobile phone facility, the Bluetooth Phone Integration System (BPIS). After an initial 'pairing' set-up procedure, a Bluetooth-enabled phone will automatically connect wirelessly to the audio system whenever the user enters the car. The phone is then operated by voice control or steering wheel buttons, with call information shown in the main instrument display. For recharging and connection to the car's external antenna, a phone dock in the center console is available as an accessory.

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