Diesel-powered Saab 9-3 Convertibles now offer customers an average seven per cent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions without any noticeable loss in performance.

The improvements are part of Saab’s ongoing EcoPower Technology development strategy, which is focused on optimising efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of its products.

Low emission diesel variants with the 150 bhp/110 kW, turbo 1.9-litre engine produce 145 g/km CO2 and fuel consumption of just 5.5 l/100 km over the combined cycle. With 180 bhp/132 kW, two-stage turbo power, the figures are improved further, to 144 g/km and 5.4 l/100 km.

Zero to 100 km/h acceleration and top speed is unchanged at 10.4 seconds (150bhp) and 9.1 seconds (180bhp), while fifth gear 80-120 km/h times are increased by less than one second. The efficiency gains have been achieved by a series of fine-tuning measures including: The use of wider gear ratios, a longer final drive, idle and low engine speed remapping, and an optimised tire and wheel choice.

Available only with manual transmission, these variants are now built in Trollhättan, Sweden, like all Saabs. In many markets, they offer customers valuable CO2 tax-related benefits and are being introduced alongside the 9-3 Sport Sedan diesel model, which already features the improvements.