Saab’s iconic Convertible, the car which has done more than any to define and drive forward the Swedish firm, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011.
Over the past quarter of a century three generations of the Saab Convertible have taken to the roads, with almost 300,000 units having been sold all around the world. Over these years the cars have offered buyers a comfortable yet sporty and fun driving experience both in the sun with the roof down, and in the cold and rain with the roof up. In Europe, the Convertible has been responsible for half of the total sales of Saab cars.
Speaking about this year's anniversary the Managing Director of Saab GB, Mr Charles Toosey said:
"This year marks a momentous occasion for Saab, which we are delighted to be celebrating with our dealerships, staff and customers. At Saab, we are proud of our heritage and innovation, which has helped to shape the design, style and performance of the Convertible over the last 25 years, turning it into the exhilarating drive which it has become renowned for."
The life of the Saab Convertible goes back to 1986 when a small production run of only 400 Saab 900 Convertibles was produced in the United States. The 900 Convertible, with its bespoke design and attractive style, combined with a strong emphasis on build quality, soon gained publicity around the world. When the car finally went on sale in Europe later that same year, the company found that it was unable to produce enough vehicles to meet the high demand.
The success of the original 900 Convertible was followed up 7 years later when a second-generation model was released. With an even more stylish design, the addition of a hydraulic roof, and increased boot space the Saab 9-3 Evolution soon eclipsed its predecessor to become a true icon for the company.
Then in 2003 a wide range of new innovations, from the fastest soft-top in its segment to automatic climate control, improved the Saab Convertible even further. Of course this went hand in hand with another revamp of the car's already popular looks.
The current Saab Convertible was the first soft-top car to ever achieve the maximum EuroNCAP safety rating of five stars. This was attained thanks to its 'DynaCage' rollover protection, pop-up rear roll bars and integrated front seatbelts.
The latest Saab Convertible to hit the headlines was an exclusive Independence Edition of the 9-3 Convertible, produced as a celebration of the first anniversary of Saab's rebirth in 2010 as an independent company
This 1.9 litre TTiD Convertible is based on the range-topping Aero specification, and comes with a 180bhp engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and a unique metallic paint finish in Amber Orange. It also comes with a comprehensive list of standard equipment and a stylish new interior design.
Just 366 units of the Saab Convertible Independence Edition have been produced - representing the 366 days which had elapsed since the company became independent. Unique features for this car include five spoke 18 inch alloy wheels with a satin chrome and black finish, Carbon-fibre look leather finish on the instrument panel, handbrake, door handles, and gearshift moulding, orange stitching on a sport leather steering wheel, Parchment sport leather seats and a glovebox set off with orange highlights.
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