The last new Saab 9-3 ever to be made will be auctioned off later this month to raise funds for research into zero-emissions travel.
The almost-unused saloon was built in 2013. It will now be sold by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the EV manufacturer that acquired Saab’s assets upon the firm's collapse in 2012. Proceeds will be donated to NEVS' Sustainable Mobility Scholarship at Sweden's University West.
NEVS said: "The fund will be awarded to individuals making significant efforts to pave the way for future mobility solutions, ranging from electric car technologies and sharing economies to initiatives for self-driving cars."
The model up for auction is a 217bhp 2.0-litre petrol Aero Turbo saloon in silver, which, according to the company, was intended for crash test purposes and set aside from customer models.
The car has been parked ever since, with around 40 recorded miles on the clock, making it the final new 9-3 to leave the Tröllhattan factory.
Saab ceased production of the 9-3 in 2011 and planned to unveil an all-new model at the following year’s Paris motor show. It was to be a dramatically styled two-door coupé with a 200bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine supplied by BMW.
The Swedish manufacturer's collapse in 2012 put a stop to development of the new 9-3.
Production of the final-shape model resumed under NEVS in 2013, with contribution from around 400 external suppliers, but ended just a year later, with only 420 units having left the factory.
NEVS recently began production of the 9-3 EV, a 186-mile-range electric saloon based on the conventionally fuelled Saab.
Read more
Join the debate
Add your comment
To be honest, I'd far rather
To be honest, I'd far rather buy that car than any equivilant BMW, Audi or Mercedes made now.
instantly forgettable
I test drove one of these as I always fancied a SAAB and the moment I stepped out of it I had completely forgoten about it.. an truley underwhelming car. Ended up with a S60 D5... a car and engine I still miss today.
I cant imagine they'll raise much auctioning off this.. in anycase not enough to seriously further the research and development of future mobility solutions..
Saab
I still feel very sorry for Saab's demise. It wont be long before they are forgotten and the 9-3 was, originally anyway, very good.
Kamelo wrote:
Forgotten...nonsense. You clearly know not of the myriad of Saab specialists, car clubs and owners who like the followers of many other now defunct marques, treasure their cars, look after them and preserve them for those to come.
Memories
Of course, there will always be aficionados who will treasure their Saabs and love them until they take their last breath, but I am talking 'bigger picture' - and in 20 years time, the Saab marque (as a car manufacturer) will be, with the exception of aficionados, largely forgotten.
People will have myriad 'new' cars to think about in 2040.
Sad, but such is life...