This month 25 years ago the Saab drop top was launched. You can still find a handful of these cars around Klang Valley, some still in prime condition. Globally three generations of Saab Convertible have hit the road in the last quarter of a century and almost 300,000 have been sold around the world, establishing the vehicle as a global icon for the brand. Offering a comfortable and enjoyable drive come rain or shine, hot or cold, the iconic soft-top car has accounted for as much as fifty percent of total sales in Europe.
The journey of the iconic car began in 1986 when a production run of just four hundred Saab 900 Convertibles came off the line for the US market. The Saab 900 Convertible impressed the world with its good looks and bespoke design without compromising on style. Above all, it fulfilled Saab’s uncompromising requirements of good quality build and materials and the orders reflected this. By the time the 900 Convertible went on sale in Europe that year, demand exceeded production capacity. Seven years later and a second generation came to the market. Autumn 1993 saw the all-new Saab 900 Convertible arrive under the banner: “We didn’t invent the Convertible, but we made a Saab of it.” This second generation model and its Saab 9-3 evolution in 1998 became an icon, with more stylish design, a move to a hydraulically –powered soft top and increased storage capacity. 2003 brought a whole host of innovations to the Saab Convertible with the launch of the third and current generation, which features the fastest soft-top in operation in its segment, automatic climate control adjustment for a ‘top down’ heating mode and superior interior styling.
Always the innovator, the current Saab Convertible was the first soft-top car to achieve a maximum, five star EuroNCAP rating for its ‘DynaCage’ rollover protection, pop-up rear roll bars and integrated front seatbelts. The Saab Convertible injected real-world credibility by changing perceptions and turning the car into a true four season, four-seater open top vehicle that works all year round.
