Discontinued in 2012 as Saab->ke75 was filing for bankruptcy, the 9-3 sedan made a surprising return in 2013, when the brand was revived under National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) ownership. But instead of launching the third-generation model that was in the works before Saab went bankrupt, NEVS started building second-gen cars at the company's Trollhattan production plant. Identical to the 2012 model, the "new" sedan->ke142 arrived in dealerships without the trademark griffin logos and with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-banger under the hood.While NEVS is undoubtedly working on a modern replacement for the 9-3->ke209, the next-generation vehicle won't be launched for at least two more years. Instead, the Swedes are reportedly looking to reintroduce the 9-3 SportCombi and have already confirmed plans to offer an electric iteration of the current sedan.

The EV is still not ready to go into production, but NEVS has just unveiled the prototype that will become an actual Saab product in the near future.

Click past the jump to read more about the Saab 9-3 EV Prototype

2014 Saab 9-3 EV Prototype

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Saab 9-3 EV Prototype
  • Horsepower: 140
  • Torque: 120
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Saan 9-3 EV Prototype In Detail

The prototype is identical to the gasoline-powered car, as far as design goes, and we can expect the same thing from the production car unless Saab chooses to use the powertrain currently under development in a brand-new vehicle. The Swedes clearly state the prototype was built to "serve as a reference for specification of coming production model(s)," so anything is possible.

Meanwhile, the 9-3 EV test car has its lithium-ion batteries, which are supplied by Beijing National Battery Technology, placed under the floor. This means the emission-free sedan gets to keep its cabin space and luggage compartment intact, providing the same practicality that comes with the standard 9-3.

Actual drivetrain details are still under wraps, but Saab says the motor delivers 140 horsepower in its current configuration, pushing the sedan from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds and up to a top speed of 75 mph. Granted, these performance figures are rather modest when compared to the gasoline-powered 9-3, but the thought of not having to empty our wallets at the gas station is enough to keep us hoping the 9-3 EV will eventually hit the assembly line. The prototype's range is estimated at 124 miles, more than a Nissan Leaf's.

Of course, all these numbers are expected to improve as development continues, so stay tuned for updates and further details on this Swedish EV.

Saab 9-3

The Saab 9-3 was introduced in 1998 and it took the company less than five years to launch a second generation model. In dealerships since 2002, the second-gen 9-3 was offered in three different body styles. The sedan was joined by a two-door convertible in 2003, while a wagon entered production in 2005.

Developed around GM's Epsilon platform, shared with the Chevrolet Malibu and the Cadillac BLS and many other GM products, the Saab 9-3 was sold with a bevy of gasoline and diesel engines, with displacement ranging between 1.8 and 2.8 liters. The latter was the only V-6 unit included in the lineup, while the rest of the powerplants carried inline-four configurations.

Production of the pre-NEVS, second-generation Saab 9-3 ended in 2012. A third-gen sedan was supposed to be launched in 2012 as a 2013 model based on a brand-new platform, but the project was put on hold due to the company's bankruptcy and subsequent sale.