Saab is replacing its long-serving 2.2-litre diesel engine with two new, higher performance, tax-busting 1.9-litre turbo diesels.

The new engines, starting with the higher-powered 150bhp version which arrives in the UK in September, will equip the Swedish brand with the ammunition to take on the more modern diesels found in rivals such as BMW and Audi.

Managing director Jonathan Nash is looking to overtake the brand's record year of 1998 when it sold 20,000 vehicles in the UK. He hopes to equal that number this year and reach 25,000 and a market share of one per cent by the end of 2005.

"I think we can do that with the new engines," he said. "We have been rebuilding sales without the new engines in a premium segment that has been falling so I am very confident."

Saab's UK sales sunk to a low in 2002 with just 13,877 registrations. Nash believes Britain will now become the brand's most important market in the world for diesels.

Of the company's 140,000 sales worldwide, the UK is number three behind the United States which accounts for 45,000 sales and Sweden with 27,000. Neither of those markets is big on diesels.

The 1.9-litre 120bhp and 150bhp, turbo-charged engines are more tax efficient than the old 2.2 TiD motor they replace and each will be mated to a standard, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission.

Deliveries of the 120bhp engine will start in October along with a first-in-sector six-speed automatic transmission option.

The new engines not only offer greater performance and improved economy over the previous 2.2, but also benefit from competitively low CO₂ emissions, saving company car drivers a further three per cent in 'Benefit-in-Kind' surcharge.

Both engines also feature an innovative, maintenance-free particulate filter.

On-the-road TiD prices will start from £18,995 for the 120bhp 9-3 Linear 1.9 TiD model - £435 less than the outgoing 2.2 TiD Linear - and from just £19,995 for the 150 bhp 9-3 Linear.

The Car Enthusiast hopes to drive a UK-spec 9-3 diesel early in 2005. Watch out for the full road test on the main Road Tests page.

Interchange News Agency - 25 Jul 2004