2011 9-3 Aero XWD Performance by Hirsch

After a long absence from the online Saab world (no pun intended), I find myself back on the forum. Very different from how I remember it, but then again I've changed as well. Previously, I had a '97 900 SE convertible in Monte Carlo Yellow, an '02 9-3 SE 5-Door in Hazelnut and an '04 9-5 Aero Hirsch combi in Polar White. Those have all moved on to new homes and my current/only daily is a 2011 9-3 Aero XWD Performance by Hirsch model. I purchased the car in May of 2015 and have spent the time since having it fully upgraded to Hirsch spec. Thanks to a number of sources in Sweden, Germany and the awesome team at Hirsch in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, I have managed to build (as best as we can tell) the only fully Hirsch'd 9-3 Sport Sedan in North America. The car started out life as a 9-3 Aero with the 'TX Design Pack' which basically gave you the titanium exterior accents and the faux carbon fiber interior trim. Below is the more or less complete list of upgrades to the car.

Hirsch Upgrades:

• 240HP Software Upgrade
• Dual Stainless Cat-back Exhaust System
• Full Suspension Kit (Springs/Struts/Autolevel Shock Absorbers)
• 345mm Brake Upgrade Kit
• 18" 5-Twin Wheels in Satin Finish w/Nokian WRG3 Tyres (Winter Set-up)
• 19" 6-Twin Wheels in Diamond Black with Nokian ZLine Tyres (Summer Set-up)
• 4-Piece Honeycomb Grille Kit
• 6-Piece Carbon Fiber Bodykit (Pre-series production kit manufactured by Hirsch during the development/test phase)
• Rear Diffuser
• Rear Spoiler (Painted two-tone body colored upper surface and matte black lower surface)
• Carbon Leather Dash
• Carbon Leather Glove Box Trim
• Carbon Leather Door Inserts
• Carbon Leather Shifter Plate
• Carbon Leather Shift Knob (One-off test piece not put into production)
• Nappa Leather Handle Set
• Aluminum Pedals
• Aluminum Door Sill Inlays

Genuine Saab Upgrades:

• 9-3 Griffin B63 Interior (Black w/White Accents and Stitching
• 9-3 Griffin "Iceblock" Adaptive Bi-Xenon Headlights

Thats pretty much it for this one. In terms of 'builds', this car was the shortest in time but the most complete in terms of what I was setting out to create.


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You're not in sweden?

Been dividing my time between here, Germany and Sweden.


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I never thought I'd see you driving a SS.

MY latest.
http://saabworld.net/images/imported/2017/03/12.jpg
http://saabworld.net/images/imported/2017/03/13.jpg

'11 9-3, '11 9-4x, and '11 9-5 Aero are the current line up

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Always liked Dolphin Grey, nice car.


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Very cool build with all the Hirsch goodies, looks like you put quite a bit of work (and money) in it. I especially like all the interior modifications. I bet it's a lot of fun to drive with the hp and suspension upgrades.

Your car is probably very similar to the 9-3 Hirsch that was at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show? http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=26060

Welcome back, always good to see Saab friends coming back and share their latest Saab passions. Not sure what has changed but perhaps the forum theme is different and we tidied up part of the forum.

Thank you, and yes I definitely went way over budget a few times on this car, but the end result was well worth it for me. The HP upgrade along with the suspension and braking modifications really changed the overall drive quality and character of the car.

I drew a lot of inspiration from the above press photo as well the Frankfurt Motor Show car and the 270hp test car that Hirsch built in house at St. Gallen (the only obvious difference being the diamond black 19" wheels vs the hyper silver ones that those cars had fitted).


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