The NEVS 9-3 and NEVS 9-3X concepts have been
revealed ahead of their debut later this month. Externally, the NEVS 9-3 models
are distinguished from their Saab 9-3 forebears via a new bonnet, grille, slim
LED headlights, front and rear bumpers, and tail-light designs. The company
hasn’t provided many details about the revived 9-3’s drivetrain, except to say
the car will have a driving range of around 300 kilometres.
Importantly for a country that suffers from some of
the world’s worst air pollution, the NEVS 9-3 will be available with an Always
Clean Air Cabin filter, which reduces hazardous particulate matter
concentration from 500 to 50 micrograms per cubic metre in under a minute.
Other available features include a Wi-Fi hot spot, over-the-air software
updates, and a smartphone app, which can act as a key, and allows for remote
battery management and vehicle control.
It seems the revived 9-3 range will be targeted at
Chinese corporations, as the car will also feature a fleet management portal,
which will allow managers to track and remotely diagnose vehicles. The new NEVS
9-3 will also be used for a new car sharing and ride-hailing program in the
city of Tianjin, China, where the company has one of its factories.
NEVS claims it already has orders for 150,000
9-3 vehicles from a variety of different Chinese companies. Although NEVS’
engineering hub is in Sweden, the new electric 9-3 range will be made in China,
with a full launch scheduled for 2018. The NEVS 9-3 and 9-3X concepts will make
their public debut later this month at CES Asia in Shanghai.
