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Saab 96 2 stroke Sports Division Rally Car

Special Saab 96 1963 twin stroker as modified and tuned by the Sports division of Saab at the time starts up at the Bristol Classic Motor Show ...

Defining the Sports Sedan

Much in the same way that the term muscle car is debated and overused, the precise definition of a sports sedan has been blurred gray since the creation of the term. According to Wikipedia, a sports sedan is a “sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel ‘sporty,’ offering the motorist more connection with the driving experience, while providing the comfort and amenities expected of a luxury sedan.” Wikipedia goes on to say that many sports sedans overlap the executive car classification and are typically imported vehicle brands. The rest of the article seems to reveal the haziness of the category classifiers, incorporating domestic sedans and automatic transmissions.

Appropriately, the vehicles that first come to mind when I consider a sports sedan are the BMW 3-Series, Acura TSX and Saab 9-3. All three of these vehicles meet the initial qualifications, being imported, sports-minded luxury sedans. However, there is no commonality between those vehicles despite the sports sedan characteristic. The BMW powers the rear wheels while the other two employ front wheel drivetrains. All three have unique engine configurations with the BMW toting an inline six, the Acura toting a high compression four cylinder and the Saab utilizing a turbo. All three vehicles also come with manual or automatic transmission options.

Among the laundry list of sports sedans mentioned in the Wikipedia article, you have some significant outliers like the WRX STI, the Chevrolet Impala, the Oldsmobile Achieva, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. I find this list to be outright unacceptable. Nowhere to be found on Wikipedia’s list were two of my three named sports sedans, the BMW 3 series or the Acura TSX. The list did include the M3 and the TL however, so it seems as though the category is limited to the more high-performance proliferations. However, this is proven false when you include vehicles like the Impala (not even SS was specified) and Achieva. Since I used to own one, I can say Achievas don’t really achieve much of anything aside from reliable daily transportation. Neither engine option was all that exceptionally powerful nor the suspension anywhere above average. In the same right, Impalas might be comfortable and even powerful sedans but I wouldn’t say they classify as sports sedans. Impala SS might be able to edge its way into this category. WRX STI, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide are also something entirely different. I consider an STI a sports car, and both the Porsche and Aston Martin to be somewhere between executive luxury and supercars. It seems that the only real descriptor of everything in the list is the presence of four doors. Why not throw a Megacab Dodge Ram on the list! It has four doors and lots of power, why the heck not? I hope that my sarcasm is dripping from your computer monitor.

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Saab Cars USA
Official U.S. site for the General Motors division.

Saab
Official site. Features new models, dealer information, and corporate links for the GM division.

Sports Car Centre of Syracuse | Utica and Syracuse Saab ...
Sports Car Centre of Syracuse is your Syracuse NY Saab dealer and Utica Saab dealer. New and used Saab's, award winning customer service and a parts ...

Sports Car Service
Offering used vehicles and new and used parts and accessories.

Howstuffworks "Saab Sports Cars"
Founded in 1937 to build aircraft, Saab turned its postwar attention to making reliable luxury and sports cars. Learn more about Saab sports cars.