Yellow 9-3 ragtop shows sunny side of SAAB

Every once in a while, a yellow Saab convertible appears in a field of reds, blues, blacks and silver metallics. This is considered a special occasion for collectors of the iconic Swedish automobile.The first appearance of a yellow Saab ragtop came in 1991, the year Harald V became king of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V. It was also the year Albania had its first interparty elections and the newsworthy nation of Georgia voted for independence from the collapsing Soviet Union. The events were apparently unrelated to the debut of the yellow Saab.In 1997, another yellow Saab appeared, quickly disappearing into the garages of collectors who drove them only at night to avoid creating catastrophic waves of envy.If you missed your chance in '91 and '97, this might be your lucky year. The Saab 9-3 Convertible is once again a mellow yellow.The limited edition Lynx Yellow version is based on the 2.0T, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a black power roof.Standard equipment on the $42,830 Yellow Edition includes XM radio, OnStar service, 17-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels and a modest rear spoiler. If you're not into yellow, you can have the 2.0T convertible in standard regalia for $39,590. With option packages, the review car topped out at $46,425.Yes, it is a lovely set of wheels. One's first reaction is typically: "Wow, a yellow Saab!"But you're not going to shell out 42 grand for a coat of paint. Beneath the skin, this is the "born from jets" entry-level Saab that has defined the brand since Europe's postwar resurgence.Fast, frugal and cunningly designed, the front-drive ragtop is as fun as it is fashionable.Despite its Swedish parentage, the convertible is actually built in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr, a manufacturing firm that has done work for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Fiat and Jeep, as well as Saab.Building a convertible requires a lot more than just taking the top off of a coupe. The body must be stiffened to compensate for the lost hardtop structure. Like its Swedish rival Volvo, Saab is well known for safety.The 9-3 convertible's DynaCage system adds rollover protection with pop-up rear roll bars, strengthened A-pillars and sills, and automatic seat-belt pre-tensioning. Saab Active Head Restraints are fitted to the front seats as standard to help counter the risk of neck injury in rear-end impacts.To improve handling, Saab created something called ReAxs, a rear-wheel steering capability that really demonstrated its talent in a high-rise, tightly packed parking garage.Turbocharging, a Saab specialty, is not for everyone. In the past, entry-level Saabs suffered from turbo-lag, a tendency to accelerate anemically in normal driving conditions, escalating to second-stage rocketry once the turbo responded to pressure on the accelerator. The current versions really don't do that. There is very little turbo-lag, but you do get brisk acceleration.By turbocharging the 4-cylinder engine, Saab engineers were able to deliver decent fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.In terms of Scandinavian design, Saab is to cars what Ikea is to furniture. Just a little bit more expensive.There's a lot to love about the Saab interior. The ignition switch is still in the center console, and the latticework air conditioning vents still seem to be derived from aviation. Clever little touches, such as the hand brake handle merging with the arches of the center console, represent Scandinavian craftsmanship.The hydraulically powered, triple-layer roof automatically latches to the windshield header and deploys in just 20 seconds. A CargoSET function stows the roof in a storage well in the trunk. When the roof is up, the well automatically retracts, freeing cargo space.With the overall redesign of the 9-3 family, Saab wrapped the headlamps around to the flanks of the car. The optional Xenon cornering headlamps adjust horizontally in concert with the vehicle's steering. The design is intended to give the 9-3 a longer, sleeker, and faster look. Also new is OnStar 8.0 hardware that enables Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Bluetooth hands-free calling capability. As a part of the General Motors empire, Saab has managed to maintain its identity while availing itself of some of GM's economies of scale. It's a tough world for a niche brand, even one as well defined as Saab.WHAT'S NEW: Yellow version, redesign for 2008, OnStar navigation.PLUSES: Iconic design, performance, comfort.MINUSES: Limited capacity, inherent convertible hazards.BOTTOM LINE: Clever car for collectors.(E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend(at)sbcglobal.net)