The Finish-made Saab was so special that it stood apart from the rest of the cars on the market, and the carmaker built it in Finland.
The story of the Saab 90 began twenty years before the first car rolled out from the Uusikaupunki factory in Finland. Even though it was a long pregnancy, the result was far worse than the expectation and transformed the 90 into one of the least-sold Saabs ever built, with only 25,378 units delivered to the customers in its three-year production time.
While the front retained the main characteristics of the 99 model, the back was inspired by the larger Saab 900. Its almost vertical windshield was similar to the one offered on the 99 model, but the back was different. Saab made the trunk higher but still with its specific sloped-down tail. In the back, the 900 model inspired the designers when they created the taillights. Like its predecessor, the 90 was available as a two-door only.
Inside, Saab provided unique features for the segment, such as heated seats, velour upholstery, remote door mirror, and a folding rear seat. The carmaker made a clean design with a flat front area and a narrow top for the dashboard. The instrument panel sported three clusters: one for the fuel and coolant temperature gauges, a center-mounted speedometer, and a tachometer on the right.
The platform was carried over from the 99 model, with disc brakes in all corners. Unfortunately, it didn't come with the turbocharged gasoline engine, which was a sale-winner for the 99 range. Saab paired it with a standard four-speed manual with an option for five-speed.