23.4.2002
Vauxhall employees celebrate first Vectra built at Ellesmere Port

The British Secretary of State joins Vauxhall employees in celebrating the first Ellesmere Port built-Vectra to be driven off the production line. This heralds an exciting new era for the revamped Cheshire 'flex' factory, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Hot on the heels of the Saab 9-5 Saloon being named What Car? magazine's Executive Used Car of the Year earlier in 2002, the best-selling Saab 9-3 Convertible has now been voted the "Best Convertible" in the coveted Auto Express Used Car Honours 2002.

In its citation for the prestigious award, Auto Express says "The Saab 9-3 Convertible is extremely comfortable and refined," and it continues "add in the model's renowned longevity and it becomes an everyday fun car - whatever the weather!"

Great Britain is Saabs second largest market, after the US, for convertibles. During the year 2001 Saab sold 18 000 convertibles totally of which 3 500 were sold in the UK.

Saab 9-5 3.0 TiD: Diesel Car Executive Diesel Car of the Year 2002

The British Diesel Car magazine has chosen the New Saab 9-5 3.0 V6 TiD as its "Executive Diesel Car of the Year for 2002", beating off strong opposition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo. The smooth 176 bhp 3-litre turbo diesel 9-5 moved Diesel Car to comment "the performance, refinement and efficiency of the gutsy 24-valve V6 are what catapult it to the top of this competitive category." It adds "the second-generation common rail engine delivers excellent economy in addition to stunning acceleration, and the icing on the cake is that the low Co2 emissions give it a distinct edge over many key rivals."