SAAB Tuning

After Installation: Hirsch-styled Diffuser by TunStyle

Hirsch-styled Saab 9-3 rear diffuser

Until now, there was no opportunity to install this Hirsch-styled Diffuser by TunStyle on my previous Saab 9-3 Sportcombi because it was not an Aero but a Vector with a custom made dual exhaust. Since the custom dual exhaust was made by the previous owner on the Saab 9-3 TTiD, the dimensions and measurements of the rear part of the exhaust are not the same as on the Aero model for which this Hirsch-styled Diffuser by TunStyle was designed.

Because of this, I was unable to install this Hirsch-styled Diffuser on the 9-3 Sportcombi without modification. Also, since it is a Vector model, the installation of this diffuser requires additional cutting of the rear bumper paneling. While with the Aero model, this installation is much easier because the original Aero diffuser is simply removed and this custom made one is installed.

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Hirsch Performance Saab rear diffuser

With the acquisition of the 2011 Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin last year, the installation of this TunStyle diffuser was more certain and easier. For those who don’t know, this diffuser was previously made by the official Saab tuner company Hirsch Performance from Switzerland. In their version, the diffuser was made of carbon fiber and was very expensive, so its price went up to 2000 dollars.

This diffuser has not been on the market for a long time, although Hirsch Performance still offers some products to improve the performance of Saab cars, such as brake upgrades for some models, and software performance upgrades for almost all engines that were in the Saab range.

Prepare for Hirsch diffuser on Aero Griffin

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After installation, the Saab 9-3 looks much more aggressive
After installation, the Saab 9-3 looks much more aggressive

The Saab rear diffuser by TunStyle

However, to the delight of all Saab enthusiasts, a small company TunStyle based in Minsk, Belarus, has taken it upon itself to make most of the performance body parts to improve the aerodynamics of Saab cars. And in addition, their offer also includes front splitters Super sports upgrades for side aerodynamics, upgraded sports steering wheels, carbon shift levers and the like.

However, unlike Hirsch performance parts that are made of carbon fiber, TunStyle aerodynamic parts are made of fiber reinforced plastic. This means that these parts are similar in shape or even the same, but they are of a slightly lower quality (they are not carbon fiber after all) and are a little heavier (slightly), but they are therefore much cheaper.

Regardless of everything, the availability of these parts to improve the appearance and performance of their Saab cars means a lot to Saab enthusiasts around the world.

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Saab Aero Griffin with Hirsch-styled rear diffuser in gunmetal color
Saab Aero Griffin with Hirsch-styled rear diffuser in gunmetal color

Gun-metal Color for the Saab Rear Diffuser

In this particular case of mine, the ‘Hirsch-Style’ Diffuser by TunStyle arrived in excellent condition, and ready to be primed and painted as desired. Most of those who got this diffuser didn’t even repaint it but installed it in that matte black color.

And since my Saab 9-3 Aero Girffin has a body in Jet Black metallic color, I decided to paint it in gun-metal or titanium gray color. With this, Saab got a sportier look, this dark gray jacket goes well with the Jet Blaack metallic color and additionally emphasizes the sporty shape of the rear part of the Saab Sportsedan.

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The installation itself is simple and does not require any special tools. The installation is well described in the manual, and you can also watch several YouTube videos in which you can see in more detail the process of installing the rear diffuser on both the Aero model and the Vector, where it is additionally necessary to make a couple of cuts on the bumper paneling.

Saab in Porto Montenegro

Goran Aničić
the authorGoran Aničić
For over 15 years, Goran Aničić has been passionately focused on Saab automobiles and everything related to them. His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced. At that moment, he was captivated by the car's Scandinavian design logic and top-notch engineering, and everything that followed stemmed from that first encounter. Later on, through his work at the editorial team of the Serbian automotive magazines "Autostart" and later "AutoBild," he had the opportunity to engage more closely with Saab vehicles. In 2008, he tested the latest Saab cars of that time, such as the Saab 9-3 TTiD Aero and Saab 9-3 Turbo X. In 2010, as the sole blogger from the region, he participated in the Saab 9-5ng presentation in Trollhättan, Sweden. Alongside journalists from around the world, he got a firsthand experience of the pinnacle of technological offerings from Saab at that time. Currently, Goran owns two Saabs: a 2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sportcombi with a manual transmission, and a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin Sport Sedan from the last generation, which rolled off the production line in Trollhättan in December 2011.

2 Comments

  • I have major interior modifications in my two 9-3’s (Sedan & Combi) from Tunstyle. Black 2009 SportCombi 2.0T M/T 54k miles Nappa leather with white stitch. Steering wheel, door handles, handbrake, shift surround, glove box strip, dash console and leather shift boot with logo. Door panels (black leather) different vendor. Very high quality work. White Sedan 2011 2.0T M/T 50k miles same mods with black stitch.

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