Saab 9-5 revealed ahead of Frankfurt
August 28, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Saab has today released more details of its new 9-5 model flagship ahead of next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new 9-5 will play an important role in moving the Saab brand forward under its new owners Koenigsegg which plans to complete its purchase of the brand from GM shortly.
“This car is the start of a new era for our brand,” said Saab Managing Director Jan-Ake Jonsson.
“We have created an advanced and very distinctive product by leveraging the power of our roots in key areas, such as progressive Scandinavian design, sporty driving and responsible performance.
“The new 9-5 delivers in all these respects, as will every future product from Saab,” Mr Jonsson added.
Saab says the new 9-5 is the most technically advanced car it has yet made and offers an array of high-tech features including an aircraft-inspired head-up information display, Bi-Xenon adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, parking assistance and all-wheel-drive.
The car will be offered with petrol, diesel or E85 (bio-ethanol) four-cylinder turbocharged engines.
The new 9-5 shares GM’s Epsilon 2 platform (think Opel Insignia), but the Saab version has a longer wheelbase and its own unique muscular, low-slung exterior styling and unique interior.
The current 9-5 has been on sale for 12 years and its sales have declined as the car has aged. Over the course of its life time the existing 9-5 sold 93,000 units globally.
Engine outputs and specifications for the new 9-5 are as follows:
The new 9-5 makes its public debut at the 2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 15.
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Hey, this looks much better than some of the latest pre-release photos being distributed around some other sites. Those pics displayed what frankly looked like an over-weight, over American-styled product. If these pics are the real thing, then I am quietly pleased and look forward to seeing one in the flesh!
Now thats a real looker… im sure it would look even more stunning on in the metal.
Looks the goods. 221kw/400nm AWD will definitly be worth a drive. Well done Saab (finaly).
Thats a good looking car. Should look great in the metal. IMO interestingly the windscreen shape and flat roofline has a hint of koenigsegg in it!
This looks great! Good to see the SAAB design quirks still in tact.
looks amazing from the outside, and i love the taco and speed cluster. everything is pretty much thumbs up, the only thing that I don’t like is the center console, i like mine cneter and all on it’s own not merged to the speedo, i’m guess it’s quit heavy too
LOVE IT, though the rear lights look a bit like the Hyundai Grandeur. I really like how Saab managed to make it look so fresh, yet still retain the ‘family face’ of all Saabs.
looks better than the other pics we have seen they hjave changed the front slightly
I read that GM’s Epsilon 2 platform can accept RWD as well. Hope the new owners will switch the base 9-5 model from FWD to RWD. (XWD option has been very expensive on 9-3). FWD luxury cars typically do not compete well with the Germans…
What a fantastic looking car! I would choose this over a 5-series or an E-class any day (though it would be a tough battle with the XF!).
Now SAAB, sell it to us not at a premium, but a fair price. $80k+ for the decent model in the current range is a joke.
That looks excellent. I didn’t like the pictures of that grey one that surfaced about a month ago, but it looks so good in white. I can see some XF in there, mainly around the rear window and down to the boot but mainly, a lot of Saab – that’s a good thing. I reckon that all the time that Saab have been making quite boring cars, the one thing they always did well with was design. I think the 9-3 looks good too.
I wish they would change the name of this thing though. This is a car that is tainted by the name 9-5.
I would buy one over an E Class and probably over an A6, but I’d still take a 5 Series or an XF first. Good work though – finally they can start to deliver on their promises. It’s just a shame that it’s basically a re-bodied Insignia. The Insignia is a good car, but the last Mondeo was a good car and people complained about the X Type. The only difference here is that this will be more expensive.
Finally, would anybody else like to see a diesel XWD model? That would be a big seller and a worth while car.
It looks really good. Can just picture it now in black. If they can give us the XWD 221Kw 400Nm version many new buyers will flock to the brand. All they need is a proper marketing campaign, as i havent seen a SAAB ad in almost five years.
This will most likely be the closest we will ever get to the Opel Insignia OPC. I doubt HSV could put a strong enough case to import the car.
Noting some of the dashwork borrows from the Insignia’s parts bin and door trim cues. Hope it sells well.
Im with you VBE. even though Holden/HSV had ties with Opel, it doesnt look as if the business case would be strong enough for them to import the Insignia form Opel.
Original Alex, this rides on a LWB version of the Epsilon II platform, so it has more in common with the Buick Lacrosse than the Insignia.
SAAB have always made good looking cars. Unfortunately they know nothing about dynamics. Lets hope this one actually HANDLES AND STEERS properly.
This should really be priced with the Small jap and euro cars and not the big boy ala 5 Series and A6