Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The All new Saab 9-5 that had its global debut in September of 2009, will of course be on display at the Geneva Show starting today

Overview

All New Saab 9-5 Sedan: Start of a New Era for Saab

· Progressive Scandinavian design inspired by Aero X and Saab heritage
· Engineered with driver in focus for segment leading sporty driving experience
· Excels in responsible performance for safety and environmental concern
· Most technically advanced Saab with an array of ‘high-tech’ features

The all new Saab 9-5 sedan signals the start of a new era for the Saab brand. Sleek, sophisticated and unmistakably Saab, it combines stand-out looks with advanced technologies and will bring a fresh alternative choice to the premium sedan segment when sales start later this year.

The clean, sculpted shape embraces the purity of Scandinavian design and its dramatic wraparound window graphic echoes Saab’s aviation heritage. With frontal styling inspired by the award-winning Aero X concept car and a muscular, low-slung stance, the all new 9-5 heralds the introduction of a bold, more expressive design language.

The array of high-tech features on offer includes: an aircraft-like head-up information display (Pilot HUD); adaptive lighting (Bi-Xenon Smart Beam); adaptive cruise control; Saab DriveSense adaptive chassis with real-time damping control; keyless entry and starting; tri-zone air conditioning; dynamic parking assistance and Saab XWD with a rear eLSD, the industry-leading all-wheel-drive system.

The all-turbo powertrain line-up starts at 1.6 liters and carries forward Saab’s rightsizing engine strategy, which focuses on responsible performance through the development of highly efficient and relatively small four cylinder turbo engines. There is a choice of three fuels – gasoline, diesel and E85 bioethanol – and with diesel power, the all new 9-5 offers CO2 emissions as low asn139 g/km.

“This car is the start of a new era for our brand,” says Jan Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director. “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 all new 9-5 delivers in all these respects, as will every future product from Saab.”

Scandinavian Design
Forward-looking design that doesn’t ignore where it’s coming from – that sums up the visual appeal of the all new Saab 9-5 sedan. “We are giving a fresh, very modern expression to some of our classic brand design cues,” says Simon Padian, Saab Brand Design Chief. “We have taken visual themes in our recent concept cars, such as the Aero X, which are inspired by Scandinavian design and our brand’s aircraft heritage.”

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Proud new owner: Victor Muller takes delivery of a new Saab, just 24 hours after completing the purchase of Saab Automobile AB

Outside Saab Automobile’s factory in Trollhättan, Sweden, Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars was handed the keys to a top-of-the-line Saab 9-5 sedan by Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. It is part of an all-new 9-5 product range which will go on sale later this year.

“I am delighted to take delivery of this stunning new car ahead of our customer orders,” said Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars NV, which yesterday completed the acquisition of Saab Automobile AB from General Motors. “The 9-5 will be the first of three exciting new Saab cars which we plan to launch in the next 16 months”

Muller’s car, powered by a 300 hp 2.8V6, with all-wheel-drive, adaptive chassis control, a head-up information display, a lane departure warning camera and surround sound hi-fi, will spearhead the most sophisticated model range Saab has ever produced.

Photo Credit: The Winding Road

The all new Saab 9-5 Combi continues to undergo winter testing as seen here by a spyshot by the Winding Road.

Here’s hoping we get to see the final production version of this soon enough. It’ll be nice to see this come into the picture alongside the sedan.

Take a look at the rest of the photographs by clicking here.

Thanks to Beherman in Belgium, the all new Saab 9-5 dealership brochure is now available in French.

It’s nice to look through not being a native French speaker, there seem to be plenty of options once can choose. I must also admit the wheel options look quite impressive!

The pricing is certainly interesting, as I see the brochure as I tried to do direct conversions which I hope will be less in USD.

Click here to download it from the ilovesaab campaign website.

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Photo Credits: Saab Automobile AB

The first official Saab 9-5 production photographs were provided to Saab History today.

These photos were taken yesterday at the Saab factory in Trollhattan, Sweden. This is another display that the production continues as planned.

I must say, this color might look the best for the all new Saab 9-5, wow!

Photo Credit: Auto Motor & Sport

This past week, Auto Motor & Sport spotted a Fjord Blue Metallic all new Saab 9-5 sedan in Stockholm, parked right on a snowy street.

For more photos please visit their website directly.

Photo Credit: Aftonbladet

Sweden’s Aftonbladet have recently published a photo of the all new Saab 9-5 Combi, evidently there has yet to be anyone questioning it’s authenticity.

It certainly looks like it could be the real deal, and here’s hoping that it also comes about following the sedan version launched this past fall.

Is this optimistic or what? Saab needs to continue on and secure their future with a new buyer and GM needs to do it before December 31st already.

Memo To GM: While we realize you’ve already started the wind down process, the time is now!

Please complete the sale of Saab with your interested parties to ensure that Saab has a bright future.

I’ve leave us with a video of Asha Ali’s appropriate hit single, “The Time Is Now”, done at the global launch of the all new Saab 9-5.

Come on GM, get a move on, there are only 9 days left until the end of the year. You owe it to the folks at Saab, all of the workers in Trollhättan, all the dealers around the world and everyone else that has contributed to this company to make it what it is. They are counting on you and so are we.

The time is now.

A few years ago, Saab Automobile debuted “Laura Oh’s” hit single “Release Me” as an indicator of their interest in leaving GM at the 2007 60th Anniversary Saab Festival.

That release me song ended up being used in a television commercial with the facelifted Saab 9-5 sedan initially and became quite the hit.

While this song subtly indicated Saab’s road to independence, it was on February 20th this year at the press conference where Saab officially indicated that they were beginning their independence in what became a 6-month reconstruction process.

This year, the all new Saab 9-5 flagship model symbolizes this new road to independence for Saab Automobile and as we’ve learned about, it’s a hit and it too needs to be released upon Saab’s independence.

As we cannot consider the idea of Saab Automobile nor this vehicle not seeing the next era around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to make a video showcasing the all new Saab 9-5 since it’s global launch in September.

This video includes music from a rather new Swedish artist to the Saab community, Agnes Carlsson (not related to Erik Carlsson), who also has a song titled “Release Me”.

I hope you enjoy watching this video, perhaps it may help channel our energy while also sending a message that this vehicle needs to be released and thus, Saab Automobile ultimately needs to be rescued.

The All New Saab 9-5 has received 5-Star EuroNcap safety ratings

Adult occupant
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal test, the windscreen pillar moving rearward only 2mm. Dummy readings showed good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger. Saab were able to show that occupants of different sizes and those sat in different positions would be similarly well protected. In the side barrier test, maximum points were scored with good protection of all body areas. In the more severe side pole impact, protection of the chest and abdomen was adequate. Protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear impact was rated as good.

Child occupant
Based on dummy readings in the dynamic tests, the 9-5 scored maximum points for protection of the 3 year infant. Forward movement of the dummy’s head was well controlled and both the 3 year and the 18 month dummies were properly contained by their restraints in the side impact. The passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. However, information provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag is insufficiently clear. The dangers of using a rearward facing restraint without first disabling the airbag are not clearly indicated.

Pedestrian
The bumper scored maximum points for the protection it offered to pedestrians’ legs. However, points outside Euro NCAP’s normal test zone were found to be injurious. From 2010, Euro NCAP’s assessment of the bumper will be broadened to include such points. The front edge of the bonnet provided poor protection as did the bonnet in most areas where an adult’s head might strike.

Safety assist
Electronic stability control is standard equipment on all variants as is a seatbelt reminder system for the front and rear seats.