Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The final Saab 9-5 production model rolled off of the assembly line this week at the Saab factory in Trollhattan, Sweden.

The Saab 9-5 Sedan first debuted in 1997 as a MY ‘98 model, has been in production for 11 years and this model represents the end of it’s production run.

It’s first year of production, the 9-5 hit the 3 millionth Saab model to be produced, and as it’s demand spiked over its lifetime, it set a new level of unparalleled safety for Saab Automobile.

To learn more about the 9-5’s history, please take a look through the Saab History 9-5 archive for more information.

A sincere thank you to the folks at the Saab Automobile AB factory and press team for providing this photograph to Saab History today.

Image Credit: Saab Automobile AB

Saab Automobile has launched a print ad, perhaps in a series, emphasizing safety for the 9-5.

The bold headline really packs a nice punch and should be, in my opinion, continued here in the United States.

Very well done, here’s hoping we see more of this!

The Saab bridgestone ads that first came about in January of 2008 during the superbowl, have a new edition, this time with a current Saab 9-5 Sedan.

I like the video a lot because it features a 9-5, which I don’t think has really had any new television advertisements since the Born from Jets program back in at least 2006 or 2007 at the latest. Not only is it nice seeing the 9-5 on tv, it’s nice seeing the driver also looking out for other drivers!

Do you find that you owning a safe car like a Saab, makes you more alert and awake and better positioned to be one of the safer drivers on the road too?

The Saab Friction Tester Program has been running with a company called Sarsys in connection with Saab Automobile AB, formerly Saab-Scania AB since the mid-seventies.

Sarsys with head offices in Trelleborg, Sweden; continue to push the envelope when it comes to intelligent design and engineering of the Saab friction tester systems that are well integrated in the Saab automobiles, in order to keep the runways safe at airports all around the world.

The first Saab friction tester or SFT for short, first debuted in a Saab 99 and since then the it has been outfitted in a Saab 900, 9000, NG900, 9-3 and the 9-5.

Today, there are many Saab Friction Testers in use from an original 1986 Saab 900 in Burlington, Vermont to two facelifted Saab 9-5 SFT’s in Munich, Germany.

According to rumor, there has been talk about an old Saab 900 that has been operating at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. As part of my quest for more information, I managed to get in touch with the folks that manage Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, Massport to set up a visit to explore this further.

As part of my visit thanks to the folks at Massport after arriving on a SAAB 340, I learned that this rumor was in fact true, however that 1986 Saab 900 was replaced in 2005, with what but another Saab, this time a 2005 Saab 9-5 Wagon/Combi.

This opportunity involved getting the chance to literally be escorted out onto the runway at Logan International Airport with an experienced Saab Friction Tester pilot from Massport. As we drove out onto the runway, I got to learn about not only why the SFT was chosen again due to it’s unique integration of systems that no other competitor has been able to match, but also it’s all-weather abilities that are unique to Saab. The timing of opportunity was done in the spring/summer/fall (maintenance mode) part of the year opposed to the most demanding time, the winter otherwise scheduling may not have permitted.

The runway testing began with an overview on systems, then a run-through on how the systems operated in motion as we drove at a steady 40mph in this rightsized 4-cylinder 2.3t powered Saab 9-5 complete with automatic transmission and paddle shifters.

The object with the friction tester is to be able to accurately report friction coefficients on all of the runways at any given time. The system that is well integrated into the SFT, involves the following.     

* An electronic calibration friction coefficient measuring system with handheld device.
* A 350 gallon water tank spanning rear seats and trunk.
* A hydraulic wheel that is controlled to be raised and lowered onto the runway that sprays water onto the wheel to be measured.
* A reduced fuel tank of only 5 gallons.

After experiencing a few run-throughs of the system in operation from start to finish spanning approximately 1,500 feet on a few runways, I got the surprise of a lifetime. I was handed the keys as I was offered to test drive the Saab Friction Tester myself literally on the same runway at Logan Airport.

As you will see as part of the video provided, I managed to keep the speed limit around 40 with some variations, I finally got to experience a modern Saab Friction Tester from the driver’s seat.

I have said it before and I will say it again, it continues to make me happy that Saab Automobile, born from jets and known for safety on the roads and in the air, utilizes an automobile to ensure safety for their aircraft counterparts.

It is my hope that my review (writeup & video), not only proves that the rumor that this Saab Friction Tester exists, but it serves as an educational and informational example of the need for Saab Friction Testers at not only Saab’s number one market in the United States (the North East region) but other airports that strongly value safety for any and all of their commercial and freight aircraft.

Test driving a Saab Friction Tester at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, a major international airport in that represents a region which has one of the largest amounts of Saabs per capita in the United States was a an opportunity that I will never forget.

I want to thank all of the folks at Massport that managed to take time out of their day to organize the necessary logistics and schedules in order for me to have this experience to share with others here on Saab History.

The Saab 9-5 that debuted in 1997 as a 1998 model year involved many years of product development and testing.

As you may also know, the 9-5 was the successor to the Saab 9000 model that was developed through a joint venture with Fiat / Lancia / Alfa Romeo dating back to the late nineteen seventies, with the Saab 600 as the first model launched from this joint venture.

There were many designers & engineers responsible for the development of the 9-5 such as Tony Catignani to Einar Hareide to Dan Chasins as well as now President of Saab Automobile AB, Jan-Ake Jonsson.

What’s interesting is that the next generation 9-5 which was supposed to debut around 2005, was planned to be developed off of a joint venture Saab 9-5 / Fiat “premium” platform. That was the original plan as Saab history has come to find out. Of course we know that original plan was shelved back in 2002 by General Motors and now the 9-5 continues on wrapping up it’s 12 year tenure with the 2009 Saab 9-5 “griffin edition”.

I would like to know if there are still any lingering products in the future that Fiat & Saab Automobile have developed, who knows, maybe there is a future between them in some fashion?

Here are the some additional details from what someone entered in WikiPedia:

GM/Fiat Premium platform
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Premium platform is General Motors and Fiat’s high-end automobile platform. The architecture debuted with the Alfa Romeo Brera. Even after the dissolution of the GM/Fiat partnership, both companies retain the rights to continue developing Premium-derived models, though no GM versions are known.

The platform was mainly developed in Sweden by Saab, with input from Alfa Romeo, Holden, and Opel/Vauxhall. Saab stopped development of its Premium automobile in late 2002; the Saab models (the 9X sports car and the replacement for the 9-5 sedan) would have used an entirely different suspension than the Alfa Romeo vehicles, which would have proved too expensive. The platform debuted in 2003 with the Opel Insignia concept car, thought this vehicle was not produced. A planned Buick model was also dropped. In the end, only the Alfa Romeo models moved forward.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab 9-5 “Griffin Edition” marks the final farewell at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to the Saab 9-5 that was first unveilved in 1997 as a 1998 model year.

Here is the press release below:

2009 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition Takes Off in Detroit

DETROIT – In the luxurious 9-5 Griffin Edition, making its premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January, Saab offers levels of premium standard equipment that are unprecedented in the 62-year history of the Swedish car brand.

As underlined by its U.S. advertising tagline, “Born From Jets,” Saab’s illustrious aircraft heritage is part of its design philosophy that runs throughout its range of automobiles. With the vigor of its turbocharged engine and agile road manners, the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition resonates with its aircraft namesake, the Gripen (Swedish for Griffin) – the first of the new generation of multi-role combat aircraft to enter into active service, developed by Saab Aircraft AB in Sweden. Saab

“With the 9-5 Griffin Edition, Saab reaches a new altitude in terms of premium standard equipment and value,” said Steve Shannon, executive director, marketing and product, Saab Automobile USA.

Read more »

This weekend, I managed to see yet another Saab in front of L.L. Bean in Portland, Maine, this time a beautiful Saab 9-5 “Gary Fisher” edition, complete with the unique wheels! The Gary Fisher Edition 9-5 came out in 2000, when Saab Automobile USA partnered with Gary Fisher as their bicycle partner, then a year later the program ended and the Saab-Salomon partnership began.

I am starting to wonder that people are specifically parking their Saabs in front L.L. Bean for bragging rights for the “Saab Sightings Of The Week” here on Saab History, seriously. :)

If we look back I have seen a 9-3 Sport Sedan out front, and two Saab 9-5 sedans parked on the rear entrance to the outlet.

This was another great sighting, so keep them coming!

Photo Credit: Saab History

On our way to pick up our holiday tree this weekend in New England, we couldn’t help but notice one of two immaculate red Saab 9-5s, and this one took the top spot!

The 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon was complete with tinted windows, spoiler and a tow hitch mounted Thule bike holder. This holiday sled in red, shows its real utility with the complimentary color of a green holiday tree on the roof!

As I took a photo, the owners passed by us and gave the “Saab nod”, and we returned the gesture with a smile. My only regret, not telling them that their Saab would be featured today as the Saab Sighting of the week!

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

The Saab 9-5 Wagon, a continuation of the 9-5 Sedan lineup, and a throwback to the SAAB 95 (1959-1978), debuted at the Paris Auto Show in 1998 as a 1999 model year.

The Saab 9-5 wagon was designed by Einar Hareide and Tony Catignani, was also Trollhättan, Sweden.

Over the 9-5’s Wagon’s lifetime, much like the sedan it has undergone two exterior facelifts, once in 2002 and again in 2006. The 9-5’s final production model will be titled the “Griffin Edition” as a 2009 model year.

This model for Saab came equipped with the following specifications:

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

The Saab 9-5 Sedan, a successor to the 9000 was first shown in 1997 and made its North American debut at the Saab Owners Convention in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

The Saab 9-5 was highly regarded by the press and came with a first of its kind asymetrically turbocharged V-6 engine. The 9-5, designed by Einar Hareide and Tony Catignani.

Over the 9-5’s lifetime, it has undergone two exterior facelifts, once in 2002 and again in 2006. The 9-5’s final production model will be titled the “Griffin Edition” as a 2009 model year.

The Saab 9-5 was manufactured in Trollhättan, Sweden for its entire 11 year lifetime.

This model for Saab came equipped with the following specifications:

Read more »

Photo Credit: Saab History

This past week, en-route to Shaw Saab, I managed to spot a beautiful Saab 9-5 perfectly placed in front of IKEA, what a nice visual to round out the day!

As you may know, the Saab 9-5 wagon has been voted as the best Saab for your IKEA trips.

Other vehicles that have proven to be capable, include the 9-3 SportCombi as well as the original Saab 99!

What a great Saab Sighting of the week!

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile Netherlands

Saab Automobile Netherlands have introduced for the final year of the 9-5, a 9-5 Business Edition as well as a 9-5 Griffin Edition.

Below is their press release, loosely translated thanks to babelfish.

2008-11-10

Saab 9-5 now in business and Griffin editions

Saab put its top model, the Saab 9-5, in its sights. The mark introduces two implementations which will replace current line-up of the luxuriously model class: the Saab 9-5 business and the Saab 9-5 Griffin. Both implementation is notable by their attractive, rich equipment and very sharp prices.

Read more »