Saab's new 9-5 (2009) leaks early: the first photos

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

23 July 2009 09:00

Breaking news: early shots of the new Saab 9-5 have leaked out early in Germany. These low-res photos of the new 9-5 were published online today – revealing an exec that trades on the style that has made Saab's greatest hits so distinctive.

There's a hint of old 900 around the C-pillar, lending a dash of coupé style to what remains a defiantly four-door saloon to rival the Audi A6 and other execs. Note also how the side glass graphic slopes rearwards, in Saab's true cockpit style.

The face of the new Saab 9-5 is distinguished by a much more dominant grille, with a pair of headlamps ringed with chrome (it works much better than on the current geriatric 9-5, don't worry!) and a prominent Saab name. There's much less emphasis on the Saab roundel, however, which is relegated to the bonnet.

At the back, the rear styling looks neat, modern – with what appears to be a strip of lighting running all across the rump.

And inside the new Saab 9-5?

This first photo inside the new 9-5 shows a cabin inspired by the Vauxhall Insignia, whose underpinnings the 9-5 shares, but with quite a different character. The air vents appear to continue around the dials, sticking with Saab's traditional joystick pointy controllers.

When will we see the full Saab 9-5 story? Expect more in August, when the media blackout will be lifted. We'll see the car for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show ahead of UK sales launch expected in early 2010.

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By Tim Pollard