Saab 9-5 (2010): more first official photos

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

27 August 2009 09:35

We brought you the leaked first photos of the new Saab 9-5 a few weeks back. But today the veil of secrecy is lifted and we can bring you the full unexpurgated version of events: the 9-5 photo gallery and details behind the new Saab that will, next spring, finally replace one of the most geriatric cars on sale today.

Yes, the current 9-5 is – bewilderingly – 12 years old, a surefire indication of just how low down General Motors' pecking order Saab lay. Although developed under GM's tenure, the new 9-5 is a beacon of hope for the now-independent Saab. After a spell in bankruptcy protection, the Swedish car maker is ready to be taken over by supercar maker Koenigsegg. The deal is 70% complete, with a funding shortfall of some €300 million the only stumbling block to Koenigsegg taking over.

Christian von Koenigsegg's consortium has already assembled a loan of €400m-€500m from the European Investment Bank and most analysts expect the deal to go through by the autumn. It'll be a rocky ride as a minnow in a redrawn global automotive industry. The new 9-5 saloon you see here will be the first new car launched by the new, indy Saab – one of four new models promised within 18 months. Following next are the 9-5 estate, 9-4X crossover and new 9-3 compact exec.

New Saab 9-5 (2010): the lowdown

The 9-5 is based heavily around the engineering architecture of the Vauxhall Insignia, bringing front- and four-wheel drive capability. It's significantly bigger than the old 9-5, the wheelbase stretching a whopping 130mm while overall length climbs 170mm. They've not done badly to keep the kerbweight of base models just 50 kilos higher, at 1575kg.

The petrol engine line-up is as follows:

• 180bhp 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder, FWD
• 220bhp 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, FWD or 4WD
• 300bhp 2.8-litre turbo V6, FWD or 4WD

And there will be a brace of 2.0-litre four-cyl diesels, in 160bhp and twin-turbo 190bhp forms. CO2 emissions on these likely company car favourites are as low as 139g/km.

Forget the engineering – let's talk about the design!

Yes, the new 9-5 is an intriguing slice of modern industrial design. It treads a fine line between historicising Saab's past and looking to a bolder future. We've seen the 9-5 in the metal and can confirm it works well – not drop-dead gorgeous, but certainly an indication that Saab has a strong future as an independent concern freed from the constraints of a global corporation.

Numerous heritage points have been cleverly updated, including the wraparound windscreen, while the outgoing 9-5's terrible chromed facial expression has been much more neatly incorporated. Best bit? That wedgy DLO – the side window graphic – has a new take on the Saab hockey stick and we love the full-width rear lights. Very modern, very Swedish.

>> Click 'Next' for more on the new Saab 9-5

By Tim Pollard