Saab 9-5 Sportwagon (2011) first official pictures

This is the new Saab 9-5 Sportwagon, and is the third new model released under Spyker ownership after the 9-5 saloon and 9-4X SUV. Saab has released this solitary teaser image ahead of the car’s debut at the 2011 Geneva motor show in March, and while we can’t see the front on the new Saab 9-5 Sportwagon, it’s the back that’s the business end. It’s not your typical hearse-like load lugger: note the raked rear screen and wraparound rear glass. 

Figures first, and seats up there’s 527 litres of boot space in the new Saab 9-5 Sportwagon. Fold the 60/40-split rear seats and that increases to 1670 litres of cargo space; a 5-series Touring manages 560/1670 litres and the cavernous E-class Estate trumps the pair with 695 and 1950 litres. Blame sleek styling and the lack of a boxy profile for the deficiency of cubic capacity.

The boot itself, Saab promises, is ‘completely flat and upright, creating a clean, open space without any hard-to-use corners or rear wheel-arch intrusions’ and the rear seats fold ‘almost completely flat’ without the need to lift seat squabs or removed headrests'. There’s the usual array of nets, rails and runners to separate your luggage, and there’s an under-floor storage compartment, accessed via an aircraft-shaped handle.

The same turbocharged petrol and diesel engines from the 9-5 saloon will power the Sportwagon, and customers can start ordering their cars from around Geneva motor show time, and deliveries start in September 2011. 

By Ben Pulman