New car news

30 August 2009 - 15:00

Saab 9-5: properly officially real

See more Saab 9-5 pics

Having seen the new 9-5 escape merrily onto the interweb a few weeks ago, Saab has now released official photos of what could be its most important car ever for careful perusal by your own eyes.

The 9-5 arrives in the next year to replace the current model, which has reached a geriatric 12 years of age. It will be powered by a range of GM-sourced engines fettled for a little extra power. Expect a 1.6-litre putting out 132kW of power and 230Nm, a 2.0-litre turbo spitting 162kW and 350Nm and a couple of diesel options. The range-topper's meat will be supplied through a 2.8-litre V6, with 221kW and 400Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 6.9s.

Inevitably, the new 9-5 is considerably bigger than the outgoing car, growing in length by around 15cm, though only gaining around 50kg in weight.

Saab says it will not offer the 9-5 in hatchback form but has confirmed that an wagon version will arrive later next year, expected to account for around 40 per cent of sales.

The 9-5 gets plenty of traditional Saab styling cues, from the egg-crate vents and green-hued instruments on the inside to the faux-wraparound windscreen and ‘hockey stick' kink to the rear pillar on the outside.

We particularly like those ‘ice effect' rear light clusters, and we're delighted to see the 9-5's traditional chrome sunglasses have been toned down a little, if not removed completely.

The 9-5 saloon will go on sale in two- and four-wheel-drive flavour early next year. Expect prices to be expressed in pound and also Euros.