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You weren’t supposed to see these for another month, but here they are: the first pictures of the all-new Saab 9-5.
Leaked by a German magazine onto the internet, the photos show the Insignia/Mondeo rival in all its chrome-highlighted glory.
Smart looking thing, isn’t it? Look at the wraparound glazing and the almost coupe-ish slant to the C-pillar. More than a hint of old Saab 900 there, don’t you think?
The headlights – and the instruments – have the ‘ice look’ that Saab has been showing off on concepts for a while now, while the chrome around the lights and grille is far neater (and less bespectacled) than the current 9-5.
The 9-5 is underpinned by the Insignia – no bad thing, that – so it’ll use similar engines, albeit reworked by Saab for a little more power. We know that electronically torque-split four-wheel drive will be an option, as seen on the 9-3.
Despite GM’s takeover woes, the 9-5 should remain safe: Saab has an agreement with The General to use the parts for the foreseeable future, and the cars will be built in Sweden.
We’ll get to see the Saab 9-5 in the metal at the Frankfurt show in October. It’s expected to go on sale in the UK early next year.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
Kuang commented on this article
at 04:48 pm on 23 July 2009
Those C pillar blind spots are going to be a pig. I'm undecided - I think Saabs should be dramatic and slightly off the wall, and they seem to have lost that years ago.
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Mikeado commented on this article
at 04:53 pm on 23 July 2009
A good improvement over the current 9-5. I like that the steering wheel has a smiley face. But what did they do to the back? I don't know if it's the peculiar camera angles, but it looks like an elongated Mazda 6 from the C-Pillar back!
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Russelldog commented on this article
at 05:20 pm on 23 July 2009
I don't know whether I like it or not. I will have to ask my dad to see if it's a proper Saab or not. At first glance it looks good, nice and modern but we'll just have to see what the journalists say when they get their hands on it.
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ourcommon commented on this article
at 06:09 pm on 23 July 2009
the interior shots i saw saw a host of plastic vents, you know those are gonna rattle like a old wooden box after 5 years. Great looking profile though.
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PetrolheadViper commented on this article
at 08:13 pm on 23 July 2009
I dont like the interior on it. It seems a bit cheap. Looks better than the old one though.
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