The future for Saab looks bleak. With Koenigsegg no longer footing a purchase deal and General Motors laying off 9000 workers around Europe for Opel, I can only imagine how the test driver of this Saab must feel right now. Something like driving around in a coffin might come close.

The spy shots show a Saab 9-5 Station Wagon in testing, which should include most of the features of the lovely new 9-5 sedan, but obviously with a heap more luggage space and redesigned rear end. This Saab 9-5 estate could have been one to compete, dare I say, with some of the German touring estates and wagons, but as the guys at spyshots.nl say, a guardian angel for Saab seems a long way away.

Source | SpyShots.nl

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 wagon spy shots

The previous Saab 9-5 will be constructed in China by Beijing Auto (BAIC), which will start assembly operations in the next six months of the old sedan model. The project has come about after BAIC acquired part of Koenigsegg operations.

The new production in China of the old model will start only after Saab has launched the new 9-5, planned for April next year. BAIC has full control over the model, and no news has been released about the possible changes from the Chinese that we will see on the old model. What’s more, the move seems to indicate a future joint venture where Saab models will be assembled directly in the local Chinese market.

Continue reading: Previous Saab 9-5 production in China

Here’s a new gallery of the Saab 9-5 and a video after the jump for a closer look at the Saab sedan. We doubt we’ll feel like we’re sailing around in a Koenigsegg supercar, but the top-notch quality is not under question all the same. It seems that the automobile world really wants the 9-5 to be everything Saab is hoping for, and more.

The Saab 9-5 has a good start given its sleek Scandinavian looks and well-chosen engine range. Among the options are a 2.0-litre unit with 220 hp, a 2.8-litre V6 with 300 hp and a 2.0-litre diesel with 160 hp. Other options in the future will also include gas and biopower versions.

We’ll have to wait for first drive impressions to emerge before we can sing praises or claim successes. But most seem well-disposed to be positive and it will all come down to the driving. Video after the jump.

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 new pics and video

The Saab 9-5 has been presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in a crucially strategic move for the company as it faces a very delicate future. We have to say, the 9-5 is looking very suave in a competitive sector, with a strong style, good design and genuine technical base. It’s based on the Opel Insignia, giving the 9-5 a definite head start in its campaign to save Saab.

Overall the Saab 9-5 is a very clean and smooth, impeccably dressed sedan. It has some classy modern touches such as LED lights, and the interior is original but comfortable. For a stand-off with the Germans, the 9-5 has everything from head-up display, Bi-Xenon Smart Beam lights, Saab DriveSense suspension control, triple zone air conditioning and parking assistance.

The engine range is made up exclusively of turbo compressed units, including a two-litre 220 hp engine, a 2.8-litre V6 with 300 hp (with XWD) and a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 160 hp. In the future we should the environmental options emerge, including gas turbo and BioPower units. Both manual and automatic transmission options are available.

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 live pics from Frankfurt

After the gallery of new Saab 9-5 pics, here is the first video presented by Simon Padian on the design of the new Saab 9-5 sedan. It’s more of a promo video than anything, on the advanced “Scandinavian simplicity” of Saab, and only shows a three-quarter view of the 9-5. It will be officially presented, however, at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show this month, so hopefully we see some other material emerge in the near future.

At its release, the Saab 9-5 will be available with a 2.0 litre turbo engine with 220 hp, a 2.8 litre V6 turbo with 300 hp and 400 Nm, and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 160 hp and CO2 emissions of just 139 g/km. Both front and all-wheel drive options will be available with six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 video on design

Saab has released these pics of the new Saab 9-5 before the Frankfurt Motor Show, showing off its new flagship sedan (maybe) set to save the company. Below is the full press release from Saab with details of the new 9-5.

All 9-5 engines will be turbocharged, with the two engines available at release being petrol and diesel four-cylinder, 2.0-litre units. The petrol unit will have 200 hp, while the diesel comes with 160 hp. The engine range will start with a 1.6-litre unit, while the top range option will be a 2.8-litre, V6 turbo with 300 hp and 400 Nm.

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 new pics and engine details

I’m tempted almost to name the Saab 9-5 the “saviour” and these new pics show a good looking sedan that might just pull off the rescue required for Saab. The pics come from the Swedish press and show a 9-5 TTid, likely to be equipped with a twin turbo diesel at 180hp.

Source | Auto Motor Sport

Continue reading: More Saab 9-5 preview pics

The big question to be answered with the release of the Saab 9-5 pics is whether this new sedan will be enough to save the company. We’ve seen plenty of 9-5 spy shots recently, although after the render I’ll admit to expecting something slightly less angular in the rear.

Apart from that, the 9-5 has a classic Saab sedan look, and the front nose is very elegant, with a beautiful saloon style. The interior looks comfortable and sophisticated, and it appears that Saab has done a splendid job in focussing its efforts on this sedan. For a closer analysis, we’ll have to wait for news from Saab and the 9-5 presentation in September.

Source | Autoblog

Continue reading: New Saab 9-5 pics appear

As General Motors emerges from bankruptcy, the proceedings of the last few months are being felt in Europe as Saab finalises deals for its sale next month. According to reports a binding agreement to sell the Saab brand to the Koenigsegg Group will occur by the end of the month.

Saab is preparing its new 9-5 for production and its official presentation in September, before sales commence in spring 2010. The Koenigsegg deal would mean that GM transfers equipment to the Trollhättan facilities to manufacture the 9-5.

Saab has been working on its 9-5 business plan, with possible targets of 45,000 units to be produced per year, similar to the current model. The aim is to have a three percent share of the global 1.2 million large car market.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: GM to sell Saab to Koenigsegg Group by August

This is a lovely looking reconstruction of the future Saab 9-5 from the Swedish, showing off the elegant and well designed style that could herald success in a time of need for Saab.

The new 9-5 will share the Opel Insignia platform, but will have a slightly longer wheel base, though keeping the all-wheel drive. According to Autocar, plans for the Sport Combi project are also already underway.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 rendering

As these spy shots from the Nurburgring show, testing on the Saab 9-5 is continuing, despite announcements from General Motors that it will withdraw from the group by the end of the year.

Camouflage still covers a large part of the front, preventing any early judgements on the style of the sedan. It appears that many features seen on recent concept cars such as the 9-X Air, will be included on the 9-5.

The new model will be longer than the current version, with 14 cm extra on the wheel base. The engine range will include a 2.0 litre turbo at 210 hp, capable of working on bio-ethanol, and a 2.8 litre V6. Completing the petrol range will be a 1.6 litre turbo, though no news is available on diesel models being considered. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be optional.

Source | LeftLane

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 testing going ahead

Saab is continuing the development of its 9-5 model, seen here in a couple of spy shots. The new Saab 9-5 will be presented in September at the Frankfurt motor show, 12 years after the original first generation model. The new model will use an Epsilon II base, the same on which the Opel Insignia has been designed.

The new 9-5 will have a longer wheel base and a length of about five metres. The engine range will include petrol turbo units, BioPower and TiD/TTiD diesel options. A 3.6 litre turbo V6 at 350 hp will appear at the top of the range, while the entry level version should be a 2.0 litre turbo at 210 hp.

A future Saab 9-5 hybrid is not out of the question. The look will be a typical four-door coupé, and production should start in June at Opel facilities in Russelsheim, and not in Sweden.

Source | MotorAuthority

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 spy shots