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

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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

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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

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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

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