Saab supercar enters a new era

The new Saab 9-5 will be a key part of Koenigsegg's plans for the brand.

Saab has released details of its new 9-5 flagship, a car crucial to the brand's success as an independent carmaker under new ownership.

A few weeks ago, General Motors reached a deal to sell Saab to Koenigsegg Group AB, a consortium of private investors that includes Koenigsegg Automotive AB, a tiny Swedish maker of supercars.

The new 9-5 will play an important role in a product offensive that Koenigsegg plans to announce once its purchase of the brand from GM is finalised.

"This car is the start of a new era for our brand," said Saab managing director Jan-Ake Jonsson.

"We have created an advanced and very distinctive product by leveraging the power of our roots in key areas, such as progressive Scandinavian design, sporty driving and responsible performance.

"The new 9-5 delivers in all these respects, as will every future product from Saab."

Saab says the new 9-5 is the most technically advanced car it has made to date.

It comes with an array of high-tech features, including heads-up information display, Bi-Xenon adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, parking assistance, all-wheel-drive, adaptive chassis control, offering three different suspension settings.

Infotainment choices include a top-of-the-line Harman Kardon 5.1 channel surround sound audio system and an eight-inch colour touch screen navigation system with hard disk storage for map data and 10GB for MP3 music files. A large centre console provides storage and connections for several portable devices through USB and 3.5mm AUX ports alongside a 12V power outlet.

Rear passengers can even access their own audio or watch a DVD. The rear seat entertainment unit in the back of the centre console accommodates audio controls and folding viewing screens are installed in the backs of the front seats. Wireless headphones are provided for listening and viewing.

The car will be offered with petrol, diesel or E85 bioethanol four-cylinder turbocharged engines. Saab has some 30 years' experience in turbocharging engines and the all-turbo powertrain line-up in the new 9-5 further develops its engine strategy.

The most fuel-efficient diesel, a 120kW 2-litre unit, has CO2 emissions of 139gr/km. A top-of-the-line 2.8 V6 turbo, generating 224kW and 400Nm of torque, is offered exclusively with Saab XWD. All transmission will be six-speed.

The new 9-5 shares GM's Epsilon 2 platform with the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, but the Saab version has a longer wheelbase and its own low-slung exterior styling and unique interior.

The current 9-5 has been on sale for 12 years and its sales have declined as the car has got older. This year to June, Saab built 9061 units of the 9-5, down 72.4 per cent from the year before. Saab sold 93,000 cars worldwide in 2008.

The 9-5 borrows its styling cues from the Aero X concept. The carmaker says the car will bring a fresh, alternative choice to the premium segment when it goes on sale in 2010.

"We are giving a fresh, very modern expression to some of our classic brand design cues," says Simon Padian, Saab brand design chief.

"We have visual themes found in our recent concept cars, such as the Aero X, which are inspired by Scandinavian design and our brand's aircraft heritage."

The 9-5 will be built at Saab's home plant in Trollhattan, where it has been engineered.

It will be unveiled at this month's Frankfurt motor show.