Saab 9-5: Inside the new model - Introduction

There's a certain irony in the timing of the new Saab 9-5's arrival.

For years, General Motors (GM) appeared unsure about what to do with its Swedish offshoot, with the result that Saab seemed to lack a coherent new product plan.

Now, just as GM has been forced to sell Saab as part of its restructuring plans, a series of much-needed new cars is about to be rolled out – spearheaded by the flagship 9-5.

Breathing new life into the Saab brand
The irony is that the 9-5 was developed under GM patronage using new GM platforms and engines. It will be the first of four new models to appear over the next three years.

Replacements for the 9-5 Estate and the medium-sized 9-3, plus a crossover SUV, the 9-4X, are also scheduled.

Saab's new owner, the Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg, has at least been given a fighting chance of resurrecting the brand.

Replacing a 13-year old model
The new 9-5 shares a lot with the Vauxhall Insignia, although it's far from a rebodied clone. It goes on sale next spring, 13 years after the launch of the current car – an age when measured against the life cycles of rival executive saloons.

That left Saab with a lot of catching up to do, but the signs are that the Swedes have closed the gap in one bound, and there'll be a number of firsts for a 9-5 – more than one diesel engine, four-wheel drive and adaptive shock absorbers, and the sort of comfort and convenience features previous buyers could only dream of.