Spy Shots: Are you the 2010 Saab 9-5? [UPDATE: Apparently, yes]
by Chris Paukert on Jul 22nd 2009 at 10:56AM 
2010 Saab 9-5 – Click above for image gallery
UPDATE: Autobild has released 26 stock photos of the 2010 9-5, with plenty of detail shots including several of the cabin. We're attempting to track down all of the official high-res images and data, but in the meantime, check them out by clicking the image above.
We've been seeing disguised spy shots of Saab's pivotal new 9-5 sedan for some time now, and we've liked what we've seen, even if we haven't been able to peel back the covers all the way. Well, a spate of scanned images have hit the internet of what appears to be a production-ready example, and we're cautiously graduating our emotions to genuine excitement.
The images, apparently scanned from German magazine Autozeitung by MotiveMag forum user saabspider, depict a handsome sedan with a confident face, an aggressive rearward tapering greenhouse (emphasized by the chrome J-kick trim band), and a short, tapered rear deck that remind us vaguely of Saab 900 sedans of yore.
The interior also looks inviting, maintaining Saab's traditional driver-oriented 'cockpit' feel, with liberal use of glossy black and matte metal accents.
Will the new 9-5 be enough to save the perennially troubled Swedish automaker as it moves toward independence? Check out the gallery below and then let us know what you think in the 'Comments' section.
Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5 Leaked
Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5 Autozeitung images
[Source: MotiveMag forums via Twitter]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
ppatrix 11:01AM (7/22/2009)
It's carbon fibre though, not piano black. http://i29.tinypic.com/107jgco.jpg
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nastinupe 12:08PM (7/22/2009)
Hello Saab... welcome to 2002. We're glad that you're finally making progress.
Quantumphysics 12:24PM (7/22/2009)
Saabs never looked that great to me but this one is hot because its a reskinned Buick Lacrosse. It looks alot like the new Taurus up front but has an Aston Martin rear end.
Tool 1:35PM (7/22/2009)
It doesn't suck.
It will be interesting to see what the SAAB purists think. The 12 or so people who still put their money into this fabled brand.
derek 3:59PM (7/22/2009)
WOW!!!
This looks sooooooooooooooo much better than the [GM] version of SAAB!!!
WOW! I cant stop saying WOW!!! The exterior looks a little bt of a Koeninisegg look...and the interior: AWESOME!!!
Maybe SAAB will have a chance now!!!
:D!!!!
dumblikeyou2 10:36PM (7/22/2009)
Looks a little too simlilar to an Opel Insignia and China's Buick Regal, both the same car that the 9-5 was based off of. Sorry for those of you who think this Saab has no GM DNA, but it most certainly does.
Frankly, if it weren't for GM, there wouldn't be a Saab today. Now that they're on their own, it be long.
Philthy 10:52AM (7/23/2009)
Er... More like if it weren't for GM, Saab might still be the interesting design house it once was before they started passing rebadged Vectras off as Swedish.
Saabaru 11:04AM (7/22/2009)
The front end reminds me of a Malibu. I'll take the previous exterior of the 9-5 any day over that.
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james 11:04AM (7/22/2009)
Surely I can't be the only one thinking this looks EXACTLY the same as the old one?!
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k.w.a 11:17AM (7/22/2009)
well it certainly looks like an evolution as opposed to a revolution, which probly wasn't a smart move considering the outgoing design has been here for 10 years and Saab still needs a design to knock outta the ballpark.
To its credit though, it did regain some of its quirkiness and the interior looks MUCH better
zamafir 11:28AM (7/22/2009)
i'm with kwa, the rear, front, rear 3/4, all look a lot more saab and a little less GM, the interior also looks much improved. It's funny, it's a very subtle difference, more clearly defined now, but it helps the car feel a lot more SAAB-ie.
james 11:34AM (7/22/2009)
The rear end is certainly a bit nicer than before, and you're right, the interior is a massive step forward. I just think that, in these times, a bit of passion and flare would go down well. Nobody is gonna see this and think "Yes! This is the handsome brute i've been waiting to blow $30k+ on. Depressingly that's £30k here in England too, despite the exchange rate:(
Ike 12:05PM (7/22/2009)
Actually, I own the previous one, and this looks NOTHING like it... my car is nice, but this takes the cake! I love everything EXCEPT the backside of the headrests. The plastic looks far too "GM"...
Throwback 12:56PM (7/22/2009)
James , I agree. I like the interior but the exterior leaves me very underwhelmed. I am a former SAAB owner and I am still a SAAB fan, but I expected more. This could be a Toyota if not for the badges.
volvfan88 7:04PM (7/22/2009)
I feel the same, this car has no interior change frum the last to be honest. the back end is kinda new, but the front is the same old saab front, this brand has too work much harder at its designs.
james 9:42AM (7/23/2009)
@ Ike
Are you serious? This is the laziest evolution of car design since the 911, but at least that's a desirable car in any iteration. I just don't know why they haven't made the effort. If Jaguar had done the same, and not come up with masterpieces like the new XF, and latterly the XJ, they would have already gone bankrupt. Instead their order books are full.
To me this shows just how low confidence levels are at Saab. I just don't know why you would buy one of these - there's a point where individualism becomes foolhardiness. Good luck to them, but I won't be surprised when it's a sales flop, just like every non-special-edition Saab ever.
Asher 11:04AM (7/22/2009)
I have a 9-3 now and I'm not impressed with this. I hope it's better in person.
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Chad 2:05PM (7/22/2009)
Yes, I have an '09 9-3 and I prefer the exterior styling of it. However, they have done some really nice stuff on the interior of this. The gauges and center stack look great.
John 11:05AM (7/22/2009)
It certainly looks more like a Saab than anything they've produced in a while. The use of the vent grid pattern all the way across the dash area is an interesting touch.
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Mike P. 11:05AM (7/22/2009)
I'm gonna get one-starred for this, but assuming these are real...
...front looks kind of like a Hyundai Sonata. Rear looks a bit like an up-sized Subaru Impreza sedan... or something else... it's a bit derivative.
All in all it's a handsome package, though. Just not as striking/dramatic (c'mon, where's the real SAAB?) as I'd hoped.
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