Autoblog

If Saab closes, will the new 9-5 live on wearing a Buick badge?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Buick, Saab, Rumormill

2010 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a rumor sure to irk many Saab faithful, Dagens Industri in Sweden is reporting that "sources within Saab Automobile are stating that GM now sees positive opportunities in a closing of Saab." Ouch, that hurts in an insult-to-injury kind of way, dontcha think?

Specifically, General Motors is said to be considering taking the recently competed but not-yet-on-sale 2010 Saab 9-5 and resuscitating it as a Buick for America. If true, the move does make a bit of sense as the car is by all measures ready to go and it would be quite a waste to put it out to pasture before it ever sees the light of day - especially if the car is anywhere near as good as early reports suggest.

Further, the going speculation is that The General could raid Saab's parts and technology bins for more future products, including a possible revival of the large Opel Senator for Europe. If this rumor proves accurate, it would appear that there may not be much hope left for a Saab purchase by Dutch automaker Spyker as indications are that GM is telling suppliers that it is estimating a five-year wind-down of the brand.

Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5

[Source: DN.se via Saabs United]

If Saab closes, will the new 9-5 live on wearing a Buick badge? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin

Chris Paukert — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Saab

2010 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

To be honest, there have been points at which it felt like this new Saab 9-5 would never see the light of day. To say that the outgoing model had grown long in the tooth would be a colossal understatement, and in the hyper-competitive market that is the globe's entry-level premium segment, the 9-5 had become something of a placeholder, playing second fiddle to the automaker's newer, more dynamic 9-3. So with its own cheaper sibling playing the role of upstager and parent General Motors in the throes of bankruptcy, we didn't exactly have faith that Saab would ever launch this new sedan. But after an arduous development process and a new owner in the form of supercar maker Koenigsegg, the future looks - if not bright - at least markedly less dim.

If we sound like we're damning the 2010 9-5 with faint praise, we're not - after sitting in the car today at the Frankfurt Motor Show and talking extensively with members of Saab's team, we're actually rather optimistic that the perennially underweight automaker may yet emerge from its funk and put some rouge back in the 'ol Griffin. But until we drive it, we're going to reserve judgment before we break out the akvavit and reindeer steaks - we've been here before.

One thing's for sure - this new, larger 9-5 looks incredibly crisp in the metal. With clean flanks, a distinctive, cantilevered roofline paired with wraparound-look glass and handsome head- and tail lamp detailing, this is an attractive, cohesive design sans adornment - no gaping ducts, fender vents, or protruding aero addenda are in evidence anywhere. Very much in the Scandinavian mold, the 9-5 pulls design elements from the showstopping Saab Aero-X concept coupe and puts them in a real-world package. Similarly, like Scandinavian furniture, the design won't be to everyone's tastes.

Inside, there's gobs more space than in the outgoing car both front and rear, and the design has been tastefully updated in a driver-centric way that honors the marque's quirkiness (Night Panel button, eggcrate grid air vents, etc.) without becoming a caricature of Saabs past. Reinforcing the aeronautically-minded "Born From Jets" theme that had become something of a punchline with distractions like the 9-7x SUV, Saab has adopted new features like an optional heads-up display and a novel altimeter-like digital speedometer readout in case you aren't interested making use of the clear analogue gauges.

Click on the jump for more impressions and the official press release.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5

Gallery: 2010 Saab 9-5

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Saab 9-5 is proof there's still some flight left in the ol' Griffin originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is GM's Henderson 'afraid' to let Saab go because the next 9-5 is so good?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, GM, Saab

According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Fritz Henderson, General Motors' recently appointed CEO, doesn't want to see Saab leave the American automaker's portfolio. Why? Apparently, because the upcoming Saab 9-5 sport sedan is just that good. The paper goes on to suggest that the new Saab 9-5 Aero was tested and compared against the Opel Insignia OPC, which shares a similar platform, with the Swedish automobile emerging as "a clear winner."

We really do hope the next-gen Saab 9-5 is a brilliant car. Still, we have a suspicious feeling that these reports are a bit embellished. All things considered, it's more likely that Henderson hopes the new 9-5 is good enough to help attract a reasonable offer from its new owner, be it Geely, Fiat or some other bidder, which may in fact turn out to be a better scenario for the Saab's future that staying under the GM umbrella.

[Source: Saabs United]

Is GM's Henderson 'afraid' to let Saab go because the next 9-5 is so good? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Saab 9-5 still coming despite brand's hardship

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hatchback, Saab

An eagle-eyed spy shooter hiding behind the bushes somewhere in Europe managed to capture a trio of next-gen Saab 9-5 hatchbacks wearing a bit less camouflage than we've seen in the past. For the first time, we can see the new Swedish beauty's front and rear light clusters, along with what appears to be a gently sloping rear hatchback shape.

Besides getting an idea of the car's general shape, these shots seem to indicate the next 9-5 will be much larger than the car it replaces. We also hear, though you can't see it in any of these shots, that the ignition switch will be replaced by a push-button starter located in the console between the two front seats - just as Thor himself intended.

There's not much else of interest to be gleaned from these shots unless you really have a thing for LED light clusters, so the real important bit of information to take away is that Saab is indeed at work testing its next-gen range-topper model for a release sometime before the end of the year, despite the uncertainty surrounding the brand's future.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: Saab 9-5 still coming despite brand's hardship originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 May 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Against all odds, next Saab 9-5 on schedule

Noah Joseph — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Saab, Rumormill

On the market since 1997, Saab's 9-5 is getting more than a little long in the tooth. The Swedish automaker is about to launch the Griffin Edition of its aging sedan, but that's a stop-gap at best; if Saab is serious about its future, it's going to need an all-new 9-5. Or more accurately, if General Motors is serious about Saab's future, it will need a new 9-5 - or at least the perception of a forthcoming 9-5 among investors (Wagoner and company have hinted at that they may sell off or shut down their quirky Scandinavian subsidiary).

The latest rumors, however, indicate that the new 9-5 has departed the terminal on time and is running on schedule. According to the folks at Trollhatten Saab, this report comes courtesy of an admittedly anonymous dealer who has apparently been exclusively peddling Saab's Swedish wares in America for more than two decades. The sketch above, released this past summer, promises a closer tie-in with Saab's increasingly dubious aerospace links. Could it be enough to thrust some juice into the automaker's afterburners? Thanks to Swade for the tip!

[Source: Trollhattan Saab]

REPORT: Against all odds, next Saab 9-5 on schedule originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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