Car News
Car Reviews
Cars for Sale
Car Discussion

The Saab 9-5 Sedan and SportCombi range is a clear expression of the sporty and multi-dynamic appeal of the Saab brand. Distinctive styling and strong turbocharged performance are combined with outstanding ride comfort, responsive handling and class-leading levels of safety.

Positioned in the upper medium segment of the premium car sector, the Saab 9-5 range provides a more individual, self-expressive choice in a marketplace crowded with more commonplace competitors, such as the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Mercedes E-class and Volvo S80/V70.

The all-turbo powertrain line-up leads the premium segment in offering a ’tri-fuel’ choice of gasoline, diesel or bioethanol powered engines. The range is led by the high performance, 260 bhp/ 191 kW Saab 9-5 Aero and includes a powerful yet frugal 150 bhp/ 1.9TiD option and two Saab BioPower variants offering enhanced performance from E85 (85% bioethanbol/15% gasoline) fuel.

The model range highlights include:

Exterior Design

• Bold, distinctive exterior looks, including dramatic evolution of traditional three-port Saab ’face’, heralding future Saab design direction.
• Saab styling cues: wedge-shaped profile, ‘clam shell’ hood, ’hockey stick’ curvature to C-pillars, oval door handles and triangular ’cut-out’ front indicator and rear light housings
• Color-keyed exterior detailing and integrated bumper moldings. Projector-style headlamp units and flush-mounted rear light clusters
• SportCombi designed as a separate model with unique bodystyling from B-pillar rearwards
• Raked, ‘wraparound’, rear window for SportCombi emphasises sporty character
• Highly competitive 0.29 Cd for sedan and 0.32 Cd for SportCombi

Interior Design and Features
The spacious interior features a ‘cockpit-like’ driving environment and superb seating. The bold, sweeping contours of the cabin and the matte chrome finish to the controls and instrumentation, complement the looks of the exterior styling.

• ’Black Room’ interior design theme adds sporty interior ambience with all-black door cappings, front fascia and carpeting.
• Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control fitted as standard, allowing the driver and passenger to select a different temperature setting.
• ’ComSense’ functionality minimizes potential for driver distraction through ’dynamic workload management’, briefly suppressing in-car warning messages/phone calls when moments of high driver workload is detected.
• Saab ‘Night Panel’ restricts instrument illumination and visual ‘clutter’ to reduce distraction during night driving.
• Infotainment options include a choice of three audio systems, all with an auxiliary input socket, and DVD/GPS satellite navigation with a large 6.5-inch color monitor and touch-screen operation
• Twin air filtration through a combined electrostatically-charged and carbon filter which removes airborne particles as small as 4 microns (0.004 mm). It collects dust, soot and pollen, as well certain airborne chemicals, preventing odours entering the car.
• Double front sun visors include a second flap that unclips and can be swivelled to shield the upper side window, making driving into a low sun on a winding road much less distracting.
• Generous on-board storage: pouches on front seat squabs, storage net in front passenger footwell, chilled glovebox, center console with armrest, bag hooks in trunk and rear ski-hatch.
• Adaptable load-carrying for sedan (foldable rear seat) and SportCombi (flat-bed rear deck and cargo securing tracks)
• First passenger car to offer ventilated front seats for additional comfort
• Three interior trim levels or ’forms’: Linear, Arc and Vector, plus top-of-the-line Aero specification

Powertrain
The all-turbo powertain is unique in offering a bioethanol fuel choice - Saab BioPower - in addition to gasoline and diesel. Ranging in power from 260 bhp/ 191 kW to 150 bhp/ 110 kW, all engines deliver characteristically strong, mid-range torque for safe, secure overtaking.

• All gasoline and BioPower engines controlled by sophisticated Saab Trionic engine management system simultaneously measuring and adjusting ignition timing, fuel injection, turbo boost pressure and the electronic throttle for optimum combustion.
• 260 bhp/ 191 kW 2.3 turbo Aero engine leads the range and includes a ’superboost’ function briefly raising torque to exceptional 370 Nm.
• Choice of 150, 185, or 220 bhp (110, 136, 162 kW) turbo engines, all with counter-rotating balancer shafts for excellent running refinement, complete gasoline line-up.
• 150 bhp/110 kW 1.9TiD engine, with maintenance-free exhaust particulate filter, delivers strong performance and good fuel economy. Maximum torque of 320 Nm exceeded only be Aero engine
• Unique Saab BioPower engines, 2.0t (180 bhp/132 kW) and 2.3t (210 bhp/154 kW) on bioethanol-based fuel (E85), giving environmental benefits of reduced CO2 emissions as well as even sportier performance. Flex-fuel capability, able to run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85.
• Automatic transmissions include Saab Sentronic manual selection via steering wheel buttons

• Chassis behavior communicated through driver’s hips, with seating position located as close as possible to vehicle’s center of gravity
• Isolated front a rear sub-frames provide excellent ride refinement by helping to prevent road noise, shocks and vibration entering the passenger cabin.
• De-coupled MacPherson strut front suspension separates spring and damper load paths into the front structure, improving insulation from road shocks and allowing better control of ride characteristics
• Multi-link, independent rear suspension for improved wheel control and ride quality
• Low-mounted steering rack with short tie rods of excellent steering response
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), switchable electronic Traction Control System (TCS) and a Saab-developed electronic stability program (ESP®) all fitted as standard.
• 10 mm lowered, sports-tuned chassis and brakes for top-of-the-line Aero models

Safety

The Saab 9-5 range benefits from class-leading safety levels, as demonstrated by its maximum 5-star Euro-NCAP crash test rating and the findings of accident injury surveys by the Highway Loss Data Institute in the United States and Sweden’s Folksam insurance company. It is the product of Saab’s ’real-life ’ safety strategy, incorporating lessons learnt from a detailed analysis of more 6,100 actual road accidents involving Saab cars on Swedish roads.

• Front deformation zone distributes crash forces along three separate load paths
• Predictable frontal deformation almost irrespective of point of impact
• Exceptionally strong safety cage with joints designed to resist tearing
• Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) help prevent neck injury in rear impacts
• Unique ‘pendulum’ B-pillars divert and spread side impact forces
• Adaptive front airbags deployed according impact severity and seat position
• Seat-mounted side impact airbags help provide head and chest protection
• Five 3-point seat belts include pre-tensioning and load-limiting for front occupants
• Rear seat designed for shifting load protection

Source: Internal