Comments on: About those 9-5 pics….

By: MJL

MJL — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:41:52 +0000

Saab needs to build this car and build it fast. It should fight its GM overlords by any means necessary to get a no-excuses, full-on sporty luxurious flagship, one that (as was said before) stands out in the crowd but also one which doesn’t impinge on the 9-3’s stomping grounds (which would allow the 9-3 to be as good as possible, instead of being held within certain limits.) As for the current mockup, I’m a fan, though the wagon could be a bit more shapely. Does the rear of the sedan look like they’re bringing back the hatch? In today’s world, that might actually (pun intended) fly.

By: SG

SG — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:38:37 +0000

This is where SAAB, the Aircraft manufacturer could help Saab Automobile with something actually built well for their equal in the Automotive industry.

I want to see a Saab built as well as the Gripen that I got a chance to see being built last summer in SAAB’s secure facility where SAABs URSAAB and the model 92 were originally built.

Linköping, Sverige.

- R

By: Ben W

Ben W — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:26:17 +0000

I’m liking the three quarter rear view of the saloon, but the SportsEstate looks wrong and the original 5-door hatch looks more out of proportion the more I look at it.

The more I look at all of them, the more I see the dodgy Photoshop work. I have a sneaking suspicion someone’s just gotten creative with existing Aero-X pics and coloured the thing red. Hmm.

I certainly wouldn’t complain if future models had Aero X DNA in their designs though.

As for HUDs… most manufacturer’s attempts have been kind lame (or at least, toyish). Why can’t Saab go to their aeronautical namesakes and licence/jointly develop some serious HUD technology. We’ve had reflective HUDs since the early 90s – how about transparent OLED overlays that not only display speed and warnings, but also your GPS navigation map? Now that would be cool!

By: SG

SG — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:09:05 +0000

The other thing makes these drawings incorrect and way to premature is that this model should be rolling out as a 2008 model, so those will be rolling out 1 year from now.

If the new 9-5, not the current “updated” one is rolling out next fall, we would see SOMETHING by now, don’t you think?

No Spy shots either, then again maybe all the great Swedish contacts are present near the GM Design Center in Russelheim to take the photos for us???

The 3rd generation 9-5 I suppose it would be called, would be rolling out of the Russelheim factory anyways.

- R

By: zippy

zippy — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:47:10 +0000

PS the back even looks like the aforementioned Ford Scorpio! Someone is seriously extracting the urine here and some have taken the bait!

By: zippy

zippy — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:45:07 +0000

Saab equivalent of a Pontiac Aztec – fugly! In fact, its almost as fugly as a 1990 Ford Scorpio they used to sell in Europe and that thing had a face on it like a slapped arse.

I honestly hope someone is trying to divert attention from the real thing. No, in fact I am sure someone it trying to divert our attention away. Remember all those supposed spyshots of the 9-3SS and how horrible some of them were, and how awed I was when I actually saw one. I think my intitial reaction was “that is f****** gorgeous!!”.

By: saab9x

saab9x — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:41:13 +0000

just make the one in the drawing and add the aero-x’s, “ski slope” headlights. it’s more rakish than the ones on the magazine covers, and we get a better design for the back windows.

By: JMcK

JMcK — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:11:33 +0000

Yeah, I agree with Ted. GM’s had the technology since the C5 Corvette in 1997. I’m surprised it didn’t show up in the 9-3.

And it’s only been in North America that Saab had an all-turbo lineup. In other parts the 9-3 is offered with a 1.8 NA. And I doubt the NA engine would be offered in the 9-5 across the Atlantic.

Speaking of engines, I thought there was work happening on a turbo version of the 3.6 V6. I can see the base 9-5 in the US having the 2.8 turbo as standard, but the Aero would need something like the 3.6 with a turbo and 350 hp and AWD to be in the running. The new E550 has way over 300 hp now anyway.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:07:15 +0000

Thanks for the heads-up (pun intended), Ted.

After looking into it I see that the ‘01 was GM’s first implimentation of the HUD and it continued on through ‘05.

I think this is a good feature to put in a SAAB. Maybe it’s gimmicky, but in a car with an aeronautics heritage and safety being a core feature, it seems logical to put in a system designed so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to see how fast you’re going!

By: Ted Y

Ted Y — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:44:05 +0000

Gripen:
Not sure you’re right about the HUD. Our 2001 Pontiac Aztek has the head-up display on the windshield. I don’t think there’s actually much high-tech involved at all, but I find it a waste of money–I always look at the dash first anyway.