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2010 Saab 9-5 photochop comparos
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2010 Saab 9-5 photochop comparos

February 6th, 2009 · 42 Comments



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Someone named “keeneyes” produced what is my favourite photochop of the 2010 Saab 9-5 so far, basically by taking a couple of real spyphotos and making silhouettes of them.

9-5phantom2

9-5phantom

Robert B has done some digging through the archives and looked at the many photoshop predictions that have surfuced in the media over the last 18 months and has come up with a very similar shaped vehicle to compare the real car’s silhouette with.

Here’s the comparison. Click to enlarge.

saab9-5comparo

The image on the left first appeared on this site way back in March 2007 and was noted then as coming from a Danish magazine (i.e. a magazine from Denmark, not a magazine about sweet pastries). As far as the overall shape is concerned, it’s a very good likeness.

I find myself hoping that they’ll have evolved the exterior design a little more from the current 9-5, however.

For comparitive purposes, here are the other images that have surfaced so far….right back to mid-2006.

From Saab:

9-5sketch1

From Vibilgare:

saab_9-5_framtid

From Auto Motor and Sport

From LeftLane News:

Saab 9-5 preview

From AMS, again:

Saab 9-5 AMS

From Infomotori:

Saab9-5cgi.jpg

From one of our own, who I believe I can safely identify now as WooDz

95ext_rear-09my_grey.jpg

From Car Magazine, 2006

Saab9-5cgi_1_560px.jpg

Saab9-5cgi_2_560px.jpg

From Auto Express:

new9-5ae1.jpg . new9-5ae2.jpg . new9-5ae3.jpg

From Tekniken’s Varld:

teknikcover.jpg

From AMS (again, again), a car they called the “9-5x” at the time:

AMScover 9-5x.jpg

–

Tags: Saab 9-5

42 responses so far ↓

  • 1 MarkacNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    The nose looks a little too “Dame Edna” on that March 2007 photo.

  • 2 MeNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    Thank God this dark grey “thing” from Car magazine 2006 has nothing to do with the 9-5.
    It is really ugly but most of all totally unsaabish !!

  • 3 keeneyesNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    Thank’s for your kind words, swade. I actually posted one more, but it might have gone missing in the comment maelstrom. Same principal: Just trying to connect the dots. And again: Trying to read that interesting fellow Ascariss right.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34952621@N08/3248087535/

  • 4 MailrNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    The Car magazine (and 2:nd AMS photo) has been identified to be a photoshop based on an offical Passat CC photo published by VW.

  • 5 TorgeirNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    I think the danish photo is damn close to the real deal. Quick comparision with the spyshots of the real car: look at the grille/bonnet recess – the same, look at the edgy hip – similar, look at the rear door/c-pillar joint – same, the c-pillar is also very similar to the one shown in the grainy screenshot from the SAAB video posted last week. My guess; the guy who made this cgi have seen the real deal. Maybe they changed the dame Edna face with a face more like the 9-4X, maybe the spacecar mirrors are different, the door handles will be different – but the basic shape and lines, I believe are spot on.

  • 6 PedroNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I find the AMS rendering (the one with XNU 150 plate) and the LeftlaneNews ones to be pretty close to one another, even if the LeftlaneNews rendering does look a little too ’soft’ and curvy…

  • 7 CharactaNo Gravatar // Feb 6, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    I totally agree with Torgeir. The guy must have seen the new 9-5!

  • 8 zippyNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:05 am

    I kinda like the first AMS.se shot and the LeftLane News rendering.

    That hideous monstrosity from that Danish magazine looks nothing like the cars we have seen roadtesting – thank god. That is quite possibly the ugliest car I have ever seen!!

    Wasnt there a guy on here a bit back who said the car was ugly. God help Saab if it is!

  • 9 TurbotrollNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:21 am

    I like the picture apparently coming from WooDz. It reminds me of 900NG, which shouldn’t be a bad thing I guess.

  • 10 Nate 9-3No Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:54 am

    11 days and counting? ….

  • 11 ELBOBONo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 2:54 am

    I think Saab has been toying with us. There have been too many insiders proclaiming knowledge ( many times at odds with other comments) that I bet will be misinformation. They really have done a great job keeping us guessing

    Chris

  • 12 AscarissNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 5:46 am

    there is only 1 that is accurate the rest are not, any impression based off the aero concept are false.

    Misinformation perhaps, but then it is hard to be misinformed when you have seen the real car.

  • 13 zippyNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 5:59 am

    Ascariss, give is a clue. And if you say its on this page I will have Swade ban you! LOL!! ;)

  • 14 moNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 6:07 am

    i agree with ascariss, looking at the spy pics i dont think its going to have an aero-x face we are hoping for. im thinking its closest to the first one according to ascariss, as all the other ones have different rear lights than the spy photos.

  • 15 MeNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 6:18 am

    Hi Ascariss,
    well a red and black backend like the 12th picture would have been lovely.
    @Pedro
    XNU 150 is more what we expect it to be, even the doorhandles are the best ones, but I don’t know why, but I think LeftLaneNews has better Information.

  • 16 ELBOBONo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 6:18 am

    Oh no Ascariss, I believe it has all been willfull and with purpose :P

  • 17 MatsNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Torgeir wrote:
    “similar to the one shown in the grainy screenshot from the SAAB video posted last week.”
    Where is this video? I have missed it…
    /M

  • 18 Dan9-1No Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:34 am

    Swade,

    Have you removed the comment function on some of the older posts? Is this part of the TS run-down towards the new website.

    I’m just curious as I was looking through some older posts on the 9-5.

    On the subject of the 9-5 I don’t think (from looking at the drawings) that any of these are right, but they all have certain elements which look like they could relate to the picture…

    Should we look at that until we have more info?
    Its also slightly worrying that we haven’t had any small teasers yet, but there’s plenty of time until September!

    Dan9-1

  • 19 metrognomeNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 8:45 am

    All of these renderings are pretty radical. Some are fantastic, some are hideous, but the silhouetted spy shot does not seem to be as interesting as any of them. I’m afraid it’s going to come out looking too much like a Buick Lucerne or Saturn Aura. Not ugly, but not very interesting. Hopefully I’m wrong.

  • 20 AscarissNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 9:12 am

    it’s not the red car ;)

  • 21 Eduard(Edusaab)No Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:30 am

    I hope they use the ventilated seats again…….in the Insignia they use them.

    regards

  • 22 zippyNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:32 am

    I bloody hope its not that red car, its on par with that Danish mag shot and that dark gray monstrosity. I am kinda thinking the image at the top of the page is close. I do wish it had a few Aero X elements. I kinda like the drawing from Saab and M88 OAN.

  • 23 NJ_NickNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Must say I agree with metrognome, the silhoutted spy shot is not that interesting IMHO. It looks too much like, well, the current 9-5. I am expecting something more radical based on all the positive reports from people who have actually seen the car uncladed.

  • 24 LTABossNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 11:02 am

    I can definitely see a resemblance between the silhouetted spy shot and the danish guy’s prediction. If that is the case – I would be pretty impressed, but not wowed.

    But I can also see similarities with the first listed AMS photo – the car with the XNU 150 plates. Does anyone else see a photographer’s reflection on that car or is it just me?… hoping that that is what it actually looks like : )

    I seem to remember reading reports that the Aero version will have 20 inch wheels. Did I dream that or did I actually read that somewhere?

  • 25 ELBOBONo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 11:12 am

    That means it “IS” the red car right Ascariss?

  • 26 moNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    i wish that it looks like the infomotori one as that is the one that is most radical and different. it doesnt look necessarily good, just different and seems like it has a strong presence.

  • 27 KroumNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    The Infomotori one looks like a Porsche Panamera.

    You don’t need a weird body for a car to look different – case in point: Bangle’s designs. The outlines of a 7 series don’t look very shocking until you see the full flaming thing – then you can’t help it but “what the heck”.

    I think Ascariss was serious when he said it is not the red one – as it was established long ago over here, this is a chop based on Alfa. Besides, to me personally it already looks outdated.

    It is my belief AMS have the closest renderings. Part of it is because they are Swedish, probably with close ties to plenty of people who have seen the car in the flesh.

  • 28 zippyNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    I agree with Kroum, I think the AMS.se rendering with XNU150 as a plate is the real deal. If you think about the proportions of the Insignia that Saab has to work with it seems to work. If the car at the very top of the page has the same front end as XNU 150 it will be a stunning car.

    Roll on 17February!!!

  • 29 Martin NNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    I think the LLN nose is quite close. I’ve heard from a few sources that the car will not have Aero X lights, but will have chrome around them.

    My guess is that the LLN pic is closest of the non-Saab pics, but it looks a bit to compact.

  • 30 MeNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    @metrognome
    Hey, in your examples (Aura, Lucerne) you’ve choosen really bad looking cars, I can’t imagine that JAJ or CPF would allow that. Europeans don’t like this “american” look.

    @Ascariss
    Me knows ;-)

    @Korum
    Bangle is gone from BMW Too radical for the “germans”. But I think Bangle’s BMWs are the first ones looking interesting in my eyes.

  • 31 ctmNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    It would be so much easier for us all if Saab just sent Swade a picture of the real one… :)

  • 32 MeNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    @ctm
    This guessing game is so much fun, I don’t want a see the real deal till frankfurt. :-P

  • 33 ctmNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    I want to see it now! :) But I guess I rather see a done deal on financing Saab for the future…

  • 34 Martin NNo Gravatar // Feb 7, 2009 at 10:11 pm

    We have forgotten that we have actually seen photos of the car. They’re not very good, but it’s all we got:

    http://www.nordesjo.se/pics/saab-9-5-small.jpg

    It’s from the inside screening of 9-3x, 9-4x and 9-5, were you can spot 9-5 in the background… almost.

  • 35 ELBOBONo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 3:45 am

    Who gave us the 17th as the unveiling? I hope it is not a cruel joke….

  • 36 ELBOBONo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 3:48 am

    Martin,

    Every time I look at the right side of that little picture I see a squid man with a chinese hat.

    Chris

  • 37 Martin NNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 3:58 am

    Well, a squid man with a chinese hat is about all we’ve got this far :)

  • 38 AscarissNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 4:46 am

    The AMS one is not entirely correct, the front bumper, part of the side, the headlights. Seeing images is one thing, but the car’s presence in person is much better.

  • 39 MeNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 6:47 am

    @Ascariss

    What doyou thinkt about the Leftlane News picture ?

  • 40 AscarissNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 6:56 am

    @ Me

    ;)

  • 41 KroumNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 8:01 am

    If the LLN sketch is the closest, I have a feeling I will be disappointed. The LLN rendering looks like the 9-5 that was supposed to be launched in 2003/4, not a 2010 vehicle.

  • 42 ck1xNo Gravatar // Feb 8, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I think I’m with Kroum on this one! If this is suppose to make people jump out of their contracts with the BMW’s an Audi’s of the world then it’s just not enough then… Hopefully this is just a very bad photo-chop and the real deal will look much better when revealed.