Call Of The Wild for 9-5
The Scandinavian revolution starts here. Saab's drive to be more modern and vibrant has begun, and we've got our hands on the official proof.
These exclusive top-secret sketches are from the firm's design team, and are part of the project to replace the ageing 9-5. According to sources, they are the last work of ex-styling chief Michael Mauer and were finished days before he defected to Porsche in April. The images reveal three versions of the new 9-5 - a saloon, estate and a four-door hatchback supercar.
Due on sale by 2007, the radical range should rid the brand of its executive rep image. The hatchback has a swept-up tail and wears spectacular 21-inch wheels. Insiders have told us the car will get a new grille design, with a prominent centre section that stands out from the rest of the nose.
The new estate is vastly different from today's model. Similar to the Honda Accord Tourer, the sketch shows a long, low car, with continuous side windows. It also features prominent wraparound headlamps, although designers have stuck with Saab's traditional clamshell bonnet. The sporting saloon is perhaps the most conventional of the three, revealing clear links with the current car.
Our sources tell us Saab has yet to rubber-stamp the plans to replace the 9-5, but it's possible that any new model will use GM's rear-wheel-drive chassis from the Insignia concept. That would be a radical move for the company, which has long been associated with front-wheel-drive models. The new 9-5 will still use turbocharged four-cylinder engines, as well as GM's 3.2-litre V6 in normally aspirated and turbo forms.
