You've probably already seen these from the links in comments (damn sleep!!) but Swedish mag Vibilgares has published some great studio hi-res shots of the Saab 9-5.
These are massive and I fully expect them to be wallpapering computer screens around the world in quick time.
There are six in total, including the front lights and interior all lit up. Here's my favourite of the morning.
Why is this my favourite?
There's a lot of subtle styling cues in this car. This view seems to show - to me at least - a respectful nod to the rear window and boot lid of the Saab 99 (OK, mostly the bootlid, and it's more obvious in another shot, but I like this angle. Sue me).
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A note I received about the speedo-within-a-speedo.
... its moving while you are driving. It shows the speed. For the first 30 seconds it looked kind of "different", but then I got used to it and at the end of the day I really loved it. You get a absolutely instant reading of speed, with a supershort glance.Otherwise you have to find the needle and follow it to the numbers and ... yes, its in the middle of 60 and 40 and that means that I am driving at correct speed, somewhere close to 50 km/h. Takes two seconds. The new "speedo" takes 0,1 second to read and understand.
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A great comment from Ralf22 that got plenty of "+1" activity the other day (btw, not a fan of the +1 thing, but whatever works for ya......)
Let's take a look back in history: . - Not many SAAB-fans greeted the 9000 as a "real" SAAB (and was'nt it this project with Fiat and ...). Over the Years the look improved and the last series was a nice car. But never will it be a DESIGN-ICON like the original 900!- And I remember, back in 1993, my girlfriend of that time nearly cried every day, "why don't you buy a BMW, this SAAB 900 is SO UGLY!" Many people had absolutely no feeling for this car - but I loved it. This crazy, absolutely stunning, really cool design.
- Yes, the group of enthusiasts was too small, then SAAB needet GM for backing. I was very dissapointed of the 1994 model (quality and design).
- Then came the 9-5 in 1997, and when I bought one in 1998 the neighbours son said: "what a nice OPEL you drive" ... Later I had the first 9-5 AERO and it was great fun driving this car. The design had kind of "charme" but was this really GREAT CAR-DESIGN? Not a real "classic", I think. (But good enough for me.)
- Today, I think my actual 9-3 Hirsch Sport-Combi feels very "saabish" and I like it.
- SAABs design concepts 9-3X, AEORO X, ... have the feeling of great design icons. They are real STATEMENTS OF ART.
- NOW, SAAB enthusiasts: WHAT DO YOU WANT? It's a real wonder, that SAAB isn't absolutely DEAD yet! The GM-people had NO feeling for the great potential of this brand.
- I think there is a chance, that the Koenigsegg-SAAB-future is yet the best to come. When they meet the point, wow! SAAB could become the coolest little brand of all! (But please: not TOO small ...)
- Now I look once and again at those pics of the new 2010 SAAB 9-5. The AUTOZEITUNG-pics are really bad car-photography, the AUTOBILD-images are much better. You have to see it in real, to get a feeling for this car. Even the original 9-3 Sport-Combi looks a little "plump" from some angles on pictures. BUT (as a designer myself), I know: this new car has the potential to become a design-icon. It follows it's own rules. It is a statement of timeless elegance and dynamic power. It stands on it's own. Such an improvement to the actual 9-5 (the re-design was a nice try, but never fitted really ...).
- SAAB-enthusiasts, WHAT DO YOU WANT? Did you ever hear of LOYALTY? SAAB will NOT live whithout you!
- I say it again: MY NEXT CAR - A SAAB! Let's help SAAB into a great future ... give them the chance, to create those stunning SAAB-Koenigsegg-cars!
I suppose the correct response from me would be "+1"
Is it just me or does Nils Eric Frieden remind us of someone we all know???? A certain grizzly gentleman?
Click the Vibilgares link to see what I mean.
Swade, how do you think Aussies will react to a Saab that's longer than a Commodore or a Falcon?
this photo shows how stunningly beautiful it really is at this angle. i'm sold! it's hot baby! i want one!
(and yes it's my new wallpaper)
As for the Aussie question: probably badly on paper at least as it will mostly come with four potters therefore must be heavy and slow. As usual the conservative 0-100 figures SAAB uses won't win any friends either.
More the point is how long and heavy will it look and feel?
SWADE, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS....
http://www.vibilagare.se/img/zimg/nils-eric0.jpg
Scary isnt it? LOL! Its "Stefan Wadesson". :)
The more I look at the new 9-5 the more achingly beautiful it becomes. Gotta agree with swade re the trunk/boot lid and the general appearance of the back end. Its stunning.
Interestingly, those studio shots were mostly taken on a Hassellblad Medium Format Digital camera. Another Sedish icon!
I enjoyed what I was able to see. Stunning headlights.
E400 – 388HP
E63AMG – 525HP
BMW 5er E60
550i – 367HP
M5 – 507HP
SAAB 9-5 NEW
2.0t – 220HP
2.8t Aero - 330HP
What the hell?
i think the last photo (#22) is the best, too bad its not hi-res or it would be my new wallpaper!
I think Saab has to put bigger emphasis on the Diesel engines for they offer great torque at reasonable consumption. The 1.9 is a great engine but I could imagine that some 2.3 would be great, too.
One thing that strikes me is the length of the car, actuallt it's just 15 mm shorter than an Audi A8. The shape of the rear door isn't a result of the rear wheel housing as it usually is! And still there is a massive trunk behind the rear wheel.
I bet that the SportCombi is gonna be one beutiful veichle!
1) I don't think the M5 or AMG cars are Saabs benchmarks for an Aero spec. Aero is always more about balance than outright performance. Thats what Hirsch is for!. it would take monumental investment to match the cars you list.
2) The cars you refer to are V8s or V10s. Perhaps look at the V6 and 4cyl models for better comparison.
Saab could possibly go to a V8 (theres a nice one made just down the road at Angelholm) but its not there at the moment. Turbo'd sixes are more likely and that is where AUDI and BMW are heading these days too.
This is a big family car, not a racing car...
I wonder why; it can't just be because of the looks. Can it have something to do with the color temperature of the xenon lights?
The exterior of new Saab does not convince me - I repeat what I have already written that it is too GM-ish but until I see a good side picture it is only guessing. Details such as lamps (front and rear) are great.
The interior: dashboard is perfect. Just continues the one from 9000 fitted with modern gadgets. Seats could be classic but these don't look bad.
First 9000 was not a typical Saab but after CS facelift it became (in my opinion) the best ever Saab. I think the Koenigsegg people with Eker Design will have a chance to make new 9-5 better in few years time.
the design grows on one very quickly
Has anyone noticed that most of the side portion of the tail lights seems to be just decoration? The actual lights only come in halfway the side. The front half of the side seems to be just black plastic covered with transparent plastic. Unless there're side indicators and/or reflectors hidden in there?
I like the design more and more. It's clean and hansome. If this is the new Saab desihn language then bring it on, especially the back. But not the horrible front headrests though!
to have a good sleep is always better than a new 9-5.
MarkaC - seen the PR about Commodore and Falcon going to 4cly? They don't really have a choice these days and it will open some Aussies minds to how you can power a family car.
2) I think you will find that with the general trend to down sizing you will see less and less 6 and 8 cylinders in future models generally. I know that a couple of European manufacturers are working on new families of 4 cyl engines with a range of outputs that eventually will power models from small hatches to large family cars. In addition after tidying up the number of platforms within a corporation some copanies will be reducing the number of engine families as the next step to increasing economies of scale.
2) I think you will find that with the general trend to down sizing you will see less and less 6 and 8 cylinders in future models generally. I know that a couple of European manufacturers are working on new families of 4 cyl engines with a range of outputs that eventually will power models from small hatches to large family cars. In addition after tidying up the number of platforms within a corporation some copanies will be reducing the number of engine families as the next step to increasing economies of scale.
I had glasses like that until a month ago. Now more rectangular and hair trimmed.
The horn button on the keyfob would indeed be a panic alarm.
Holden could start by reducing it's V6 from 3.6 to 2.8 litres and bolting on a turbo. Sound familiar?
I'm betting that Aero will have the same engine as Insignia OPC, which is more than enough to rival models like E350, 535i, A6 3.0t and similar Infiniti and Lexus models.
I would also argue that the 1.6 turbo will be just fine if the car isn't too heavy. Insignia does a 8.6/8.9 sec (0-60/0-62 mph) with the same engine, which isn't bad at all.
http://www.automotorsport.se/news/18907/saab-9-5--20-nya-bilder/
There is a picture of the speed being projected on the windscreen! Is this the HUD option? Looks ama´zingly interesting!
What will the green dots at the sides of the analog speedo do? Show the direction the wheels are turned in?
And what are those extra buttons next to the handbreak button? Sometinhg to do with auto-transmission or something for the aero only?
Those profile shots really show the hockeystick for the first time and it looks good.
Hate to be predictable but bigger wheels would probably add quite a bit, even in this Vector spec.
People complaining of the lack of a "hockey stick" (always found that a strange description as a hockey stick has a shallow angle, not a sharp angle!), if you look at the second image http://www.automotorsport.se/bigpix/2009/Saab_9-5_MY2010_Vector_01_big.jpg the hockey stick is actually nicely accented by a matte chrome strip which only runs at the bottom and rear of the side window. Quite unusual, as normally decorative strips frames the intire glass. I like it. It is almost mirrored in the subtle bit of chrome around the bottom side vent behind the front wheel. Nice.
I visited the SAAB museum again yesterday. I had horrible lighting conditions plus I only shot handheld. I'm confident I got some better shots than these...
The one from the side is OK though -- but it suffers a bit from jpeg compression I think.