Official New 9-5 Face

[Chapel976]

[SaabKen]

Wow where did this come from ?

The stance isn't bad and looks pretty "muscular" but still too curvy for my tastes. This front-on view makes it better than how the spy pics depicted it.

I see the center grille chrome bar's "Saab" is gone, like in the 9-2X and the 9-7X. Is this the future trend of all models ?

Still would have to see many more photos and in person to determine how I feel about it.

[Chapel976]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

Where did this come from ?


Looks pretty "muscular" but a but too curvy for my tastes. Still slightly better than how the spy pics depicted it.

Frankfurt 2005 AutoShow...
and one of the websites I moderate
http://www.thecarlounge.net (a VWVortex Affiliate)

[CosmicSaab]

From that angle at least, that is SWEET!

[Chapel976]

Originally Posted by CosmicSaab

From that angle at least, that is SWEET!

Its kinda similar to the new Subaru Legacy
I love it though

Looks really tough and mean, something I've never really associated with the name 9-5. The gray must be a better color for it than the white spy shots we've been seeing. Either way though, it's nice to see a newly styled 9-5. Finally.

[SaabKen]

Seems to me many German cars are becoming "mean"-looking or at least very bold and aggressive with lots of flair. Perhaps it's something to do with future move of production in Russelsheim ? I miss the old clean, angular, "intelligent" look of Saabs. But the world turns and change happens. But as long as one can still spot future new Saabs from blocks away (like I can) or be able to pick them out in a crowded parking lot, then Saab is still successful in retaining its uniqueness and individuality.

Originally Posted by apzer09

Looks really tough and mean, something I've never really associated with the name 9-5.

[saabfan]

Originally Posted by CosmicSaab

From that angle at least, that is SWEET!

Sadly, I think that's one of the few angles where it will look good. Any shots that include the sides are going to still say "I was made in the late 90s".

Thanks to Chapel976 for posting. Can't wait to see more.

[SPGBOY]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

I see the center grille chrome bar's "Saab" is gone, like in the 9-2X and the 9-7X. Is this the future trend of all models ?

I heard this was an inside protest by the designers because they didnt think it was worthy of the Saab badge. But its hard to believe what you read on the internet, take it with a grain of salt.

[oddferkout]

Reminds me of an A4 from this angle...

[SaabKen]

And here's a 5-series. I guess they all actually make Saab look Swedish (or something) again .....

Originally Posted by oddferkout

Reminds me of an A4 from this angle...

[aero1116]

I miss the "saab" lettering on the grill. It'd look awesome in black imo.

Originally Posted by SaabKen

And here's a 5-series. I guess they all actually make Saab look Swedish (or something) again .....

I definetely see the 5 in the 9-5 (the look, not the number). I guess the new face will take some getting used to. It's just that there are so many shapes, whereas all of the modern Saabs have had this clean cut look, and even compared to the 9-7x's slightly bulbous nose, this one is very rounded, and the cutouts for the foglights are a little weird. I REALLY want to see the interior though.

[SaabKen]

The 9-7X's bulbous nose is compensated by its sharp, angular headlights which are great IMHO. Overall the current 9-3 face looks the best.

Compared with the (yawn) S60/S80, the 9-5 facelift actually looks pretty dynamic and progressive . But I sure wouldn't want to confuse it with a Beemer

Originally Posted by apzer09

I definetely see the 5 in the 9-5 (the look, not the number). I guess the new face will take some getting used to. It's just that there are so many shapes, whereas all of the modern Saabs have had this clean cut look, and even compared to the 9-7x's slightly bulbous nose, this one is very rounded, and the cutouts for the foglights are a little weird. I REALLY want to see the interior though.

Originally Posted by SaabKen

The 9-7X's bulbous nose is compensated by its sharp, angular headlights which are great IMHO. Overall the current 9-3 face looks the best.

Compared with the (yawn) S60/S80, the 9-5 facelift actually looks pretty dynamic and progressive . But I sure wouldn't want to confuse it with a Beemer

If the 9-3 had the 9-5's old headlights, it would be perfect. The current styling is a little to easy to confuse with other cars. But overall the styling is quite nice.

I still don't get why people like Volvos so much. I see a ton of them, especially the newer sedans. The S40 looks like a Honda!

On the topic, I saw a 2006 9-3SS with the body color door handles. Suddenly I started thinking about how Japanese it looked. I didn't think the door handles would make such a difference. Maybe it works better on darker colors or something. Just really scary.

[Swade]

That's a sensational get. Thanks heaps to Chapel for posting.

Looks grrrrrrrrrrrrreat.

[Brendan]

I like it, but I think it would look better if the headlights were flush with the body.

[oddferkout]

Originally Posted by apzer09

If the 9-3 had the 9-5's old headlights, it would be perfect. The current styling is a little to easy to confuse with other cars. But overall the styling is quite nice.

I still don't get why people like Volvos so much. I see a ton of them, especially the newer sedans. The S40 looks like a Honda!

On the topic, I saw a 2006 9-3SS with the body color door handles. Suddenly I started thinking about how Japanese it looked. I didn't think the door handles would make such a difference. Maybe it works better on darker colors or something. Just really scary.

I've always said that Swedish cars just don't look that Scandinavian if they lose the black trim. It's those little minor things that give the car character. Ditch those and it looks like every other luxo-sportssedan out there.

[squishmann]

Sabb knows that's the best shot for that car. B/c those other pics weren't cutting it. of course it'll grow on us

[Mag-X]

The old 9-5 looked better. I really don't think the words "agressive" and "Saab" should be put together.

I'm not liking the whole headlight grill combined together thing.

That bumper looks dangerously close to the whole boy racer "lets pick the one with the most crap on it" look. Is that mesh!?