New 9-5

[hagfish7]

http://www.automotorundsport.de/news..._9_5.89673.htm

[Mag-X]

I still hate it.

[AudiSAABfans]

Is it me or the whole facelift looks awkward to me? The front and back don't seem to match the rest of the profile well. I much prefer the 1st facelift. Hopefully they don't mess with the nearly perfect interior.

[rdj92807]

I'm really not thrilled with the front. Frankly, the current front look better...if the headlights had been redone a bit.

The front looks angry and doesn't really fit the rest of the car.

Rear is fine.

[Swade]

All the shots, including the JUST RELEASED INTERIOR shots as well as a Saab Australia press release are here on the blog.

UPDATE: My apologies, but the link from GM media was dodgy. They'd dumped some 9-3 SportCombi interior photos into the 2006 9-5 file. And here I was getting quite excited about them retaining the interior design.

Oh well.

Extra Exterior shots are still available at the blog. See link above.

[aero1116]

The interior is the same as the 9-3's... almost. I don't think the front's too bad other than the slats at the lower portion of the grill. The back however.... let's just say that I hope it'll grow on me.

[Swade]

UPDATE: the interior shots are the same in the 9-3 SportCombi presskit. Something fishy going on at GM Media

[Hornet11586]

I like it. Gives it an edge over everything else, it'll turn heads. I think (hope) in a good way.

[David Wishart]

Not awful. But not inspiring at all.

Overall. I like the new nose, but the 3 slot grill under the bumper is too busy.
The detail in the grill and lights looks good.
I like the dark gray color.
The rear end is ok - looks like any other german car. Probably for a reason.

Overall I don't see how this car shows any real design character beyond than what it already shares with European brands.

Too me, they could have also taken time to reduce weight, offer a wider variety of engines in the US, improve safety, better handling, etc.

Instead, I see a facelift and big expensive wheels.

I will be interested to read a road test and see if it performs on par with the BMW 5, Mercedes E-class or Audi A6.

Although, looking again... it is more bad-***. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

It's the 9-3's older, bigger, meaner brother.

[oddferkout]

Improve safety?

How much more safe could a SAAB be?

Ok I know that couple be argued with many points, but this is just my initial reaction. Although, I'm still not impressed with the redesign. SAAB has just made themselves a "Corolla Aero S" heh.

[edusaab]

Oficial INFO.......

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayS...72&docid=17634

[chico_85]

Three things:
- I'm not sure what Saab has done to the wagon but the whole profile looks odd to me - perhaps due to the lack of roof rails.

- The sedan reminds me of Lexus IS300.

- I hate the smoke headlights.

[TuuSaR]

Well we have the totally NEW 9-5 somewhere 2008 so this outlook agony wont last 4ever.

[AudiSAABfans]

BTW, I forgot to ask yesterday. Does the facelifted 9-5 signify the new design direction for Saab?

[earthworm]

Where is Sexson Sason - the original Saab designer - when we need him - or better yet, his grandson...

Good thing this is attempt is ID with the large placard "SAAB 9-5", otherwise , a potential buyer would think, depending on how far away he is....

Oldsmobile
Ford
Nissan
Honda
Toyota
Buick
Saab
Lexus
brand X

[SaabKen]

Wagon looks very last-gen 5-series Touring, especially the 3/4 rear view. Overall I actually like it (at least in photos) with a more aggressive stance.

Sedan looks better from the front than the back (still an odd combination of Lincoln LS/last-gen 3-series/Civic) but I'll have to see in person to decide how "Saab" the headlights/grille treatment looks. Again, overall it's not ugly but not totally inspiring.

Seems the design trend is more German than Scandinavian. With Mauer's departure who is the current design chief ?

[Rob in Atlanta]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

Seems the design trend is more German than Scandinavian. With Mauer's departure who is the current design chief ?

Von Runstedt - not sure if he's German though.

[SaabKen]

OK, the interior c***pit seems pretty much same as '05:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=216869

Yup, the ACC/HVAC cluster IS from the GM part's bin

[SaabKen]

http://www.automotorundsport.de/news/fotoshows/saab_9_5.89673.htm

[AudiSAABfans]

Seems like they have ditched the buttons for knobs in ACC, if AutoCar is correct.