Saab vehicles are returning to the Canadian market this fall, as a 20-dealer network is currently being set up. A familiar face is back as the 9-3, available in sedan, SportCombi wagon and convertible body styles. A 9-3X wagon and a 9-4X crossover will appear, while the 9-7X has been dropped.The big news for Saab, however, is the arrival of an all-new 9-5 mid-size sedan. Developed under the reign of GM, the 9-5 shares its platform with the new-for-2010 Buick LaCrosse and is virtually the same size. In the summer of 2011, a 9-5 wagon is also scheduled to be produced.
The front end of the 9-5 is familiar with the previous-generation model and keeps the corporate face chrome trim around the headlamp clusters and grille. The blacked-out A-pillars makes the car’s greenhouse look like an aircraft canopy, a souvenir of the Swedish company’s past aviation background.
A very soft character line sweeps from the front to the back, resulting in clear-lens taillights. The overall shape is devoid of any tacked-on aerodynamic aids, and the car looks both elegant and gorgeous.
Inside, the instrument panel is borrowed from GM’s European divisions, and looks practically identical to the one you’ll find in a Cadillac SRX. That includes the trip computer with its circular LCD screen nestled in the speedometer.
Once again, the aircraft theme is apparent in the center stack design, with an embossed plane silhouette mixed in with the audio and climate controls.
In Canada, we’ll likely get a choice of two engines. The base unit is a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder that develops 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the upgrade engine will be a turbo 2.8-litre V6 that produces 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and paddle shifters will be offered with both engines, while a 6-speed manual should be available with the turbo four as well.
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