QuickLook - 1998 Saab 9-5 Sedan
06/22/1997
Greg A. Godsell
Saab will expand their model lineup in 1998 with the addition of a new premium luxury sedan. This new entry, dubbed the 9-5 will supplement the current 900 and 9000 models in Europe, and will replace the 9000 altogether in the United States.
The 9-5 is an all-new sedan. While the trained eye would not mistake the design for any other mark, it does represent somewhat new ground for Saab. A strong family resemblance carries through from the nose to the B-pillar. At that point, typical Saab fastback styling is tempered into a notched-out trunk with a long rear window. This conservative but effective styling alows the coupe to boast an extremely low .29 coefficient of drag, the best by any Saab ever produced.
The 9-5 rides on a new platform designed specifically for this model. The 106.4 inch wheelbase chassis features a strut-based front suspension and an independent rear suspension. This is the first independent rear suspension to be offered on a Saab automobile.
Two new turbocharged engines will be offered in the 9-5: a 2.3-liter four cylinder and a 3.0-liter V6. The four-cylinder is a new lighter design with reduced internal friction resulting in improved fuel economy. A claimed 206 ft-lbs of torque at 1800 rpm is supplied by this new engine. The V6 is considerably more interesting as it is an asymmetric design. This innovative V6 is good for 200hp and 229 ft-lbs of torque at 2100 rpm. The 9-5 will be available initially with the only 4-cylinder, the V6 will become an option several months after the launch
On the interior the 9-5 can seat five passengers in luxury sedan style. One interesting area of innovation in this sedan is in the front seats. The seats come equipped with a standard feature that Saab claims is the first ever active head-restraint system. Basically, the head-rest is connected to a plate in the back of the seat. In rear collisions, the plate pushes the head rest forward to meet the head (which should be flying backwards in this type of collision) in an effort to reduce whiplash. This system would only be activated in rear-collisions in the 9-11mph range.
While the 9-5 will go on sale for most of the world this fall, North American customers will have to wait until next spring to get their hands on one. Pricing has not been announced, but given the replacement of the 9000 in the American market, a slight premium over the 9000's $31K (four cylinder) and $40K (V6) should be expected. For this price buyers of the 9-5 will be rewarded with a distinctive new vehicle that carries technological and styling improvements over the current 9000 model.