Flying Close to the Ground in the New 9-5

By Vince Bodiford
Automotive Editor

Move over, professor Ludwig Von Drake - the new Saabs have arrived - and they aren't just for nutty professors anymore. When Saab introduced the all-new 9-5 sedan for 1999, they promised, and delivered an all new european luxury sedan that embodies the Saab heritage with advanced automotive and aviation inspired technology.

This weekend's drive proved the 9-5 to be all that, and much more -an experience much like flying a jet too close to the ground. According to J.D. Power and Associates, Saab sold 7,928 copies of the 9-5 models in 1998, taking 0.05 percent share of the near luxury segment that includes the Audi A4 sedan, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and the Volvo 70-series. The J.D. Power and Associates consumer satisfaction index for Saab were incomplete due to the model's mid-year introduction last year, but the overall quality of Saab 9-5 and 9-3 models is very evident inside and out. Saab's service record ranks below other high-end European cars in the segment, but above comparable domestic and Asian imports.

The 9-5 is retail priced at $37,250 for the SE Turbo 3.0L V-6 with automatic transmission and $29,995 for the base 9-5 with the 2.3L turbo. Our test model was pric-ed at $38,945 which included optional in-dash compact disc player, and front and rear heated and ventilated seats. Also standard on the 9-5 is full leather seating, wood accents, power grouping and sunroof.

Saab's 3.0 litre V-6 Ecopower engine is the world's first single-bank asymmetric turbo. The electronic fuel injected four-valve, dual overhead cam engine develops 200 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and makes 229 lb. ft. of torque at only 2,500 rpm. The Saab turbocharger is an automotive first. The low pressure turbo is integrated into the exhaust manifold on the front cylinder bank, and it provides for quick acceleration and strong off-the-line response. The suspension is fully independent, and anti-lock braking is standard. New is electronic brake distribution. This system is enabled under hard braking and maximizes grip for better panic braking control.

Earlier Saabs were not praised by auto stylists but they were respected for safety advances. The same is true for the new 9-5. Equipped with advanced safety cages, crush zones, side impact air bags, dual front air bags and more, Saab has always pioneered safety features. The 9-5 introduces the world's first active head restraint, which moves the front-seat head rests forward to cradle the head in serious impacts. This helps reduce the possibility of whiplash injury.

Regarding styling of the new 9-5, we spoke to Saab chief designer Einar J. Hareide, based in the Saab headquarters at Trollhattan, Sweden. "The car is new and modern, yet it remembers the classic Saab lines," Hareide said. A former designer for Mercedes-Benz, Hareide said he admires the styling of the Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe among all American cars.

The Saab interior treats each passenger to a class well above coach. Uncluttered and smartly laid out, the instruments and control surfaces wrap around the driver. Free of gimmicks and gadgets, there is a place and purpose for everything. Thoughtful engineering and quality construction are the basis of the interior. The Saab-exclusive "night panel" dumps all but the most essential instruments at night for enhanced night driving - a feature criticized by Consumer Reports but highly praised by us. We like it. We also like the optional ventilated seats, which improve driver comfort in winter and summer. The leather seating surfaces are perforated with small holes that allow an in-seat mounted fan to draw air through them. This helps reduce driver fatigue, another safety feature.

Saab project manager Olle Granlund in Sweden is the father of the new 9-5, and he speaks of it like a proud parent. "I look at the 9-5, and I see our history, and our future," he told us, referring to the first Saab automobile, the 9-2 model introduced to post-war Europe in 1949. That brings to mind an interesting final thought - the 1940s Saab model 9-1 was an airplane.

For more information about the Saab 9-5, call 800-SAABUSA.