The Spotlight Is On The Saab 9-5
You gotta love those zany Scandinavians
You gotta love those zany Scandinavians. On arrival in Copenhagen, the first thing to greet us as we clear customs is a respectable-looking mature-aged couple sipping beer - at 9:30 am! In Ireland that'd raise a few eyebrows and probably spurn a few rumors about alcoholism, but in the land of the midnight sun it barely rates a second glance.
They do things differently in Scandinavia, and nowhere is that more apparent than with Sweden's two major car makers, Saab and Volvo.
But Saab is now part of the Big Game and no longer a small entity on the frigid fringes of the automotive universe. Since General Motors took 100 per cent ownership of the company in 1999 we've been patiently awaiting big changes and the 2001 model year 9-5 has been signaled as the first in a wave of upgrades and new product.
The mid-life face-lift incorporates more than 1200 engineering changes, but if you don't know your automotive grits you could easily mistake new for old.
Exterior changes are subtle to say the least, confined to new alloy wheels, a new grille and minor changes to both bumpers.
Inside the changes are just as minute, the 9-5 retaining the distinctive wraparound dash, but adopting sportier bucket seats for the Aero and a new "architectural forms" strategy that replaces the current model designations.
The 9-5's new spec levels are Linear, Arc and Vector, while Aero remains the performance moniker.
So, not a great styling story, instead they've concentrated on refining the mechanical package, endowing the car with an adaptive five-speed auto (but still no tip tronic) and a substantially revised front suspension aimed at improving ride and handling.
On the chassis front, Saab has basically carried over the Aero's sportier suspension to its other 9-5 models, while making significant changes to the hardware. The raft of front-end changes includes stiffer front springs and thicker anti-roll bar, new damper settings, a strengthened upper strut mount and a stronger, lighter sub-frame. The steering rack has also been relocated and matched with longer steering arms. At the rear, spring and damper rates have also been revised. The 9-5 now offers sharper steering turn in, greater steering precision and a more positive handling feel overall. And Saab has also finally rolled out its own Bosch-built ESP (Electronic Stability Program) system.
In Europe the new 9-5 line-up also features an all-new and an updated turbo diesel engine but these don't figure in Saab Australia's plans. Instead, we'll get an uprated version of Saab's 2.3-liter hi-po Aero engine, while the 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter low pressure turbos remain unchanged. The Aero's DOHC, 16-valve turbo four now punches out 186 kW and 350 Nm, an increase of 17 kW but no gain in torque.
The new 9-5 range goes on sale in October/November with prices not yet set, but expect incremental increases, off-set by new higher levels of standard equipment.
by: Wolfe Tone
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