MotorAuthority

Next-gen Saab 9-5 to enter production at Opel plant in 2009

Posted Mon May 19 2008 11:13 AM by Alex Kaufmann

The Saab 9-5 is long overdue for an overhaul, with the current model first hitting streets as far back as 1997, but the next-generation model due late next year may not even be built at Saab’s traditional home in Sweden. Latest reports claim the new model will be sourced from Opel’s Ruesselsheim plant in Germany with production tipped to start mid next year.

The car will then debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before going on sale towards the end of the year. According to Automotive News, the new 9-5 will be available with Saab’s new XWD traction system and electronic limited-slip differential and will also be offered with a range of flex-fuel turbocharged engines as well as a new V6 diesel.

The reason for the move to Ruesselsheim is because the next 9-5 will be based on GM’s new FWD Epsilon II platform, which has already debuted in the all-new Opel Insignia and is produced at the German plant. To differentiate Saab as a premium product engineers will provide a stiffer suspension set-up, a new steering rack and a different range of electronics. The car’s styling will also be heavily influenced by the original Aero X concept car pictured above.

Production of Saab’s next 9-3 will remain in Sweden. The car will move to the smaller Delta platform and isn’t expected to be launched until 2011.

2009 Opel Insignia hatchback spy shots

Opel Insignia Coupe and Estate renderings

2009 Opel Insignia sedan

story Tags:

• SAAB
• Saab 9-5
• Sedans

Reader Comments

• Mon May 19 2008 11:55 AM

  Michael D. says

  I'm looking forward to the next-generation Saab 9-5 - the current, though quite nice, is very long in the tooth, and also needs upgrades from it's Turbo-4 which is a bit booming and lumpy for it's class (I test-drove one at a GM promo last year and found the Turbo-4 engine not well suited for the vehicle)
  
  I'm disappointed, however, with the news of the next-generation 9-3 moving to a smaller (than Epsilon II) Delta II platform, it indicated to me that the model is getting downsized and moving down-market. If so, I still hope V6s are still offered along with Turbo fours.
  
  Could it be for this reason: The current 9-3 is based on the current Epsilon I platform, and the 9-5 is going to the new Epsilon II platform, which is larger than the Epsilon I it's succeeding, and will result in the next 9-5 growing and becoming more upmarket. Perhaps, as a result, the next 9-3 will move to Delta II for Epsilon I will be history, and it will have to be smaller that the 9-5, but maybe the next 9-3 would have no choice to be Delta II based? If so, I hope it remains the same size as the current generation (stretched Delta II) along with similar power offerings, and not move down-market.
  
  Just surmising, but am I correct on this? Time will tell.

• Mon May 19 2008 3:47 PM

  Roy says

  I think that updating the turbo four cylinder is the way to go. Saab has years of experience with turbos and should be perfectly capable of making a smooth, powerful, frugal 4-cylinder turbo... unless GM shafted their engine development unit.
  As to the styling of the car, I really like the Aero X. If they shrank the 9-3 to make it look like that, I might buy one!