Despite uncertainty over the future of General Motors’ Swedish unit, word came today that the Saab 9-5’s redesign is moving full-speed ahead on schedule. According to a Saab dealer, the replacement for the seemingly evergreen performance sedan is back on schedule after being delayed back in November.
The Epsilon II-based 9-5 should be in European dealers this fall, with North American sales coming about a year from now – following Saab tradition, according to enthusiast site Trollhattan Saab.
A seemingly reputable site user said that GM told its U.S. Saab dealers at a meeting prior to this week’s auto show in Detroit that the 9-5 is back on track. The current 9-5, while still boasting an efficient and powerful turbo four-cylinder, has only been subject to two facelifts since its 1999 model-year introduction in North America.
Yesterday, Saab’s executive director, Steve Shannon, told Motor Trend that the next-generation 9-5 is “about a year-ish away.”
We’ll be certain to press Saab executives for more details at the North American International Auto Show early next week since the 9-5 redesign is likely indicative of the brand’s future.
01/09, 9:41 AM
posted by:
Borat
I wish LLN could help me understand this: is this division is on schedule to bankruptcy in Sweden or in US? Which government is expected to pick up the bill for this desired specimen?
01/09, 9:57 AM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
GM Europe (Saab, Opel, rebadged Daewoos) is the part of GM that is less likely to go bankruptcy. What they need is government guarantees for daily operational expenses since the mothership in Detroit is screwed at the moment.
01/09, 10:25 AM
posted by:
travis0017
I appreciate the innovation in engines, but Saab really needs to work on their body designs. Their design team uses a gluttony of lines that rivals Pontiac. Guess it’s fitting they are a GM brand.
01/09, 10:37 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
This has the promise of being one of the nicest Saabs in their recent history to not generate any profit whatsoever.
01/09, 11:04 AM
posted by:
Kris K
Whatever happens to Saab, don´t kill the brand. They make very good looking cars IMO. And at least their own engines, the turbo 4, lives forever. Please offer those engines in the new model. Can´t wait to see pictures.
01/09, 11:25 AM
posted by:
drchiem
I wish Ford Volvo and GM Saab get together to come up a way to screw Sweden back because couple month ago Ford and GM are losing money and asking for Sweden government for help or maybe to by them out. But what Ford and GM got word from Sweden HELL NO. I don’t think it fair b/c Ford and GM has given so many job to their people.
01/09, 12:24 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
Saab 9-5 is on the way….
SURE it is.
RIIIIIIIGHT!
they been saying that **** for years and look it’s over 10 years later.
01/09, 1:11 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
GM allowed Saab to die a miserable death. The ultimate insults were the 92 (subie) and 97 (trailblazer). Shame. I still admire what the 93 and 95 are supposed to stand for but there are better products out there (I bought a V6 Passat). The fact that the Opel Insignia came to America first as a Buick shows that the once premium Saab has been bludgened. The 95 on the Insignia platform should have at least come out at the same time.
01/09, 1:59 PM
posted by:
inline6
ricky_b,
The Buick is no more an Opel Insignia than the Chevy Malibu is. And the new 9-5 will be based on the Insignia.
Yes, the new 9-5 is way, way overdue. The current one looks great, IMO, but it is a bit hoary at this point. I can’t wait to see the new model.
And I’m hoping that GM can find the money to keep and improve Saab, or find a proper, well-funded suitor for the brand. The brand has way too much potential to throw away.
01/09, 5:12 PM
posted by:
Swade
How about a link to the source story at Trollhattan Saab?
Common nettiquette, eh?
01/10, 9:30 AM
posted by:
ricky_b
inline6 – I think you’re getting some of your products mixed up. The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is the first American brand application on the GM Epsilon 2 platform. Also, to save on development costs, GM kept the Buick version pretty similar to the Opel, with mostly cosmetic changes (possibly powertrain).
The current Malibu and Saturn Aura were derived from the Epsilon 1 platform which are the basis for the Opel Vectra (next platform down from the Epsilon 2). Chevrolet will likely get an Epsilon 2 model by 2011 or 2012 when their next cycle is up. Saturn… it depends on if they keep the brand.
For is the company that seems to be taking longer to get the Euro platforms over to America.