Despite its pending sale to Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg, Saab quietly built its last 9-5 sedan last week and has apparently begun retooling its Trollhättan, Sweden, factory to build the venerable sedan’s upcoming, General Motors Epsilon II-based successor.
The current-model 9-5 wagon will continue in production for a few more months until its replacement is finished, reports Sweden’s Auto Motor & Sport.
Despite two mid-cycle updates, the 9-5 was among the oldest designs in production. Though its 2.3-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine was rated at an impressive 260 horsepower, the powertrain’s basic design dated back to the early 1980s when it debuted under the clamshell hood of the 900 Turbo and the 9-5’s GM of Europe platform dated back to the late 1980s.
Saab assembled around half a million 9-5s between its late 1997 introduction in Europe and the end of production on July 2, though sales have been tepid, at best, over the last couple of years.
07/06, 12:23 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Saab builds last 9-5, begins retooling for new model
-This should have been a LLN headline in 2003…
07/06, 12:42 PM
posted by:
orangecones
Jake, in all honesty, GM has done what it does best to brands it owns….gets them off to a great 1st year, and then runs them into the ground by appropriating all product development and marketing funds to Chevy, leaving other divisions penny-less.
That said, the next 9-5…. if it drives anything like the new Malibu (especially the V6 with hydro steering) I will have to skip it. I really don’t see what the big deal is about that platform. (yes, Malibu is the best Chevy ever since the 1953 intro of the Vette…but compared to the competition from other companies it still lacks behind)
07/06, 12:45 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
Jake – Same should have been said about the 9-3, too
07/06, 5:40 PM
posted by:
A.J.
The current 9-5 was very good looking – in 2006.
Orange, the Malibu is on the original Epsilon platform. If the drive should be compared to any other car, it should be compared to the new Buick Lacrosse and/or Opel Insignia.
07/07, 1:18 PM
posted by:
Other Man
Always did have a thing for the 9-5, the 06-09 model that is. It is a throwback to days where FWD sedans didn’t have such heavy, large bodies with big engines. Thus, it didn’t need massive wheels and tires with a really tight suspension that ruined the ride. It still feels pretty light on its feet.
But there’s no way it’s worth 40 grand, not by a long shot. Not with that interior, FWD, or 2.3T.
I’m excited for the new 9-5, but with the top engine being a 3.6DI, that seems out of character for Saab, which should’ve had a turbo version of the new 3.0DI or something. The 350 hp Aero model seems to be gone now.
Ah well, we’ll see what Koenig can dream up for the new 9-3 ….