UKSaabs

Hi all,

I am lucky enough to work right next door to where the new Saab 9-5 launch is being held. So along with a few other people from here I went along this evening to see what it was like.

Arrived, had drinks, some rather cool food, then had a talk from various people, including the Managing Director of Saab UK. Photos should explain the rest. Big pics through links. Mega big pics on request.

Started under some cool silky sheets:

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/start.jpg

then after a talk by these Jonathan Nash,

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Jonathan_Nash.jpg

they were revealed



We had some words from Simon Padian (head of thier Saab brand design team) and anther guy with awesome white hair (sorry can't remember your name! mail me and I'll add it in!)

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Simon_Padian.jpg

We had a chance to walk around them

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Aero3.jpg

Nice angular door

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/AngularDoor.jpg

There is a push start in the middle where it should be. The key unlocks the car when you get near, and you can keep in your pocket then just press the button.

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/CentreStart.jpg

They said there is an engine in there somewhere?

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Enginesomewhere.jpg

Ah.. there it is - hidden behind the turbo...

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/TurboArea.jpg

Optional full glass sunroof, the front section slides above the rear one, and a huge windguard raises at the front to deflect the air. Hope it isn't noisy in real life!

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/GlassSunRoof.jpg

Front side

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Aero1.jpg

Back side! lol

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/Aero2.jpg

Rear

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/rear.jpg

The Speedo is very cool. The centre is an LCD screen.

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/LCDscreenSpeedo.jpg

The HUD is cooler though

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/HUD1.jpg

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/HUD.jpg

Very Aero-X style wheels on the Aero, sadly they didn't look that striking as thier lines had been softened...

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/wheelsonaero.jpg

The Vector ones though looked dangerously sharp!

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/wheelsonvector.jpg

Side profile of the vector

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/vector.jpg

Don't they look proud - and so they should...

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/albums/New9-5Launch/End.jpg

I think it's a great car, and lots of fun and exciting things to win over the tough competition. Just watch your head as you get in the back if you are over 6ft!

Hope you enjoyed the pics, and THANK YOU Saab.
Lets give a big wave to all the Saab GB folk lurking around here! Hi guys!


Mark

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Saabs Rule!!!

I would have loved to have gone to this Mark.
Looks great I think, thanks for the pics matey.

I want one!

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MY01 Gaylander 1 with added gay!
www.johnossaab9-5.synthasite.com
The wee one of the dirty ½-dozen!

Car looks a lot better in the metal than in the photos.

They had a Vector and an XWD Bio Aero there.

DVD screens, satnav that you can add things too and program while moving. Full park assist, including parallel parking. Forward facing camera that reads speed limit signs. Auto adjust and dip headlamps. Luggage area retaining bar. Keylees entry and starting. 245/40 19 tyres. Seat base front edge adjust. Bluetooth phone. USB connections.

Lots of odd photos here

Some details:
Passenger airbag switch:



Large glovebox:



Rear lights:



Two tone mirror - looks expensive to wipe off!!




And nice food. Smoked reindeer anyone?

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

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Saabs Rule!!!

Looks rather nice. I like the HUD, physically how big is it? it looks massive! Any indication of UK price?

I suspect the dealers will be doing a roaring trade in rear fog lamp units.... (although with park assist fitted.... )

Thanks for sharing.

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Vita est difficile et tum vobiscum morietur

Lovely looking car, good luck to Saab with it , it would be fun with the HUD the size of the one on the display screen in front of the car

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2 9000 3.0 V6's
BMW 760Li 6.0 V12
C900 T16
735i SE
Jaguar XFR 585bhp
1972 95 V4
9000 Carlsson

Yes, park assist is "all round"; back, front and sides. Needed for the "parallel parking assist" apparently. This was described as "not only helping you park, but helping you find the space in the first place". I'm guessing that this measures the length of the gap and works out if the car will fit.

Engines will be petrol, diesel and Biopower.

Smallest will be a 1.6 turbo petrol.

Largest will be a 300 hp 3.0 V6. No big diesel yet (or ever). They are promoting smaller hi-tech engines at the moment. With promises of "Saabness" in the future. They were also thinking along the lines that, being small, they will be able to react and change more quickly, with big changes in the next 5 years, maybe even a central power unit and an electric motor in each hub...

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

A 1.6 to move that big barge about!

It looks...erm...very...erm...similar to everything else on the roads.

Maybe seeing it in the metal might change my mind, but I think it looks boring.

Ade

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ade9-3 formerly ade9000

I think it looks rather nice...

Side profile makes it look like a beemer though

I agree a 1.6 does seem a little small to haul a big motor like that around....

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1997 9000 Anniversary 2.0 Auto - Gone...

My pics will be on the way.....saabphotos does not seem to like high quality jpegs from my K20D....

First impression, it's absolutely sensational in the metal, photos do not do it justice, there was a palpable sense that Saab couldn't wait to distance themselves completely from Opel and GM.....

Yup


As for the pics, I resized them to 30% then did save for web in PS.
I've got it saved as an action so V quick to batch them

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Saabs Rule!!!

Great pics and I really like the look of that BUT it is a bit generic isnt it? Im rather partial to modern BMWs which probably explains why I quite like this but Saab should not be playing with the Germans should they? They should be emphasising their individuality. Or is that simply not viable on a shared platform? They shouldnt have called it the 9-5 either. Cyclone would have been better... Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the new Saab Cyclone....

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Tesla Model 3 Performance
Porsche 911 turbo (996)
Nissan Elgrand 3.5 XL

Ah but I think it was pretty much designed when GM were still the owners, so Saab are now left with a car they didn't want, and I think thier next one will be have more saab 'quirks'. That said, it's a pretty interesting car, with a lot of cool stuff, and nothing like the old 9-5 (yay)

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Saabs Rule!!!

Reading speed limit signs sounds cool. I presume it gives you a speed dependant warning?

What are the three phono inputs for below the headunit?

I see it's got an Audi style handbrake button aswell.

Does this look better in the flesh?



Thanks for the pictures, looks quite interesting.

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I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous

The centre panel with buttons and satnav looks very harsh in the flash. I don't think it will be the same in production. Bear in mind that these cars are hand built prototypes. There will be rough edges.

The three phono sockets are not under the head unit. They are under the small control panel in the rear. The car in question has a pair of DVD players. I think the connectors are linked with this.

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Everything will be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end...

Fantastic event, very nice clean simple presentation and top quality catering

Dinner



My Best Picture

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2005 Ford Fucos 1.5TDCi Wagon
2005 9-5 Aero with all the options.

Cool - you must have sat on the same table we did - just at a different time. Has a kinda De-Javu about it..

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Saabs Rule!!!

This is my best veiw of it !, the lines are really smooth and flowing...... and the food was fantastic poor old Rudolph !!

ellie

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a legend in my own sparetime!
C900 T16s Conv
96 V4
93ss TTiD Aero
9000 CSE Aero

I see Robert's point about the rear fogs being vulnerable, but the positioning is excellent for other road users - no dazzle.

The power output for the 1.6 turbo is on a par with the 2.3lpt c9-5, so it'll go well enough.

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Burble, burble...

Sorry.... been too busy to sort out pics....

http://www.saabphotos.com/gallery/Welshwizards-change-of-wheels