Special Offer detail

MINT AERO

Models Covered: 4 dr saloon & 5 dr estate [2.0t, 2.0t SE, 2.3t, 2.3t SE, 3.0 V6t, 3.0 V6t SE, 3.0V6t Griffin, Aero, Airflow]

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Saab likes to play up its aerospace associations. Whilst the Saab 9-5 hasn’t been a soaraway success in terms of UK sales, it’s business class credentials make it worth a look on the used market. Often denied a take off slot by rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the 9-5 is a stylish partner for the long haul traveller. With the 9-5, Saab gained clearance to enter the big league, and the car has quietly proved itself capable of taking on the establishment. Saab customers are a loyal bunch. Land a used 9-5 and you may be tempted to upgrade to their frequent flyer club.

The 9-5’s immediate predecessor, the 9000 series, was a bold attempt by Saab to share underpinnings with Lancia, Fiat and Alfa Romeo. Often seen today, this concept was maybe a little before its time when the range was launched in 1989. Since being enveloped by General Motors, Saab has been able to express its Swedish-ness whilst dipping into a vast pool of expertise. The 9-5 model rides on an extended version of Vauxhall’s Vectra floorpan, but anybody expecting repmobile ambience will be pleasantly surprised by it. Introduced in June 1997, the 9-5 range initially consisted of the 2.0-litre and 2.3-litre cars, in either standard or SE specification. The 2.0-litre models were powered by an ‘Ecopower’ light pressure turbocharged four cylinder engine that developed 150bhp. The 2.3-litre cars used similar turbocharger technology in order to provide smooth power delivery, and these four cylinder engines produced 170bhp. All of the 2.0 and 2.3-litre cars were four-door cars, available with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic option. The 3.0-litre cars were introduced in February 1998 and boasted a 200bhp engine. These were available only with the four-speed automatic box. In July 1998 a mechanically identical luxury version of the V6 was launched, christened the Griffin. October 1998 saw the range supplemented by handsome five door estate versions. In 1999 a more sporting option was launched, the Aero. This was a 2.3-litre car fitted with an aggressive bodykit, and suspension modifications designed to handle all 230bhp the ‘HOT’ designated engine now developed. Saab had turned back the clock to old-school ‘big bang’ turbocharging with some panache. The mean look was well received and the Saab 9-5 ‘Airflow’ range of cars was introduced in January 2000, giving the four cylinder cars a more sporting appearance. These cars lasted until that Autumn when Saab introduced a series of range upgrades and added a more powerful 185bhp 2.3-litre petrol engine to sit above the existing 150bhp 2.0-litre unit. The range received a facelift in summer 2001, with a different grille, bigger bumpers and some interior tweaks. The Aero’s engine was boosted to 250bhp and a 3.0-litre diesel model, the TiD, was announced alongside a 2.2-litre diesel unit purloined from the 9-3 range. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine was ditched in autumn 2003 to make way for a more powerful, more economical, less expensive and less dirty 2.3T powerplant boasting a hefty 220bhp wallop. A further hefty facelift in the later stages of 2005 brought a sleeker look to the 9-5 front end. There were even bioethanol fuelled versions to consider.

Sit in a 9-5 and it is still very much a Saab. Fears that the essentially quirky character of the Swedish manufacturer would be ironed out by General Motors have, thankfully, not materialised. You are still faced with a sheer wall of dashboard, the ignition key still slots home just ahead of the handbrake, and the bonnet is still of the original ‘clam shell’ style. The ‘interesting’ styling of Saab’s not so distant past has mellowed, and the 9-5’s is a far cry from the quirky 9000 shape. Aiming to highlight the relative expense of rival offerings, Saabs have generous standard equipment. Ski flaps, heated mirrors and outside temperature gauges on all models perhaps betray the 9-5s Scandinavian origins, but that’s part of the charm. The provision of wood veneer trimmed interiors and leather steering wheels reaches down to SE designated models at prices which make rival Audis and BMWs look away in embarrassment. The Griffin models have had the whole options list thrown at them, and the results are impressive. These features include metallic paint, multi function computer, leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and a 200-watt, nine-speaker stereo system. The estate variants, whilst not rivalling the Volvo range for sheer capacity, are nonetheless worthy additions to the range. Interior space in all 9-5 models is significantly good, and there’s a logic, albeit a Scandinavian logic, to the layout of the controls.

Despite Saab’s reputation for longevity, used 9-5s can be purchased at surprisingly reasonable money. A 1997 R plate 9-5 2.0t saloon with 59,000 miles on the clock is, in Saab terms, barely run-in. £3,700 is a fair figure for such a vehicle, with an automatic version commanding an additional £300. The pick of the 2.3 litre cars is definitely the Aero, and 1999 V plate models are dipping below £6.150. Opening price for V6 engined models is £4,900 for a 1998 R plate car, whilst £6,300 will net a 1999 T registered 3.0 V6 estate. Airflow models attract a premium of around £500 over their less overtly sporting brethren.

Few other manufacturers share Saab’s reputation for longevity. A well maintained 9-5 should be good for at least a quarter of a million miles, so don’t be afraid of higher mileage cars. Just be sure that they’ve been given regular doses of main dealer TLC. One area which is worth checking, especially on the Aero models, is front tyre wear. As with any powerful front wheel drive car, expecting the front tyres to cope with the demands of steering such a weighty beast and transmitting all that horsepower to the ground is a serious task. A heavy right foot can see front tyres waving the white flag within 5,000 miles, dependent upon make.

(approx based on a 9-5 2.0t) It’s obvious where raids from the bargain GM parts bin have taken place. Certain items are reasonably cheap. A clutch assembly is in the region of £175, and brake pads are £50 a set. A radiator is an eminently reasonable £144, and a headlamp unit is cheaper than most major rivals at £150. As Saab specific items begin to appear, prices go up. A starter motor won’t see change from £200, whilst an alternator represents the thick end of £400. Eye speed humps with suspicion, as an exhaust system, excluding catalytic converter, will be around £450.

Once potential customers drive a 9-5 they tend to buy them. A stretched Vectra with bags of power driving the front wheels isn’t a purist’s idea of a promising start, but the 9-5 pulls it off with aplomb. Even the 2.0-litre base models will reach 60mph in less than 10 seconds, and the Aero models have a terrific lunging punch. Show a 9-5 a tight corner and it isn’t as happy as a BMW would be, but is far from the dynamic duffer some have suggested. The 9-5 is most at home when racking up motorway miles, and all the models have a loping gait which, combined with the great seats, make them a comfortable place to be. Safety is a prime concern for Saab and as well as front and side airbags, the 9-5 is equipped with anti whiplash head restraints and the ‘Safeseat’ system, designed to stop passengers sliding beneath their seatbelts. Novel touches abound in the cabin and the depth of engineering is truly impressive. Even the cup holders have a sparse beauty to their design, and the load areas in both saloon and estate are well thought out and easily accessible.

Straying from the beaten path usually means making sacrifices. With the 9-5, Saab have aimed to offer all of the benefits of the established opposition with a degree of individuality thrown in for good measure. And it has worked. The 9-5 is a slightly unusual but nonetheless dependable choice. It will appeal to those who don’t want to have to remember their number plate when visiting the executive car park. If well maintained it will cross continents without breaking a sweat and leave you fresh for the return journey. Take your time, buy the best available and a used 9-5 will still be running long after Abba have met their Waterloo.

SWEDE WITH EVERYTHING
Saab’s 9-5 range aims to show it still has something to offer the discerning executive with these Turbo Edition models. Jonathan Crouch checks them out

Here’s a car for the thoughtful executive. He or she wants a smart badge on something BMW 5 Series-sized but it doesn’t have to be prestigiously German. They want a car that handles well but it doesn’t have to be trackday-ready. They need a model with low depreciation but they’re smart enough to know that a low upfront purchase price can make up for a lot in this regard. And they want a car able to reflect their growingly green credentials. What do they choose? Well how about a Saab 9-5?

The 9-5 slots into a role that can best be described as sub-premium. Positioned above most mainstream marques but below the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes, the 9-5’s best hopes are to pick off bit players like the Volvo’s S80 and attempt to take a few chunks out of Jaguar and Lexus’ sales figures. Though this 9-5 has been with us some time now, that still appears to be a realistic target. To aid things in this regard, Saab is using tight pricing, class-leading Bio Power engine alternatives and the option of a spacious estate. It’s also bringing us a range of added value Turbo Edition models. As with most special editions, the idea is to add in some well chosen extras along with a more attractive price tag. In this case, there are two specifications available – the 9-5 Turbo Edition and the top-of-the range 9-5 Aero Turbo Edition. The 9-5 Turbo Edition is offered with a choice of three engines – the entry-level 150bhp 2.0t, the high power 185bhp 2.3t (which makes rest from sixty in just 7.9s) and the economical 150bhp 1.9 TiD diesel. New standard features include 17 inch, five spoke alloy wheels, leather sport seats heated both front and rear, an electric driver’s seat, and headlight washers. Available in both Saloon and Estate bodystyles and with manual or automatic transmission, prices for the 9-5 Turbo Edition start at £19,995. For those in search of really high performance, Saab hope that the 9-5 Aero Turbo Edition is the answer. Offered with the 2.3T (260PS) petrol engine – which goes from 0-60mph in just 6.5 seconds in the Saloon variant with a top speed of 155mph – the Aero model wants for nothing. Extra features include DVD satellite navigation and dual electric seats, to add to normal Aero model features that include performance brakes, Bi-xenon headlights, metallic paint and a ‘sport’ chassis. Also available in both Saloon and Estate bodystyles, and with manual or automatic transmission, prices start from £24,995.

"It’s distinctive, quietly well engineered and pitched at an honest level to discerning buyers…"

Otherwise, it’s the usual 9-5 recipe. Saab’s persistence with a front-wheel drive layout for an increasingly powerful line of executive cars has in the past limited the 9-5s ultimate power delivery as well as having a mildly corrupting influence on steering feel. This current car, improved back in early 2006, sets out to improve ride quality and agility, although the 9-5 still isn’t a car that you’d fling down a back lane just for the fun of it. Where it has improved significantly is in terms of high speed ride and refinement with many suspension components being subtly finessed to offer the sort of silky ride comfort that some manufacturers seem to view as a throwback but which is hugely relevant for most buyers. Though the 9-5’s chassis is based on that of a Vauxhall Vectra Estate, Saab have, over the years, fettled this pig’s ear into something that may not feel like a silk purse but comes laudably close. Whereas the original 9-5 model felt quite skittery when you applied the power to the front wheels mid-corner, the current generation car deploys its power a little more cleanly, although the 256bhp generated by the 2.3T Aero model can still have the steering wheel tugging and the traction control working overtime. Corner it hard and Saab’s reputation for safety intervenes with the improved ABS and ESP skid control combining to quickly put a lid on any slip sliding away. Many would argue that it cuts in somewhat prematurely and they’d have a fair point, although the more lenient system employed by BMW highlights the difference in driver appeal between the two marques. Still, with weight taken out of the subframe and more rigidity built into the current version, this Saab feels lighter on its feet than of old. In terms of design, you really have to start with that front end, a chromed look that has inevitably divided opinion. This styling is based on Saab’s 9-X concept car and it’s a template upon which the company’s future design direction looks set to follow. It’s certainly not lacking in impact. With the changes a couple of years back, the Swedes did quite a bit of tinkering with the design, with the result that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3 (not in the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect) and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Overall though, Swedish functionality wins out over total design flair. Go for the Estate version and you’ll get a decent 416-litre boot that grows to 890 litres with the rear seats folded. Thanks to the sloping rear tailgate, included to avoid the rival Volvo V70's boxy look, that's not quite as much as its Swedish competitor. However, a range of clever design ideas more than compensate. Take the issue of strapping things down – a doddle in this case thanks to a couple of aircraft style aluminium cargo tracks concealed beneath plastic strips in the estate compartment. You simply clip a securing metal eye to one of these and, using spring-loaded straps, secure your load as necessary. When it comes to cost of ownership, depreciation is this Saab’s only real problem: it’s always going to struggle in this regard when compared to premium German models. However, get the right upfront price and you can factor this out as an issue – or, if you get a particularly good deal, maybe even move ahead of BMW, Mercedes and Audi alternatives in terms of whole life running costs. Fuel economy can be pretty ruinous if you opt for one of the bigger-engined petrol models and really get the turbo spinning but that apart, most buyers should find their 9-5s pretty controlled in this regard. Opt for the TiD diesel (as most probably will) and you can expect a reasonable 44.1mpg showing on the combined cycle and a CO2 emissions showing of as little as 174g/km. Insurance groups across the 9-5 line-up range between 13 and 15. Saab know that the 9-5 isn’t going to be a huge seller, but even so, this model is still capable of turning over respectable numbers for the Swedes. It’s distinctive, quietly well engineered and pitched at an honest level to discerning buyers, especially in these Turbo Edition guises. Private customers looking for speed, safety and serenity would do well to check out the 9-5 before buying something tardier and Teutonic.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 Turbo Edition range PRICES: [Turbo Edition] from £19,995 / [Aero Turbo Edition] from £24,995 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-212g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.3t 4dr] 0-60mph 7.9s / Max Speed 140mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.3t 4dr] (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 31.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

FUTURE SHOCK
You’d better get used to the striking front end of the latest 9-5, because it’s the template for all future Saabs. Andy Enright reports

Straight talking is an attribute that’s rarely found in business these days. All too often, the honest truth is couched in bland and cliched euphemisms designed to fudge the issue. Therefore when Saab’s UK managing director admitted that the latest 9-5 wasn’t going head to head on pricing with the likes of Audi and BMW because the car "isn’t quite there yet" it was like a breath of fresh air. Saab are nothing but realistic about the 9-5 and it’s a better car as a result.

The company is aware that the 9-5 slots into a role that can be described as sub-premium. Positioned above most mainstream marques but below the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes, the 9-5’s best hopes are to pick off weaklings like the Peugeot 607, nibble away at Volvo’s S80 and attempt to take a few chunks out of Jaguar and Lexus’ sales figures. Most manufacturers would proudly show a presentation that demonstrated, via carefully chosen criteria, how their car was way superior to, say, a BMW 5 Series and retailed for thousands of pounds less. Saab are far more sanguine about this car’s chances, but they may well have underplayed their hand. The latest 9-5 saloons and estates, priced from £21,570, have a lot going for them. Let’s start with that front end. It’s not exactly easy to overlook, based as it is on the 9-X concept car and it’s a template upon which Saab’s future design direction looks set to follow. It’s certainly not lacking in impact and unlike many bold designs that often take a long time to bed in on the eye, this works very well right from the get-go. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere windowdressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly.

"Saab have successfully modernised the styling of the 9-5"

Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3 (not in the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect) and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance. Elsewhere there are some more fundamental changes. Saab’s persistence with a front-wheel drive layout for an increasingly powerful line of executive cars limits the 9-5s ultimate power delivery and also has a mildly corrupting influence on steering feel. The latest car sets out to improve ride quality and agility, although the 9-5 still isn’t a car that you’d fling down a back lane just for the fun of it. Where it has improved significantly is in terms of high speed ride and refinement with many suspension components being subtly finessed to offer the sort of silky ride comfort that some manufacturers seem to view as a throwback but which is hugely relevant for most buyers. The 9-5’s chassis is based on the GM Epsilon platform, as used by the likes of the Vauxhall Signum and Vectra Estates. Over the years, Saab have fettled this pig’s ear into something that may not feel like a silk purse but comes laudably close. Whereas the original 9-5 model felt quite skittery when you applied the power to the front wheels mid-corner, the current generation car deploys its power a little more cleanly, although the 256bhp generated by the 2.3T aero model can still have the steering wheel tugging and the traction control working overtime. Corner it hard and Saab’s reputation for safety intervenes with the improved ABS and ESP skid control combining to quickly put a lid on any slip sliding away. Many would argue that it cuts in somewhat prematurely and they’d have a fair point, although the more lenient system employed by BMW highlights the difference in driver appeal between the two marques. With weight taken out of the subframe and more rigidity built in, the Saab feels lighter on its feet than of old, and the chassis engineers have also had a fiddle with the damper, springs and roll bar settings, leaving only a few bushes unchanged. The 150bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit kicks the range off, whilst the 185bhp 2.3-litre is a familiar favourite and both of these engines are available in Biopower form capable of running on a mix of unleaded and E85 bioethanol. The 2.3 makes sixty from rest in just 7.9s and now manages an average of 31.7mpg. The manic 256bhp Aero model translates into an overtaking weapon with few equals and represents keen value too. A 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD unit is now the only offering for diesel customers. Developed in conjunction with Fiat and produced at the FMA plant in Italy, Saab have a quality powerplant. With development budgets being what they are, if Saab were still an independent company they would never have been able to afford the design, testing and construction of such a sophisticated powerplant. This 1.9-litre unit replaces both the 2.2 and 3.0-litre TiD engines previously used in this line-up. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the option of a six-speed auto, there’s plenty of scope for plugging the car straight into the meat of the torque curve. With at least 90% of peak torque available in a broad load running from 1,750 to 3,250rpm, you’ll be guaranteed respectable progress. After all, peak torque for the 16v engine is 315Nm so you’ll not be lacking overtaking response. Saab know that the 9-5 isn’t going to be a huge seller, but this model will nevertheless turn over respectable numbers for the Swedes. It’s good looking, quietly well engineered but above all an honest car. Private buyers looking for speed, safety and serenity would do well to check out the 9-5 before buying something tardier and Teutonic.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 range PRICES: £21,570-£32,085 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-212g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.3t 4dr] 0-60mph 7.9s / Max Speed 140mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.3t 4dr] (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 31.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

BJORN AGAIN?
Saab’s 1.9 TiD Diesel May Change A Few Opinions About Oil-Burning 9-5s. Jonathan Crouch Reports…

If the Saab 9-5 has received a slightly cool reception in this country, Saab diesels have fared even worse. Time for a change. First to the styling, which now looks more ‘cutting edge’, then to the diesel offering. This is now the 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD engine borrowed from the smaller 9-3 Range, an engine, Saab hope, that will give BMW sleepless nights.

This unit must single-handedly replace both diesels used in the previous 9-5 line-up, Saab-sourced 2.2 and 3.0-litre TiD units. Since the old 3.0-litre developed 176bhp, that’s a tough ask. Still, prices, which start at £21,905, are keen and the performance figures, on paper at least, look very competitive. The Saab’s engine is a good example of its type and though in absolute power terms, it’s some way short of the BMW 525d’s creamy 177bhp 2.5-litre unit, it’s also up to £7,000 cheaper. Plus the 9-5 estate (priced in this form from £22,505) compares favourably with the Touring versions of the 5 Series. Would you buy one over the BMW? Well how open-minded are you? If you’ve ever queued at the returns desk at IKEA, you may not be one of a growing band of far from gruntled Swedophobes. The design shortcomings of the not-obviously-chipboard Knackig coffee table may well have holed the 9-5s prospects below the waterline. Seriously, the 1.9 TiD engine we’re looking at here is a very good one indeed. Developed in conjunction with Fiat and produced at the FMA plant in Italy, Saab have a quality powerplant they could never have produced under their own steam. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the option of a six-speed auto, there’s plenty of scope for plugging the car straight into the meat of the torque curve. With at least 90% of peak torque available in a broad load running from 1,750 to 3,250rpm, you’ll be guaranteed respectable progress. After all, peak torque for the 16v engine is 315Nm so you’ll not be lacking overtaking response.

"The 1.9 TiD engine we’re looking at here is a very good one indeed – but will it be enough?"

The 9-5 line-up has been much improved in recent times, notably with that new front end. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere window dressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3, not the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect, and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance. Various trim levels are available: Linear, Linear Sport, Vector and Vector Sport. Aside from the most astonishing cup-holder in the automotive world, there are the typical Saab design cues including the centrally mounted ignition barrel and vertiginous fascia. It’s neither slick nor pretty but it feels rock solid and incredibly well thought through. In terms of cabin space, you’ll find a decent amount of elbow room and (in the estate) a decent 416-litre boot which grows to 890 litres with the rear seats folded. In the saloon, there's 15.9 cu/ft of luggage capacity accessible via split-folding rear seats that also feature a ski-flap. Safety as ever, has also been a priority and all the obvious protection is there, with careful touches that even stretch to anti-whiplash head restraints and those pre-tensioning seat belts. It’s under the skin that most of the benefits will be felt. The 9-5’s chassis is, much as Saab won’t thank us for noting, still based on an extended Vauxhall Vectra platform, itself not the first place you’d start to build a credible executive express. Over the years Saab have fettled this pig’s ear into something that may not feel like a silk purse but comes laudably close. Whereas the old model felt quite skittery when you applied the power to the front wheels mid-corner, the latest 9-5 deploys its power far more cleanly, making it feel more of a driver’s tool than the old motorway mogul ever was. Nevertheless, corner it hard and Saab’s reputation for safety intervenes with the improved ABS and ESP skid control combining to quickly put a lid on any slip sliding away. Many would argue that it cuts in somewhat prematurely and they’d have a fair point, although the more lenient system employed by BMW highlights the difference in driver appeal between the two marques. With weight taken out of the subframe and more rigidity built in, the Saab feels lighter on its feet than of old, and the chassis engineers have also had a fiddle with the damper, springs and roll bar settings. The result is a far sportier drive than whilst still retaining a degree of suppleness. Body roll is now well controlled although the revised steering system is still a couple of notches from the top of the totem pole. It’s one thing to be dubbed ‘best of the rest’, something the 9-5 manages quite easily, but what about denting the sales of the German mainstream rivals from Mercedes, BMW and Audi? Good though the 9-5 1.9 TiD is, it’s not markedly better than Teutonic rivals in any key area. When a car as good as this can’t break buyer’s prejudices, it’s difficult to imagine what Saab have to do. Possibly give up and build something else. Planes. Now there’s a market ripe for the taking…

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 1.9 TiD Range PRICES: £21,905-£26,365 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13-15 CO2 EMISSIONS: 174-199g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.5s / Max Speed 127mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.8mpg / (extra urban) 54.3mpg / (combined) 44.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2020/1448mm

FUTURE SHOCK
You’d better get used to the striking front end of the latest 9-5, because it’s the template for all future Saabs. Andy Enright reports

Straight talking is an attribute that’s rarely found in business these days. All too often, the honest truth is couched in bland and cliched euphemisms designed to fudge the issue. Therefore when Saab’s UK managing director admitted that the latest 9-5 wasn’t going head to head on pricing with the likes of Audi and BMW because the car "isn’t quite there yet" it was like a breath of fresh air. Saab are nothing but realistic about the 9-5 and it’s a better car as a result.

The company is aware that the 9-5 slots into a role that can be described as sub-premium. Positioned above most mainstream marques but below the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes, the 9-5’s best hopes are to pick off weaklings like the Peugeot 607, nibble away at Volvo’s S80 and attempt to take a few chunks out of Jaguar and Lexus’ sales figures. Most manufacturers would proudly show a presentation that demonstrated, via carefully chosen criteria, how their car was way superior to, say, a BMW 5 Series and retailed for thousands of pounds less. Saab are far more sanguine about this car’s chances, but they may well have underplayed their hand. The latest 9-5 saloons and estates, priced from £21,545, have a lot going for them. Let’s start with that front end. It’s not exactly easy to overlook, based as it is on the 9-X concept car and it’s a template upon which Saab’s future design direction looks set to follow. It’s certainly not lacking in impact and unlike many bold designs that often take a long time to bed in on the eye, this works very well right from the get-go. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere windowdressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly.

"Saab have successfully modernised the styling of the 9-5"

Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3 (not in the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect) and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance. Elsewhere there are some more fundamental changes. Saab’s persistence with a front-wheel drive layout for an increasingly powerful line of executive cars limits the 9-5s ultimate power delivery and also has a mildly corrupting influence on steering feel. The latest car sets out to improve ride quality and agility, although the 9-5 still isn’t a car that you’d fling down a back lane just for the fun of it. Where it has improved significantly is in terms of high speed ride and refinement with many suspension components being subtly finessed to offer the sort of silky ride comfort that some manufacturers seem to view as a throwback but which is hugely relevant for most buyers. The 9-5’s chassis is based on the GM Epsilon platform, as used by the likes of the Vauxhall Signum and Vectra Estates. Over the years, Saab have fettled this pig’s ear into something that may not feel like a silk purse but comes laudably close. Whereas the original 9-5 model felt quite skittery when you applied the power to the front wheels mid-corner, the current generation car deploys its power a little more cleanly, although the 256bhp generated by the 2.3T aero model can still have the steering wheel tugging and the traction control working overtime. Corner it hard and Saab’s reputation for safety intervenes with the improved ABS and ESP skid control combining to quickly put a lid on any slip sliding away. Many would argue that it cuts in somewhat prematurely and they’d have a fair point, although the more lenient system employed by BMW highlights the difference in driver appeal between the two marques. With weight taken out of the subframe and more rigidity built in, the Saab feels lighter on its feet than of old, and the chassis engineers have also had a fiddle with the damper, springs and roll bar settings, leaving only a few bushes unchanged. The 150bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit kicks the range off, whilst the 185bhp 2.3-litre is a familiar favourite and both of these engines are available in Biopower form capable of running on a mix of unleaded and E85 bioethanol. The 2.3 makes sixty from rest in just 7.9s and now manages an average of 31.7mpg. The manic 256bhp Aero model translates into an overtaking weapon with few equals and represents keen value too. A 150bhp 1.9-litre TiD unit is now the only offering for diesel customers. Developed in conjunction with Fiat and produced at the FMA plant in Italy, Saab have a quality powerplant. With development budgets being what they are, if Saab were still an independent company they would never have been able to afford the design, testing and construction of such a sophisticated powerplant. This 1.9-litre unit replaces both the 2.2 and 3.0-litre TiD engines previously used in this line-up. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the option of a six-speed auto, there’s plenty of scope for plugging the car straight into the meat of the torque curve. With at least 90% of peak torque available in a broad load running from 1,750 to 3,250rpm, you’ll be guaranteed respectable progress. After all, peak torque for the 16v engine is 315Nm so you’ll not be lacking overtaking response. Saab know that the 9-5 isn’t going to be a huge seller, but this model will nevertheless turn over respectable numbers for the Swedes. It’s good looking, quietly well engineered but above all an honest car. Private buyers looking for speed, safety and serenity would do well to check out the 9-5 before buying something tardier and Teutonic.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 range PRICES: £21,545-£30,885 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-212g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.3t 4dr] 0-60mph 7.9s / Max Speed 140mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.3t 4dr] (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 42.8mpg / (combined) 31.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

SWEDEN’S BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
Environmentally conscious cars don’t need to be glorified milk floats. Andy Enright takes a look at Saab’s 9-5 2.3t Biopower.

It’s tough to make a case for fossil fuels. Future generations will look back with horror and bemusement at the headless rush to deplete a resource that is to all intents and purposes irreplaceable. There are sustainable alternatives available if you’re willing to open your minds a little, as Saab are keen to prove with their BioPower Range of models. Instead of being diverted by short-term dead ends like LPG, another fossil fuel, or the long term dream of hydrogen fuel cells, Saab has instead delivered a system that uses sustainable fuel sources right here, right now. What’s more, it’s no underpowered bore either, the latest 9-5 2.3t BioPower serving up 230bhp of greener grunt.

Running a car like a petrol-electric hybrid is all well and good, but it’s worth considering what others will think of you. They’ll have you down as some sort of leftie lentilista, smugly looking down your nose at everybody else as you whirr along sanctimoniously. The great thing about this Saab is that you don’t need to flaunt your green credentials quite so ostentatiously. To the uninformed, it just looks like another Saab 9-5, long, lean and wearing those unusual Dame Edna-style specs at the front. Plant your right boot, however, and if you’ve got a tank full of bioethanol E85, you’ll jet to 60mph in 7.6 seconds. Fill it with regular 95 RON, as you can if you want, and you’ll add 0.6 seconds to that figure. This performance boost is something Swedes are waking up to before anybody else, native supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg getting the best performance figures from their cars when run on E85, which has an octane rating of 104. In this country, it’s still around two pence per litre cheaper than unleaded, so you win every way up. Saab’s Trionic engine management system automatically detects whether you have bioethanol or unleaded petrol, or indeed any conceivable mix of the two, and adjusts the car’s ignition for optimum efficiency.

"So many environmentally friendly projects are pie in the sky. Saab has come up with one firmly grounded in reality"

The biggest impediment to the take up of this fuel in the UK has been availability. Morrisions started pump deliveries of bioethanol in March 2006 and the chain has been spreading it across many of its converted Safeway stores in the East and South West of England. Saab is bullish about the prospects of BioPower, expecting the take up rate to accelerate as newer and more exciting models come on stream. Biological fuel sources are nothing new, as many farmers will have realised down the years, running their vehicles on ethanol which can be derived from corn, wheat, potato wastes, sugar beet, forest residue, molasses, sugar cane and virtually any other form of cellulose. Petroleum is also used to make industrial ethanol. Ethanol, which is the same chemical as the alcohol in alcoholic beverages, can reach 96% purity by volume by distillation, and is as clear as water. Ethanol is flammable and pure ethanol burns more cleanly than many other fuels. However, pure ethanol reacts with or dissolves certain rubber and plastic materials and cannot be used in unmodified engines. Additionally, ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 115) than ordinary petrol, requiring changes to the compression ratio or spark timing to obtain uncombusted nonvaporized ethanol. If 5 per cent ethanol is mixed with petrol, no engine modification is typically needed, although if you go higher, you’ll need a revised fuel system as well as more durable valves and valve seats. This is how Saab has modified the 9-5 BioPower, a car that uses an 85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent petroleum mix. Therefore the fuel isn’t from a totally renewable source, but it represents a good start. Engineers are also looking at the feasibility of gradually upping the percentage of ethaol in the fuel to augment its sustainable credentials. E85 bioethanol was introduced nationwide in Denmark, and in 1989, Brazil produced 12 billion litres of fuel ethanol from sugar cane, which was used to power 9.2 million cars. With an octane rating of 104, this makes the 9-5 BioPower a good deal swifter than if running on normal 95 octane petrol. Saab estimate a 20 per cent gain in brake horsepower and a 16 per cent boost to torque. The addition of a small amount of petrol helps the engine under cold start conditions. With oil prices at a record high, motorists could make long term savings, get better performance and help the environment by switching to BioPower. Those amongst you who paid attention in chemistry classes will know that the net products of ethanol combustion are carbon dioxide and water. So where’s the environmental benefit? Aside from being able to replenish the fuel stocks, the plants harvested to create the ethanol consume more carbon dioxide in their growth cycle than the resultant fuel will emit when burnt, meaning a net depletion of CO2. Now that is clever. US magazine Popular Science certainly thought so, the 9-5 BioPower featuring in their annual ranking of 100 breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. To date Saab has sold over 5,000 9-5 BioPower models in its home market since sales began in July 2005, to take 1.5 per cent of the total Swedish new car market. The Saab 9-5 BioPower is already outselling all other eco-friendly vehicles combined in Sweden, it's unique combination of 20 per cent more power, with fossil CO2 emissions reduced by up to 70 per cent, forming a key part of its appeal. Pragmatism is a key tool in getting people to switch from fossil fuels. Show them an alternative that’s cheaper, offers more power and which requires no effort on the user’s part and it has to be a surefire winner. Saab certainly hopes so.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 2.3t BioEthanol Range PRICES: £23,270-£27,695 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 15 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: tba g/km PERFORMANCE: ( running on E85) 0-60mph 7.6s / Max Speed 147mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 28mpg [est] STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

MAXIMISING YOUR CAPITAL WITH A SMALL t?
In 2.0t Form, Saab’s 9-5 Offers An Opportunity To Opt Out Of The Executive Mainstream. Andy Enright Checks It Out

Entry-level executive cars used to start at around £20,000. Not any more. The cheapest BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-class models are in the £25,000 bracket. Refreshing then, to find that Saab’s entry-level 9-5 2.0t costs from £21,480.

That’s just for the entry-level Linear model of course – but it’s still very well equipped. If you want more, there are also Linear Sport, Vector and Vector Sport versions in saloon or (for a £1,200 premium) estate guises. If you’re not up to speed on your 9-5s, it’s worth pointing out that there are also 185bhp 2.3t and 250bhp 2.8 models available, as well as a four cylinder 1.9 TiD 150bhp diesel. The 9-5 line-up has been much improved in recent times, notably with that new front end. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere window dressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3, not the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect, and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance.

"The recent improvements, together with some notable company car tax benefits, put the 9-5 2.0t in a strong position…"

The 2.0-litre engine’s torque figure of 177lb/ft gives it an advantage over many executive rivals. This lends the Saab a more imperious outside lane attitude and the engine’s bigger muscles can be felt around town when you won’t need to trouble the gearstick to frequently. The sprint to 60mph takes just 9.6 seconds, whilst the top speed of 134mph is again very class-competitive. The 9-5’s chassis is, much as Saab hate us noting, based on an extended Vauxhall Vectra platform, itself not the first place you’d start to build a credible executive express. Over the years however, Saab have fettled this pig’s ear into something that may not feel like a silk purse but comes laudably close. Whereas the original 9-5 model felt quite skittery when you applied the power to the front wheels mid-corner, the latest generation car deploys its power far more cleanly, making it feel more of a driver’s tool than the old motorway mogul ever was. With weight taken out of the subframe and more rigidity built in, the Saab feels lighter on its feet than of old, and the chassis engineers have also had a fiddle with the damper, springs and roll bar settings. The result is a far sportier drive than whilst still retaining a degree of suppleness. Aside from the most astonishing cup-holder in the automotive world, there are the typical Saab design cues including the centrally mounted ignition barrel and vertiginous fascia. It’s neither slick nor pretty but it feels rock solid and incredibly well thought through. In terms of cabin space, you’ll find a decent amount of elbow room and (in the estate) a decent 416-litre boot which grows to 890 litres with the rear seats folded. In the saloon, there's 15.9 cu/ft of luggage capacity accessible via split-folding rear seats that also feature a ski-flap. Safety as ever, has also been a priority and all the obvious protection is there, with careful touches that even stretch to anti-whiplash head restraints and those pre-tensioning seat belts. In summary, the latest Saab 9-5 2.0t has set itself a very big mountain to climb. Still, the recent improvements, together with some notable company car tax benefits, put it in a strong position. If you don’t care for badge snobbery, the 9-5’s case looks even stronger. Check one out before you take a more conventional choice.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 2.0t Range PRICES: £21,480- £25,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 218g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.7s / Max Speed 134mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 21.2mpg / (extra urban) 39.8mpg / (combined) 30mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

AN ESTATE WITH NO EXCESS BAGGAGE
It may look sleek enough to qualify as one of those trendy ‘lifestyle’ estates but, as Andy Enright discovers, Saab’s revised 9-5 Estate is big on functionality too

There’s something of a renaissance going on in the estate car market. For a spell during the Nineties, the station wagon was forgotten, but models such as the Saab 9-5 Estate are now regaining popularity. Get behind the wheel of Saab’s latest load lugger and you’ll soon realise why.

Received wisdom was once that if you had either a large family or a large load to move around, you bought a large estate car. No other viable choices existed. Come the Nineties, we saw people abandoning the estate in favour of monster 4x4s and increasingly massive MPVs. As most buyers expunged the novelty of driving round in a wallowing leviathan from their systems however, they’ve gradually reacquainted themselves with the appeal of the estate. This being so, it’s easy to see the reasons for the continuing appeal of Saab’s updated 9-5 Estate range. We’ve slowly become accustomed to a Swedish manufacturer other than Volvo making estate cars and Saab has quietly notched up some impressive sales with the 9-5 estate, probably their first ever car that the adjective ‘elegant’ could be applied to. Solid results in the Euro NCAP safety ratings and a good showing in the JD Power surveys perpetuate Swedish stereotypes regarding safety and reliability. Under paymasters General Motors, Saab is at last regaining its zest for innovation, design and performance. The 9-5 line-up has been much improved in recent times, notably with that new front end. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere window dressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. Estate prices start from £22,770.

"The Saab 9-5 Estate is a useful alternative for those who want something a little unterschied as they say in Germany…

Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3, not the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect, and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance. Various trim levels are available: Linear, Linear Sport, Vector, Vector Sport and Aero. Aside from the most astonishing cup-holder in the automotive world, there are the typical Saab design cues including the centrally mounted ignition barrel and vertiginous fascia. It’s neither slick nor pretty but it feels rock solid and incredibly well thought through. In terms of cabin space, you’ll find a decent amount of elbow room and a decent 416-litre boot which grows to 890 litres with the rear seats folded. Thanks to the sloping rear tailgate, included to avoid the rival Volvo V70's boxy look, that's not quite as much as its Swedish competitor. However, a range of clever design ideas more than compensate. Take the issue of strapping things down – a doddle in this case thanks to a couple of aircraft style aluminium cargo tracks concealed beneath plastic strips in the estate compartment. You simply clip a securing metal eye to one of these and, using spring-loaded straps, secure your load as necessary. For a little extra, you can also enjoy the benefit of a couple of even neater ideas. First, there's a sliding panel in the boot floor which glides out half a metre beyond the back of the car, either to make loading and unloading easier or simply (since it takes up to 200kg) to act as an impromptu picnic seat. Those with animals will also want to specify the sturdy metal divider which fits into the boot area to keep your furry friend separate from your luggage. The latest car sets out to improve ride quality and agility, although the 9-5 still isn’t a car that you’d fling down a back lane just for the fun of it. Where it has improved significantly is in terms of high speed ride and refinement with many suspension components being subtly finessed to offer the sort of silky ride comfort that some manufacturers seem to view as a throwback but which is hugely relevant for most buyers. With an ever-increasing share of the executive market being accounted for by diesel sales, Saab has now included the 150bhp version of the 1.9TiD engine from the 9-3 into the 9-5 line-up. Otherwise, Saab 9-5 customers won’t be shocked by the reappearance of a set of powerful petrol engines that all boast some pretty impressive figures. The 150bhp 2.0-litre turbo four kicks the range off, whilst the 185bhp 2.3t model is also well worth a look and both of these units are available in BioPower form – able to run on a mix of unleaded and E85 bioethanol. The manic Aero model still develops 250bhp. With prices starting from £22,770, the Saab 9-5 Estate is a useful alternative for those who want something a little unterschied as they say in Germany…

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 Estate range PRICES: £22,770-£32,085 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-18 CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-212g/km PERFORMANCE: [3.0 TiD] 0-60mph 9.8s / Max Speed 131mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [3.0TiD] (urban) 27.9 / (extra urban) 47.8 / (combined) 38.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4828/2042/1497mm

STOP ME AND BIO ONE
Lean, Green And Sparkly Clean, Saab’s 9-5 2.0t BioPower Could Be The Shape Of Things To Come. Andy Enright Reports

How’s your environmental conscience? Does it get a little tweaked by the sight of cars belching out voluminous clouds of greenhouse gases, carcinogenic particulates and all manner of toxic substances seemingly guaranteed to send us into premature dementia or infertility? If so, there are a few ways to slave your guilt. The best is to buy a bicycle, but that’s not always practical for most of us. Petrol/electric hybrid cars are one way to clean up your act and are starting to gain a solid following – but there aren’t many to choose from. Saab have hit on another approach that may well have a significant part to play in future vehicle development. It’s called BioPower.

If you run your car on petrol, diesel or even liquefied petroleum gas, there’s one fact that you can’t get away from. With every combustion cycle, you’re depleting fossil fuel reserves that we can’t replenish. Future generations will look back on this headlong plunder of such a resource with dumbstruck amazement and question what we thought we were doing. More proactive car makers are already looking to development hydrogen fuel cell cars, viewed by most in the industry as the way forward for passenger vehicle power. These ‘engines’ emit only water but the manufacturing process is costly, some residual technological impediments have yet to be solved in making fuel cells a viable reality and even the most optimistic industry watchers don’t expect to see one in a passenger car much before 2010. So what can we do in the interim? Biological fuel sources are nothing new, as many farmers will have realised down the years, running their vehicles on ethanol which can be derived from corn, wheat, potato wastes, sugar beet, forest residue, molasses, sugar cane and virtually any other form of cellulose. Petroleum is also used to make industrial ethanol.

"The 9-5 BioPower is an intriguing technological, environmental, financial and dynamic proposition"

Ethanol, which is the same chemical as the alcohol in alcoholic beverages, can reach 96% purity by volume by distillation, and is as clear as water. Ethanol is flammable and pure ethanol burns more cleanly than many other fuels. However, pure ethanol reacts with or dissolves certain rubber and plastic materials and cannot be used in unmodified engines. Additionally, ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 115) than ordinary petrol, requiring changes to the compression ratio or spark timing to obtain uncombusted nonvaporized ethanol. If 15% ethanol is mixed with petrol, no engine modification is typically needed and this mix, called gasohol or E85, is what Saab use with the 9-5 BioPower. This was introduced nationwide in Denmark, and in 1989, Brazil produced 12 billion litres of fuel ethanol from sugar cane, which was used to power 9.2 million cars. With an octane rating of around 105, this makes the 9-5 BioPower a good deal swifter than if running on normal 95 octane petrol. Saab estimate a 20 per cent gain in brake horsepower and a 16 per cent boost to torque. The addition of a small amount of petrol helps the engine under cold start conditions. With oil prices at a record high, motorists could make long term savings, get better performance and help the environment by switching to BioPower. Those amongst you who paid attention in chemistry classes will know that the net products of ethanol combustion are carbon dioxide and water. So where’s the environmental benefit? Aside from being able to replenish the fuel stocks, the plants harvested to create the ethanol consume more carbon dioxide in their growth cycle than the resultant fuel will emit when burnt, meaning a net depletion of CO2. Smart, eh? US magazine Popular Science certainly thought so, the 9-5 BioPower featuring in their annual ranking of 100 breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. "We’re pleased and honoured to be named Popular Science’s Best of What’s New," said Jan-Åke Jonsson, Saab Automobile AB Managing Director. "Near term, bio-ethanol provides an effective first step to our energy challenges. It’s a bridge that can lead us from fossil fuels toward new, sustainable technologies that are still under development." The rest of the 9-5 package also merits closer inspection. The Range has undergone a facelift of late and it’s a very smart piece of design, notably with that new front end. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere window dressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. The interior has also been given a spruce up. When run on petrol, the 2.0-litre engine’s torque figure of 177lb/ft gives it an advantage over many executive rivals. This lends the Saab a more imperious outside lane attitude and the engine’s bigger muscles can be felt around town when you won’t need to trouble the gearstick too frequently. The sprint to 60mph takes just 9.6 seconds, whilst the top speed of 134mph is again very class-competitive. Run it on E85 and you’ll be looking at a peak power output of 180bhp and drop that sprint to 60mph to 8.3 seconds. Much will hinge on how efficiently bioethanol fuel is rolled out to garage forecourts. If a critical mass of filling stations is achieved, there’s no reason why Saab’s 9-5 BioPower shouldn’t be a very credible contender. It’s only a matter of time before bioethanol becomes a mainstream fuel source and in the meantime, this car will run perfectly happily on unleaded petrol. Saab could have put a key move on the opposition here. I never predicted that this year’s most interesting car was going to be a Saab 9-5.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 2.0t BioEthanol Range PRICES: from £22,070 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 218g/km PERFORMANCE: ( running on E85) 0-60mph 8.5s / Max Speed 139mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 21.2mpg / (extra urban) 39.8mpg / (combined) 30mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front side airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4810/2040/1450mm

AERO DYNAMICALLY EFFICIENT
Saab's Fastest 9-5 Punches Hard. Andy Enright Takes A Look At A Viable Alternative To the Executive Block Vote…

The Saab 9-5 Aero was always frustratingly close to being able to mix it with the class best. There were always caveats however, considerations that made it difficult to plump for the Saab over its executive rivals. Saab have worked at ironing out these shortcomings and the Aero has benefited from an inordinate amount of modifications. Does it deserve a place on the podium?

Saab aroused a good deal of scepticism, suspicion and outright scorn by choosing to launch their original 9-5 Aero on a road route that consisted largely of arrow straight Swiss motorway. The latest model puts its cards on the table right from the outset. So confident were Saab of the Aero’s handling prowess that the launch for the latest model included a section swerving around cones on a windswept Swedish airfield. Whilst it’d be an exaggeration to say that the old car would have experienced trouble avoiding an injudiciously located airfield, it was never particularly adept when shown an apex. If you drove one of the original 9-5 Aero models, the major change with this one becomes apparent the first time you decide that restraint is for career civil servants and really drop the hammer. Whereas the original car would shimmy as the front wheels desperately tried to deploy the available power, this 9-5 Aero responds with a light tug at the steering wheel, a quick blink of traction control light on the fascia and then one long, creamy surge of power. Accelerating hard out of tight corners is something of a 9-5 novelty and the Aero relishes the chance to pin you back into your seat.

"Exploit the Saab 9-5 Aero to the full and you may run out of answers when a JP asks you why you were travelling at 152mph on the Queen’s Highway…"

The reasons for this transformation are manifold. Saab has worked at increasing the torsional rigidity of the car’s chassis so that they can then tune each aspect of the suspension more accurately without having to try to work around the major handicap of chassis flex. The steering system has been extensively modified, and it feels as if Saab have damped the amount of feedback but quickened the steering rack so that your inputs are instantly translated to the front wheels without too much heckling from the front row. You can still feel the front tyres keying into the tarmac as they put down all of 250bhp. ESP traction and stability control are of course standard, but instead of masking the inadequacies of the 9-5 chassis, they work well with the revised set up, intervening only when the car has genuinely run out of answers. Exploit the Saab 9-5 Aero to the full and you may run out of answers when a JP asks you why you were travelling at 152mph on the Queen’s Highway. The sprint to 60mph takes just 6.9 seconds, which would at least make entertaining viewing when it appeared on the next episode of "Police, Stop". The 9-5 line-up has been much improved in recent times, notably with that new front end. The chrome headlight surrounds and clean finish to the grille and bumper sections give the 9-5 serious presence without resorting to the sorts of me-too contrivances that have afflicted certain rivals. The facelift goes a whole lot further than a mere window dressing, however, and Saab claim that every piece of panelling ahead of the windscreen pillars is new. The rear end has been tidied and modernised with a more streamlined-looking rear valance and bumper assembly. Drop inside and you’ll be able to tell it’s a Saab even if you’re wearing a blindfold. The cliff-like fascia, the odd combination of super-soft thermoplastics and harder materials more akin to a mainstream car and the key slot on the transmission tunnel mark the 9-5 down as a product that could only have come from Trollhattan. The rather unusual steering wheel design debuted in the 9-3, not the Flash Gordon movies as some may suspect, and is actually rather more pleasant to use than its looks would suggest. There are also a number of small detail changes to the instruments and cabin. Chrome-ringed dials, an uprated information system, better quality ventilation controls and the repositioning of some minor functions to help ergonomics are all welcome, but expect a cutting edge executive car interior and you’re likely to be disappointed. Swedish functionality wins out over design flair in this instance. Whichever Aero model you choose, the price includes a smart (but thankfully subtle) performance bodykit. Front foglights are built into a deep chin spoiler at the front but rather refreshingly, there's no rear wing, preserving the car's understated appeal. Other standard Aero features include leather heated electric memory sports seats, Bi-Xenon headlamps, parking radar, metallic paint, climate-controlled air conditioning, cruise control, a trip computer and a full house CD stereo system with steering wheel controls. Plus all the usual executive features - ABS, power steering, electric windows, power mirrors, central locking, tinted glass and so on. Where the 9-5 Aero has always scored is in terms of value for money. At £28,765 for the saloon variant, it offers 250bhp and an impressive amount of quality, prestige and standard equipment. How cheaply does around 250bhp come if you want something German? The 231bhp Mercedes E280 is nearly £32,000, whilst 258bhp worth of BMW 530i starts at £33,000. Neither of these models can approach the Saab Aero’s value proposition. For so long the makeweight of the executive car class, the Saab 9-5 Aero now punches its weight. It’s taken Trollhatten a while to learn that power is nothing without control. Now that they’ve woken up and smelt the coffee, the Aero’s going to cause a few long faces in Germany. And the customer wins every way up…

Facts At A Glance CAR: Saab 9-5 Aero PRICES: £28,765-£29,965 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 211g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.5s / Max Speed 152mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 20.9mpg/ (combined) 29.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & Side airbags / ABS / TCS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4810/2040/1450mm