Saab 9-5 sport combination: Secret insights into the model year 2012

Let`s talk about Cars! Saab had the 9-5 sports car the potential to drive out of the crisis. Our sport combination with the Swedish license LGT 271, which accompanied us on the dealer's tour, was a very special Saab. Because he was a pre-production model, which already had the genes of the vintage 2012 in itself. A model year we will never see, but which would have been particularly good. Which makes it all the more tragic.

For Saab had rediscovered many improvements in the field of technology and the love of detail. But one after anonther. The most important improvement would have been the suspension for all Saab 9-5. The first 9-5 of the second series, which had been released by the band, were very inharmonious without Drive-Sense, which unfortunately I can confirm on the basis of my own experiences. With every week of production, the suspension tuning was better, more harmonious and a great car appropriate. The younger the Saab 9-5 I drove, the better I liked the vote, with or without Drive-Sense.

Saab had registered the deficits early on, and in Britain, where Saab has always been more agile and successful than in Germany, votes were taken on English country roads with press participation. The new suspension setup for our tested sports suit was perfect, even the sedan would have received this vote.

Another point would have been the fuel consumption optimization for the petrol engine in the 9-5. Fine work has always been a domain of Saab. In the new model year, after last but unfortunately unconfirmed and not released data sheets, considerable consumption advantages were possible.

Let's go to the interior. A point that could be improved. Because the original supplier for the interior decoration said goodbye to the series launch from the market, so that the 9-5 started with a very sober design. I could have lived with that, and at Hirsch Performance there is a very nice nappa leather set, which finally upgrades the 9-5 interior to the upper class.

Our LGT 271 had the “Black Pearl” trim as standard for the Aero, which gives the interior a very noble touch, especially in conjunction with light leather. A dark wood look and a cocoa pearl look, unfortunately not shown, would also have been available. Decoratively, the interior would now be above criticism and appropriate for the price range.

Add to that the small, nice details that make a Saab to the Saab. Actually, they are unnecessary, but the love of the little things makes the difference, is the luxury of our days. I'm a fan of the Saab 9-5 digital row tachometer, and it's all the more enjoyable when the old Saab plane logo appears in the digital speedometer.

Our old Saab logo is also back in the head-up display. Tradition skilfully transported to the modern age. In addition many small improvements in the area of ​​the navigation graphics, and the 9-5 is a perfect Saab.

The Saab 9-5 series would have been a success for Saab in model year 2012. The criticisms cleared, in addition more attention to detail than ever. The sedan is for me one of the most elegant vehicles on the market, the rear of one of the most beautiful in recent years. Probably the one who has a Saab 9-5 sedan.

There are still a few in the German market. Our photo model is attached Saab Muckelbauer in Bamberg and is a beautiful 9-5 deer with sovereign 330 PS.

The story of Saab would have been better had the 2012 vintage come on the road. In addition to perfection, they have reverted to old strengths, revived traditions and rediscovered the love of detail. For some company car drivers, the 9-5 would have become the alternative after a number of Audi A6. It should not have been, destiny did not want it. Unfortunately, some stories do not go well.

So also the life story of LGT 271, our Testaab. A few weeks ago, the announcement in Sweden that the bankruptcy trustees had scraped all the Saab 9-4x that made it to Sweden and scrapped all the pre-series Saab 9-5 sports cars. All but one saved for the Museum Fund.

The news is so sad that I didn't ask in Sweden. Maybe it's true, maybe not. In the meantime there has been a denial by the bankruptcy trustees. Saab LGT 271 will, if it is so and if cars have a soul - and at Saabs I am almost certain that the scrapped prototypes and pre-series models will be in the car heaven. Anyway ... in my automotive heart it always has its place, our 9-5 sports suit.

Text: tom@saabblog.net