It"s impossible to name...
It"s impossible to name them all here, but a handful are, I predict, stars of tomorrow. Greg Shilton looks like a cross between Albert Einstein and pop singer Jarvis Cocker - so you wouldn"t expect him to have invented a futuristic, semi-autonomous commuter vehicle system. It effectively puts motorway drivers in long, computer-controlled trains of cars travelling inches apart, leaving spaces for vehicles joining from slip roads.
The exciting machine...
The exciting machine will replace the ageing current model, and as you can see from these pictures, it looks a lot like the amazing Aero X concept car, which we tried on the road in Issue 903.
With deep-set headlights, a bold grille and large air intakes, both the saloon and estate feature the aggressive front end that made the Aero X such a star at March"s Geneva Motor Show
As well as head-turning styling, the next-generation 9-5 should be great to drive. It will be underpinned by an all-new platform from parent company GM - and with a fresh range of turbocharged engines, it"s likely to give the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class some tough competition.
But it"s the looks that will really get Saab fans hot under the collar. With deep-set headlights, a bold grille and large air intakes, both the saloon and estate feature the aggressive front end that made the Aero X such a star at March"s Geneva Motor Show.
The sleek lines are continued in profile, where the rising waistline meets Saab"s trademark hockey stick-shaped C-pillar. At the rear, the Aero X"s narrow tail-lights are blended with its sporty, black, diffuser-style bumper. Production cars also get alloys that mirror jet engine fans - as on the concept.
Based on GM"s Epsilon 2 platform, the 9-5 is likely to grow slightly in size - meaning more space for passengers and their luggage. Meanwhile, interior design will again echo the Aero X, with a dashboard featuring digital, three-dimensional displays projected on to layered glass-effect panels. Thanks to the adaptability of the chassis, the 9-5 will be available in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive form and, in line with the dramatic looks, buyers can expect the driving dynamics to be sportier than ever before.
Engines will come from GM"s line-up, with options including a normally aspirated 2.2-litre petrol for entry-level models. Further up the range, there will be a 170bhp 2.0-litre unit and a flagship 250bhp 2.8-litre V6 twin-turbo. Diesel choices come in the form of 150bhp 1.9-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 CDTI motors.
Gearboxes will also be sourced from GM, with five and six-speed manual transmissions plus an automatic. However, there is the possibility of a sporty VW DSG-style twin-clutch sequential system - as debuted by the Aero X.
The wraps will finally come off the new 9-5 at a major motor show early in 2007, ahead of its on-sale date later in the year. Prices should start at around ?22,000.