2010 Saab 9-5 Design Review

The new 9-5 is about to hit the US market and it looks pretty good thanks in part to it's new owner.

Fresh off the sales floor Saab is in the hands of super car maker Koenigsegg and is free from GM. One of the first cars to be redesigned back to Swedish standards is the 2010 9-5. The car has an updated, stylish and sporty look.

Though, how is the new 9-5 design differentiate itself from the old one?

In 2006 Saab redesigned the 9-5 in a bold manner. The front headlights had darker casings installed making the 9-5 look more aggressive and metal trim was installed. The taillights were not only redesigned but were also reshaped. Though, the interior still had the GM dash and it didn't quite match the exterior.

2010 9-5

The new redesign is even more bold than the previous and looks stylishly futuristic without overdoing it (a lesson learned by the lead designer of the 2002 BMW 7 ) The car sits lower to the ground and is more aerodynamic than the previous model.

The back of the car is where the design really sets itself apart from the old 9-5 design. It really doesn't look like a Saab from the back. Previous models did a good job of gradually changing the design to look updated but still like a 9-5.

The new design takes a leap from the older designs and wipes the board clean. This will be a good thing in a few years but right now it's hard for me to get used to the new rear. It looks like a Lexus LS, but it will grow with time like the front end redesign of the 2006 9-5.




The taillights have an interesting inspiration behind the design. Saab designer, Simon Padian explains the lights "have an ice like character that reflects our Scandinavian heritage." They do look a bit like ice when turned off, imaginative. Plus the wraparound taillight bar is reminiscent of the 96-97 Saab 900. Maybe an homage to the design of Saab's from the 90's?

Plus, they have an nice LED ambient lighting effect that may upstage Audi's lighting effects. The headlight has a single headlight which accentuates the shape of the headlights.
The interior is designed in typical Saab fashion; sporty and simple.

The new look is a good mix of familiar design cues and new inspired design without overdoing it; it may take a little getting used to the back though.