It"s official ò€“ Saabò€™s...
It"s official ò€“ Saabò€™s new 9-5 is here! These pictures show the replacement for the Swedish firmò€™s long-standing executive saloon in all its glory ò€“ and itò€™s a lot more handsome than the car it replaces. While itò€™s still clearly a 9-5, Saabò€™s designers have cleaned up the lines to give it a much tidier look than the outgoing model.
The new flagship is...
The new flagship is based on the standard supercharged variant, but gets revised styling and more kit. It was designed by the same team responsible for the bright orange prototype which stunned crowds at the Detroit Motor Show in 2004. A bluff new bumper, rectangular tailpipes and a spoiler feature prominently, while a gaping grille sits above the pair of circular foglamps which flank the enlarged air intake in the front spoiler.
Colour-coded lower body panels accentuate the HST"s ground-hugging stance, and unique 20-inch "Stormer" alloy wheels add further muscle to the range-topper"s butch look, as do aluminium vents in the front wings.
Inside, there"s an electric sunroof and special hand-polished oak trim, while privacy glass is included on the generous standard equipment tally.
To enable the HST to perform off-road, the lower chin spoiler is detachable, and the flagship comes with an electronic active-locking rear differential as standard. However, just because it resembles an automotive Darth Vader doesn"t mean the car will be any faster.
The modifications don"t include performance upgrades, so the HST matches the regular Range Rover Sport in terms of acceleration and top speed. The new car is billed as a sports tourer by the Solihull brand, and is aimed at buyers who would traditionally have chosen a premium saloon. It"s on sale now, priced from ÷£63,000 - or ÷£5,000 more than the standard supercharged variant.