First DriveThe Saab name conjures up many impressions: technical innovation, safety, responsiveness...and, yes, quirkiness. The line is that Saab is the car of choice for academic intellectuals and liberal individualists, those who want to stand well apart from the popular masses. Now, into this scenario comes the company's new flagship sedan, the 95. A blend of Saab's present and its envisioned tomorrow, the 95 may well be the car that catapults the Swedish automaker into the mainstream. Although the car will not debut in North America until next spring (when it will replace the 9000), we recently got an early driving impression at its European introduction in southern Sweden.
While the 95 is intended to compete head-on with the likes of the BMW 3 and 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz C- and E-Classes, Lexus ES 300, Infiniti I30, and Volvo's revamped S70, Saab purists needn't be alarmed that the automaker is giving up the good fight for individuality. Who else, for instance, would name its top-of-the-line car with an algebraic exponent. For those who haven't taken the time to figure it out yet, 95 (a contorted abbreviation for 90,000, but don't do the math) is Saab's follow-up to the 900- and 9000-series designations. Moreover, the ignition switch is still securely mounted in the center console, the curved dash still retains that cockpit feel, and there are enough 9000 styling cues not to miss the 95's heritage. Look closely at that horizontal line across the grille, and you'll see that it's an airplane wing to commemorate Saab's aviation roots. But make no mistake, Saab fully hopes this car will transcend the cult status of its predecessors and be a competitive player on the sport/luxury-sedan field.
The 95's innovation begins under the hood. While an all-new 2.3-liter/170-horsepower light-pressure-turbo four-cylinder engine will power the base model, the big news is Saab's brand-spanking-new 3.0-liter/200-horse, transverse-mounted 24-valve DOHC V-6, with the industry's first asymmetrical light-pressure turbocharging. Say what? This system uses a light and compact Garrett GT17 turbo that is integrated into the front exhaust manifold and runs only off the exhaust gases from the front three cylinders. The unit then supplies boost (up to a mild 0.25 bar) to all six cylinders.
This setup allows almost instantaneous spool-up so there's virtually no lag time, while improving peak torque by 15 percent-up to 229 pound-feet-enough to give the V-6 a more spirited take-off and more low-end punch when passing. Power builds in a smooth, linear manner right into triple-digit speeds, and is accompanied by a distinctive, throaty exhaust note. The car's front-drive configuration is betrayed only by a hint of torque steer on sudden acceleration. Saab cites a 0-100-kph (62-mph) acceleration time of 8.0 seconds, which would put it in the company of a Lexus ES 300 or Mazda Millenia S.
The four-cylinder can be mated with either a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic, while the V-6 will be available only with the automatic. This smart new auto tranny offers normal, sport, and winter modes, and is fully integrated with the engine's electronic control system to provide accurate, seamless shifts.
Perhaps the real strength of the 95 driving experience is in the vehicle's dynamics. This begins with what Saab calls "one of the stiffest bodies on the market." Not only does it provide a sound platform for suspension tuning, but it offers excellent collision protection from both the front and sides. Frontal collision forces are absorbed in five stages by a succession of collapsible members, which help minimize the impact on an integral safety cage around the passenger compartment.