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"  Trollh\u00E4ttan, Sweden\u2014Nearly seven months ago, almost to the day, you would have rated chance of launching the about as great as the Flat Earth society being proved correct.   On that day, GM started the process of liquidating the marque. All efforts to find a buyer to take over the ailing brand had seemingly failed. Yet on February 23, seven weeks later, Dutch supercar minnow signed the deal that saved Saab from oblivion.   GM has bequeathed Spyker quite a legacy apart from a 195,000-capacity factory, and we&amp;#039;re in Sweden to drive the first inherited product: the 9-5.   Derived from the same GM platform that underpins the Vauxhall/Opel Insignia, the 9-5 is targeted not at nor , but rather as a potential rival to .   At launch, a top-of-the-line 2.8 V-6 turbo generating 300 bhp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque is offered exclusively with Saab XWD. Shortly after launch, a 2.0-liter BioPower E85-capable engine with 220 bhp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque will be introduced. Respective times to 62 mph have been quoted as 6.9 and 7.9 seconds; neither top speeds nor fuel consumption figures were available at launch.   Saab&amp;#039;s XWD all-wheel drive includes an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential (eLSD) standard on the uplevel Aero model. The eLSD can transfer up to 50 percent of torque between whichever rear wheel has more grip. A 6-speed automatic and DriveSense (it alters damper and throttle settings) are standard on the V-6, while a 6-speed manual is optional on the 2.0-liter.   The 9-5 is well equipped with leather upholstery. A head-up display and a Harman/Kardon sound system are also available options, as are tri-zone climate control and a dedicated entertainment system for rear passengers.   With the 9-5, Saab has managed to regain some of its design independence. It appears bold and large with simple surfacing and B-pillars that look reminiscent of, all things, the new , while viewed from the rear there&amp;#039;s an echo of BMW&amp;#039;s 5 GT. But Saabs are about simplicity and the faux chrome gills low on the front flanks beg the question, &amp;quot;Why?&amp;quot;   It&amp;#039;s not easy to position Saab as a brand: Owners are fiercely loyal, but to succeed the Swedes have to stretch beyond them and attract new devotees.   Adrian Hallmark, Saab&amp;#039;s executive director of sales, sees the 9-5 and the brand as a whole challenging Audi. That&amp;#039;s a tall order to fill, based on impressions of the 9-5&amp;#039;s interior. Swathes of black plastic and trim simply don&amp;#039;t challenge Ingolstadt&amp;#039;s standard. On this evidence, Saab is stuck in a price band limbo between /GM and . It&amp;#039;s more costly than the former but doesn&amp;#039;t really offer that much more, yet it doesn&amp;#039;t equal the latter.   The best aspect is the instrument panel with electronic displays that whizz in and out of sight accompanied by the HUD hovering in view over the hood.   Dynamically, the car is something of a conundrum: Play with the trio of DriveSense settings and Sport fails to deliver the expected cornering and ride balance, the steering lacks a degree of fluidity, weighting up unevenly in corners. I found it best to stick with the Intelligent compromise while Comfort would be well suited to loping down highways on cruise control.   The all-wheel-drive system can deliver tire-squealing grip, which seems counter to a car that can&amp;#039;t decide if it&amp;#039;s a sports or cruising saloon.   I also spent time behind the lesser-powered gasoline engine and came away preferring its balance and response. Maybe the (slightly) lower nose weight helped but the steering fell short, in European terms, of that delivered by Ford&amp;#039;s Mondeo.   Saab&amp;#039;s management has got a big task ahead to ensure the marque&amp;#039;s long-term survival. The 9-5 is a good starting point, but if Audi is the aspired target then heavily upgraded interior materials are a must, as is a concerted effort to hone ride and steering. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a16078/2011-saab-9-5/>