NEW SAAB 9-5 WAGON DELIVERS VERSATILITY WITH SPORTS SEDAN-LIKE DRIVING CAPABILITIES

NORCROSS, Ga. -In every sense, the Saab 9-5 Wagon is an extremely sporting and dynamic car. As with any Saab, it combines an inspiring driving experience with high levels of safety. Additionally, it's useful for the everyday needs of both families and people who enjoy being active and want a car that reflects their lifestyle.

Unlike many wagon versions of cars, the Saab 9-5 Wagon is not just an add-on design. Even though it shares many components with the Saab 9-5 Sedan, the Saab 9-5 Wagon was planned, conceived and styled separately as a wagon from the very beginning. It features a roof and rear doors that are different from the sedan model. This relative clean-sheet approach is why the design works as a whole. There are no awkward shapes or strange add-on solutions. The new car offers everything that a Wagon in the segment needs - delivered in a Saab package.

The Saab 9-5 Wagon driving characteristics and driver/car interaction are superb. Even though it is a large car, it drives like a premium sports sedan from behind the wheel. It handles easily, smoothly and predictably. High speed and directional stability are extremely good and the steering response is very precise, even with a maximum payload.

The Saab 9-5 chassis features isolated front and rear sub-frames, MacPherson front struts and a multi-link independent rear suspension. The springs, roll bars and shock absorbers have been calibrated to retain good handling with an adaptation to the effects of weight, center of gravity and inertia.

Typical of the aeronautical inspiration in all Saab designs, the new Saab 9-5 Wagon has a drag coefficient of only 0.31, among the best in its segment.

The cargo loading area is flexible to meet varying needs. Either one or both sides of the split fold-down rear seat can be folded or removed to make room for cargo. Loading cargo is easy thanks to the low loading height and, available as an option, the sturdy sliding floor that can be rolled out almost 20 inches. Fully extended, the sliding floor can support up to 440 lbs..

The cargo area features an innovation from the aircraft industry that Saab calls CargoTracksTM. In aircraft, they are used to secure seats as well as cargo. In the Saab 9-5 Wagon, CargoTracksTM is a standard feature for securing cargo. CargoTracksTM is a system of rails with one-grip locks and special belts to make sure that the cargo doesn't shift under emergency braking or in an accident. CargoTracksTM is a crucial feature to help insure a high level of in-car safety.

A lot of attention has been given to providing practical and versatile loading. The tailgate opens high enough for an average adult to stand beneath it. It is designed to operate smoothly - requiring very little effort. Furthermore, the tailgate illumination is highly effective and lights up both the entire loading area in the car and the ground behind it.

A number of cargo handling accessories, such as straps, elastic nets, cargo guards and a complete roof rack system are available for the car. They cater to the active lifestyles of likely Saab 9-5 Wagon owners, whether loading the back or putting cargo on the standard roof rails.

Cockpit Interior

The interior of the Saab 9-5 Wagon is very clean, functional and spacious with sufficient room for tall drivers. The driver's environment is thoroughly Saab with the traditional cockpit interior and special attention to ergonomics and driver control. The hard, foldable parcel shelf adds to the sedan-like refinement of the Saab 9-5 Wagon and contributes to theft protection by concealing the loading area from outside view.

The Automatic Climate Control system offers two temperature zones, one for the driver and one for the passengers. An electrostatically charged pollen filter comes standard as well as an additional charcoal filter for removing odors and annoying fumes from the incoming air.

The state-of-the-art theft protection systems introduced in the Saab 9-5 Sedan are also standard equipment in the Saab 9-5 Wagon. In essence, this means that the Saab 9-5 Wagon meets the very stringent 2-minute 'attack' requirements set by the Swedish Theft Protection Agency. The Saab 9-5 Sedan was the first car to meet these rigorous standards and now the Saab 9-5 Wagon is the first wagon to do the same.