Got my 2.0TiD engine updated

Do you got a 2010 or early 2011 Saab 9-5 2.0TiD? Then you should check if there is an engine software update for your car. I got my car updated last week and wow, what a difference! The engine seems to run much smoother and even more quietly. And the update should also take care of the premature "Time for service" message.

Oak metallic

I have noticed that I get many visitors who have googled for pictures of a Saab 9-5 in oak metallic paint. So here you are; An Oak metallic Saab 9-5!

For pictures of the other available colors click here.

Oak metallic is a paint that has many faces. It's a metallic paint that change appearance depending on the light conditions and the viewing angle. Here are some of those faces:

Ambient lighting

A few people have asked me if I can take some pictures that show the interior ambient lighting in the new Saab 9-5. This proved to be easier said than done. My cameras are just not good enough to make the ambient lighting justice. But nevertheless here I present the result. Just remember that a picture can never convey the real colours or the atmosphere.

First some facts: The ambient lighting consists of several LED lights that are supposed to create a warm atmosphere inside the cockpit. There are LEDs that lights up the door openers, the side pockets on the doors and the footwell on the driver's side. All LEDs are green.

Here's the lighting on the driver's door and footwell.

 

Another of the front passenger door.

 

That's the best my camera could do. My advise is to go to your dealer and take a test drive when the dark has fallen from the sky. 

Saab QuickHeat(er) electric cabin heater

With the new Saab 9-5 diesel cars, Saab offers something called QuickHeat or QuickHeater (both names are in use). This is an electric cabin heater that heats the air that enters the cabin. It is only offered for the diesel cars since diesel engines tend to produce less heat than petrol engines, and thus less heat to warm the air that enters the cabin. (Update: Looks like it is also offered in combination with a petrol engine in some markets).

I was a bit anxious about driving a diesel Saab in Norway where the weather can get really cold. On Christmas Eve e.g. the temperature read -35 degrees Celsius on my car! But I had no reason to worry. The HVAC system in the new 9-5 is without any doubt engineered by Saab to cope with Scandinavian winters. The cabin heats up very fast and snow and ice melts off the windows. Compared to my previous Saab, a 2003 Saab 9-3 1.8t SportSedan, I believe this new 9-5 has an even better HVAC system!

My only gripe with the HVAC system is the buttons. I wish the HVAC buttons were shaped and located in such a way that I can operate them without having to look to ensure that I hit the right button. Bigger buttons and farther apart from eachother please!

 

The head-up display through sunglasses

With the new Saab 9-5, Saab does of course for the first time offer a head-up display (HUD). The HUD displays information such as speed, rpm, temperature, navigation info etc. on the windshield. A HUD consists of a computer that sends the information to be displayed to a projector unit, which displays the information on a reflective foil or coating which is on the windshield. But how does wearing sunglasses affect the visibility of the projected image on the windshield? And especially how does wearing polarized sunglasses affect the displayed image?

So earlier today I decided to take some pictures to show how sunglasses affect the HUD image. The brightness of the HUD in the Saab 9-5 can be adjusted (as well as turned off) with a switch. There are 10 brightness levels available. I set the brightness to level 5, i.e. the average brightness, before I took the pictures below.

Here's a picture of the HUD as seen without wearing sunglasses:

And a picture taken through Ray-Ban "ordinary" sunglasses:

 

And finally a picture taken through Polaroid polarized sunglasses:

 

Polaroid's polarized sunglasses are supposed to block glare or reflections. Polarized sunglasses are also known as anti-glare sunglasses. From the pictures it is obvious that the Polaroid sunglasses do a good job, as they eliminate the reflection of the HUD!

 So does this mean that if you use anti-glare sunglasses you can't see the HUD at all? Well, the visibility if the HUD is definitely reduced, but if you adjust the HUD to full brightness, then the visibility gets better.

Here a picture of the HUD at full brightness taken through polarized sunglasses:

New Q & A section

I have set up a new Question and Answer page in the right column. If you have any questions about the new Saab 9-5 then feel free to post a comment or send an email and I will answer to the best of my knowledge. This will be a way for us all to get to know the car even better! :)

My Saab cares about me!

Who needs a spouse to tell you to drive careful when you got a Saab?

I pity those who live in warm climates and never get to see these thoughtful and warming messages from the car. :) 

Wraparound windshield

One of the design cues we frequently hear about from Saab is the wraparound windshield. It was made famous on the old classic Saabs and is mentioned in the same breath as the hockey-stick C-pillar and sloping roofline, the wedge-like stance, the three piece grille and so on. But one can wonder if the new Saabs have much of a wraparound windshield. I mean, it can't compare to the old Saab 99, right?

 

So I knew that the new Saab 9-5 has a curved windshield, but I assumed that it wasn't much different from what other cars have.

Then I saw a Toyota Avensis....

Wow, that is what I call a flat windshield! And compared to the Saab it looks so simple and cheap. It's details like this that makes Saabs great looking cars that you never grow tired of.

10 reasons to buy a new Saab 9-5

1. It looks damn good! The front is masculine, the rear is sexy and the profile is elegant.

2. It is a damn good car! Yes, the classic 900 was a great car, but I am afraid it is history. The new 9-5 is the present and the best car Saab has ever made and it is on par with the best the Germans can offer.

3. It's good value for your money. Cheaper than Audi, BMW and Mercedes. At least when you compare cars with the same level of equipment.

4. You will get a different car than your neighbors (That is if you're not living in Trollhättan...)

5. You will join a relatively small crowd of fortunate people who have discovered the joy of driving a Saab.

6. It is the safest car Saab has ever made. And since the previous 9-5 was one of the world's safest cars, this new one is probably also a rival for a top podium position.

7. You can get it with a two stage turbo diesel engine and cross wheel drive! For the first time in Saab's history, you can get the economy of a diesel engine and four wheel drive. Add the great DriveSense damping and you will want to drive and drive and drive and your wallet can actually handle the fuel cost!

8. You get Saab's latest design of their well known interior ergonomics and comfy seats. Another reason to drive and drive and drive.
 
9. You get the best Head-Up Display on the market. And trust me, once you get used to the HUD you will always want a HUD!

10. Not only do you get a great and rare car. You also get to support a small company that against all odds is still alive and fighting with the giants!

What are YOUR reasons for buying a new Saab 9-5? 

The Head-Up Display

Last month I wrote a owner's review of my new Saab 9-5. You might remember that I wasn't totally convinced that the HUD was all good. Now, five weeks later, the HUD is starting to feel like a necessity. The past weeks I have had it on constantly and I more or less have stopped looking at the speedometer. Why should I take my eyes off the road when all the info I need is there on the windshield?

When you start the car, the HUD displays the good old SAAB logo:

You can chose between three different views on the HUD.


Speed and RPM:

 Speed:

Speed and temperature:

The HUD works with the front park sensor and gives a graphic display of the distance:

Close enough!

It also display navigation information:

Setting the cruise speed:

In addition to speed, temperature, RPM and the different information shown above, the HUD also displays a high beam symbol if you have the high beams on and it tells you when the traction control system or electronic stability program is activated. It also shows different alerts.

I can honestly tell you that when I get my next Saab, I will get the HUD again. So Saab, please include a HUD in the upcoming new 9-3!

Night panel

On request, here's how the night panel on the new Saab 9-5 looks. Move the mouse courser over the image to turn on night panel.




The Night Panel was first introduced in the new Saab 900 for model year 1994 as the Black Panel. It changed name to Night Panel in the 9-3 and 9-5. This cool and helpful feature when driving at night, has been beloved ever since introduction.

Chrome and black frames

So you think the previous generation 9-5 looks terrible with the chrome frames around the headlights?

　

And the wide black lines framing the "frosted" white tail lights on the 9-3 Sedan aren't much better?

Then lo and behold, they are both present on the new Saab 9-5!

But I guess one can argue that the use of chrome and black frames are much more sophisticated and subtle on the new 9-5. The frames around the headlights use matt chrome and are integrated into the rest of the grille, while the black edges on the rear lights are barely visible.

　

Do you still not like chrome and black frames?

Here is why the new Saab 9-5 is a real Saab

This entry has been moved to a page dedicated to information about the development of the Saab 9-5. That page will be updated as new information surface.