First Look: 2012 Saab 9-5 SportCombi

This week, Saab will debut its freshest wagon, the new 9-5 SportCombi, at the Geneva Motor Show.

It uses the same engine otions as the sedan, which means, for the US, a 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four and a 300-horsepower 2.8-liter turbo six. It employs Saabs XWD all-wheel drive system, as well as adaptive chassis control for a more customizable ride.

Borrowing the Aero X-inspired looks from the 9-5 sedan, the SportCombi also adds the versatility and functionality of a station wagon. It features a deep cargo deck and under-floor storage. The 60/40-split rear seats fold down to offer up to 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space. A programmable powered tailgate is available for even easier access to the rear goods.

The first of these new 9-5 SportCombis will come to market in September, though we’re not sure if that is a global launch date.

Scroll down for more details in the press release.

New Saab 9-5 SportCombi

    * Next step in Saab’s biggest-ever new product offensive
    * Distinctive alternative choice in premium wagon segment
    * Styling carries forward 9-5 sedan’s bold design language
    * First customer deliveries in September

Saab Automobile takes the next step in the biggest new product offensive in its history when the much-awaited 9-5 SportCombi is unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Sleek and fun-to-drive, the SportCombi adds versatility to the widely acclaimed attributes of the 9-5 sedan and will bring a distinctive, alternative choice to the premium, large wagon segment.

It shares the sedan’s bold, Aero X-inspired looks and features an extended, falling roof-line which culminates in a steeply raked rear screen flanked by signature Saab ‘wraparound’ window glazing. The result is an imposing and sporty wagon with a low stance and a dynamic, visual appeal that concedes nothing to the requirements of load-carrying.

Smart cargo handling features include an adaptable multi-fold floor, flexible U-rail load space configuration and under-floor stowage with a sealed wet storage compartment. A programmable, powered tailgate is also available.

Backed by the same all-turbo gasoline, bioethanol and diesel powertrain line-up as the 9-5 sedan, the SportCombi includes Saab’s industry-leading XWD all-wheel-drive system and advanced features such as: Saab DriveSense adaptive chassis control, adaptive cruise control, Bi-Xenon Smart Beam adaptive lighting, keyless entry and starting, tri-zone air conditioning and a Pilot Head-up Display which projects information, aircraft-style in the windshield.

The order book for the SportCombi opens in March, with first customer deliveries to follow from September. It will significantly broaden the appeal of the new 9-5 range in a segment where Saab, with its tradition for designing versatile vehicles, has enjoyed wagon sales volumes on a par with sedan levels.

“The launch of the 9-5 SportCombi is a much-awaited next step in the roll-out of our new product offensive,” says Saab Automobile CEO Jan Åke Jonsson. “It will take Saab back into the large wagon segment where we have established a strong presence in many key markets with our previous offering.”

Sporty character
Designed in parallel with its sedan twin, the 9-5 SportCombi shares the same bold frontal styling and adds a swept, ‘wraparound’ rear window graphic. This echoes the 9-5’s brand signature frontal theme and gives the SportCombi its own distinctive identity. The dramatic, sweeping roof-line is extended by a deep rear spoiler integrated into the top of the tailgate. Ultra-slim roof rails are fitted as standard without detracting from the car’s svelte silhouette.

Signature Saab themes, such as the strong C-pillar with its hockey stick extension of the belt-line, are combined with a prominent rear shoulder contour to give the SportCombi a muscular and dynamic stance.

The tailgate is raked forward to underline the car’s sporty character. It features a full-width ‘ice-block’ rear light bar which wraps into light units at either side, continuing a new signature Saab styling theme first seen on the 9-5 sedan and 9-4X crossover.

Dynamic and functional
The deep cargo deck is fully carpeted and optimized for space and ease-of-use. The 60/40 split rear seatbacks fold down almost completely flat without having to reposition the seat squab or remove the head restraints. Careful attention to soundproofing in the rear bodywork attenuates noise, vibration and resonance so that occupants enjoy a level of interior refinement similar to that of the sedan.

With the seatbacks lowered, the cargo deck is almost two meters long (1962 mm) and offers an adaptable load capacity of up to 1,600 liters (527 liters, rear seats up). The side walls are completely flat and upright, creating a clean, open space without any hard-to-use corners or rear wheel-arch intrusions. Compartments in the side walls offer convenient stowage for small items. Four tie-down loops and a 12-volt power outlet also come as standard.

An optional, U-shaped track around the outside of the floor provides flexible space configuration. As in the 9-5 sedan, it carries an adaptable, telescopic dividing rail which allows the cargo deck to be split as required so that different sized items can be separated and kept in place.

The floor, with a signature Saab aircraft-shaped handle, folds back in steps to access under-floor storage. When folded twice, an additional storage compartment is revealed for cars fitted with tire repair kits instead of a mini spare wheel. A pull-out support arm can be slotted in place to keep the folded floor in a fixed position. This provides further support for items stored in the under-floor recess, as a flexible alternative to using the entire cargo deck.

The underside of the floor has two fittings for flat stowage of the U-rail divider. They also carry hooks that can be used to organize bags, for example. A waterproof plastic liner, available as option, can be dropped into the recess to provide a separate wet storage area for sports equipment, outdoor clothing or muddy boots.

When a mini spare wheel is specified, it is covered by a flat panel which provides a sub-floor 65 mm below the main floor height – ideal for the separate stowage of flat or small items.

Smart tailgate
For additional convenience, the tailgate is available with a remotely-controlled, electric power operation. It can be fully opened and closed via a rotary knob in the driver’s door or a button on the car’s key fob. A touch pad on the outside of the tailgate, above the number plate, and a button in the interior trim also trigger powered opening and closing.

A programmable mode can be used to raise the tailgate to a lower position if there is restricted clearance overhead, such as inside a garage. The opening height is pre-set via the rotary knob, which can also disable the powered function.

For ease of loading, the tailgate opens down to bumper level with a lift-over height of only 648 mm. The cargo deck floor is also flush with the tailgate opening to facilitate sliding heavy loads inside. A down-lighter in the tailgate and small sidewall lights provide excellent illumination of the load space at night.

A retracting cargo cover can also be slotted into lugs in the sidewalls immediately behind the rear seats. It keeps items out of sight and includes a convenient one-touch action which allows the ends of the locating bar to slide up channels on the inside of the D-pillars for convenient access to the cargo deck.