SAAB 9-5 SEDAN'S DESIGN MARRIES FORM AND FUNCTION
NORCROSS, Ga. - The Saab 9-5 Sedan is first and foremost an immediately identifiable Saab, with all the individuality and character a customer would expect. The front of the Saab 9-5 appears wide and low, with a fully integrated lower spoiler. The grille and headlamps flow together smoothly. From the side, the car's lines rise slightly to create a wedge-like profile, with rounded and sloping flush-bonded windshield and rear window forms. Side glass is nearly flush with the sheet metal.
The trunk lid is relatively short and high, increasing the interior height of the luggage compartment, and reducing drag by preventing the airflow over the roof from detaching too early from the shape of the car. Extensive wind tunnel development has given the Saab 9-5 a lower drag coefficient than any previous Saab model. The Saab 9-5 Sedan has a Cd of only 0.29, one of the best figures ever recorded for a luxury car.
Interior Cockpit Design
The interior of the Saab 9-5 is designed to provide superior driver ergonomics. The cabin, and especially the driver's seat, has an evident cockpit feel. The instrument panel is slightly curved around the driver with controls and buttons logically grouped. A direct influence of aircraft ergonomics, the Saab 9-5 is equipped with the Saab Night Panel function in the instrument panel, which turns off potentially distracting lights and instruments at night to improve visibility and then displays information on a need-to-know basis.
The Saab interior design engineers have carefully selected, positioned and tested the various controls so that each is logically placed for a wide variety of 9-5 drivers. For example, the ignition switch is located where Saab engineers feel it is most visible and safest: on the center console between the seats. It takes one smooth and natural motion to fasten the seatbelt, start the engine, disengage the handbrake and select a gear - all on the center console. In the event of a frontal collision, the keys are safely out of the way on the console rather than hanging from the steering column where they can impact the driver's leg.
Ultimate Seat Comfort: Warm in Winter, Cool in Summer
Saab first introduced electrically heated seats to the auto industry in 1971. The Saab 9-5 continues to offer heated seats as an option, for both the front and rear occupants. The front seat heating systems have three temperature settings independently controlled by a three-position thumbwheel. A switch on the rear of the center console operates rear-seat heating.
A ventilated seat option for the Saab 9-5 is an industry first. Two electric fans in each front seat - one in the seatback and one in the lower cushion - remove the warm, humid air that is normally trapped between the person and the seat. The fans pull the air through perforations in the leather upholstery, through small channels in the padding, and vent it underneath the seat. The fans operate at three driver-selectable speeds for effective full-body ventilation. In addition to obvious comfort advantages, the heated and ventilated seats contribute to safe driving by keeping the driver more comfortable and alert.
Both front seats have a wide range of power adjustments for reach, height and recline, plus an adjustable lumbar pad for optimum back support. The Saab 9-5 SE and Aero models also include three-position memory for the driver's seat and door mirror settings. This is a much-appreciated feature when more than one person regularly drives the same car.
Advanced Heating, Ventilation and Climate Control All Saab 9-5 models feature a fully automatic climate control (ACC) that requires only temperature selection for complete climate regulation. Since many drivers like to be slightly cooler or warmer than the passengers, air for the driver's zone can be up to 9 degrees cooler or warmer than the air for the rest of the cabin.
The ACC features a dedicated microprocessor that assesses the readings from five separate sensors, then optimizes temperature, air distribution, recirculation and fan speed settings to produce the most effective cabin climate. Outside temperature readings are delivered to the controller by the high-speed data bus from the main sensor used for the engine management unit. A second sensor mounted in the roof console measures the cabin temperature. A sun-load sensor on top of the instrument panel measures both the angle and elevation of the sun relative to the car, as well as the sun's intensity. The processor then calculates how much left/right or upper/lower compensation is needed by the air distribution system to provide the selected cabin temperature balance, using a Saab patented algorithm. Separate left and right outlet temperature sensors close the control loop by checking that the system has produced the desired effect.
Green-tinted heat-absorbent glass is standard, preventing about 50 percent of the sun's thermal radiation from entering the cabin, reducing the energy required to drive the AC compressor.
A duct from the air conditioning system is fed to the glove compartment to keep drinks chilled or chocolate bars from melting in hot weather. Fully open, the sliding vent can chill the glove compartment to about refrigerator temperature, or 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Double Air Filtration
Saab was the first carmaker to offer a dust and pollen filter for the cabin air in 1978. All Saab cars made since 1990 feature an updated version that uses an electrostatic charge to remove airborne particles down to 4 microns in size - collecting dust, soot and pollen, as well as reducing the greasy haze that can form on the inside of the windshield, impairing visibility, especially at dusk and night.
A second gas and odor-adsorbing filter is standard on the Saab 9-5. It uses an activated charcoal bed that utilizes adsorption to reduce health-impairing substances such as hydrocarbons (benzene, butane, etc.), nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, formaldehyde, and ozone, and to reduce some odor. The filter is particularly effective in reducing irritation of the eyes, mouth, throat and lungs.
Quietest Saab Ever The Saab 9-5 Sedan has the lowest interior noise level ever achieved in a Saab car. The excellent aerodynamic properties of the body help reduce potential wind noise. Almost all the unwanted noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) are reduced by the design of the engine and suspension mounts, while the turbocharger helps reduce exhaust noise. Porous sound absorbent pads are applied to the engine compartment bulkhead and hood top to damp out engine-radiated sound.
Particular attention - such as triple door seals - has been given to the upper door frames to minimize road and wind noise transmitted through this area. All door seals are tubular to ensure they are effective regardless of whether there is a slightly positive or negative air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the car.
Premium Audio Systems with Steering Wheel Controls
The Saab 9-5 features a premium system tuned especially for the Saab interior that incorporates a power amplifier with 150 watts of output, played through a total of seven speakers. Supplementary controls for the most frequently used audio functions (volume up/down, audio source, seek and selection of preset stations) are repeated on the steering wheel, within easy thumb-reach. All Saab 9-5's include an in-dash CD player and integrated cassette tape deck as standard equipment.
All Saab 9-5 SE and Aero Sedan models provide an upgraded Harman/Kardon tuned audio system. With a 240-watt power amplifier and two oval sub-woofer speakers added to the rear parcel shelf for a total of nine speakers, the sound quality is nothing less than superb.
A dual radio antenna integrated into the rear window eliminates the need for an exterior aerial. The antenna has a signal-boosting amplifier that reduces reception difficulties. The radio works together with the antenna amplifier to automatically select the signal from whichever antenna can supply the best reception.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
