It’s been 13 years since Saab has had an all-new 9-5. The 2011 version was designed while Saab was under the ownership of General Motors. But Netherlands-based Spyker Cars N.V. is now Saab’s owner. “We have license agreements with General Motors as it relates to access of not only smaller components of the car, but also engines and gearboxes as well as the architecture. And that runs for a long period of time where we can use it if we want to,” said Jan Ake Jonsson, Saab President and CEO. The 2011 Saab 9-5 has 3 trims levels: the Turbo4 and Turbo4 Premium (both versions using a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4 cylinder that produces 220 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 258 pounds-feet torque at 2500 rpm) as well as the Turbo6 XWD (sporting a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 that produces 300 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 295 pounds-feet torque at 2500 rpm).

While Saab’s connection to General Motors is omnipresent on the new 9-5, Saab’s new owners are putting their fingerprints all over future product. Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars, said that Saab is free to shop around: “You will see that we will find technology partners that will match Saab’s brand DNA in a very, very appropriate manner—very premium, very sporty, very fuel efficient, and very quality driven.”  The forthcoming 9-3 is from designer Jason Castriota. “He started working on that car within one week after the (Spyker) deal. That is going to be the very first independent Saab product. It will be a model year 2013 car in the U.S., but it will be launched the end of 2012,” said Muller.