the Saab 9-5 which could become

During our trip to Gothenburg, Sweden to drive the new 9-5, representatives vigorously pointed out that their new sedan positively brims with "Saabishness" despite being developed entirely under GM's corporate umbrella. We had to wonder: Could the same Detroit decision-makers that gave us the half-hearted Subaru-based 9-2 and the utterly cynical Chevrolet Trailblazer-in-drag 9-7X actually know enough about the brand to deliver a competent and authentic 9-5 as a parting gift to its new owners – a Saab Saab? As it turns out, yes.

The 2.0T's EPA fuel economy estimates are average for this class, but the 2.8T's thirsty 15/24 rating is well behind the 280-horsepower Acura TSX and the 300-horsepower BMW 135i. Saab recommends 90-octane fuel for both engines.

2010 Saab 9-5 is the 2.8-Liter Turbocharged

Saab remains a seldom understood, much loved brand, and we know that the displays of unity from Saab's scorned faithful stoked the fire of unlikely suitor Victor Muller, CEO and owner of Spyker Cars, as his team waded through a stomach-churning series of negotiations. After watching from the sidelines while bids by other small automakers and investment groups fizzled, the Dutch businessman and his team eventually pried the battered brand away from GM – but not before Saab had been partially liquidated.

A step up in power from the 1.6-liter is the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, capable of 220 horsepower. There is also a second engine option for the standard 2.0-liter gasoline engine, and that is the E85 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel, which puts out 160 horsepower, and can run on both conventional diesel and biodiesel fuel.

2011 The The Saab 9-5

2.0T models have a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four. Known as the LK9, this 16-valve, DOHC engine is part of GM's Ecotec family. It is all aluminum, with cast-iron cylinder liners and twin balance shafts for greater smoothness. With a compression ratio of 9.5:1 and up to 12.3 pounds of boost from its intercooled turbocharger, the LK9 produces 210 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.

The Saab 9-5 design is over a decade old, but there are many changes on the horizon, especially for the power plant of the 2010 Saab 9-5. Under the new ownership of GM, Saab will be offering multiple engine options for the newest Saab 9-5. All of these new engines have been redesigned under the supervision of GM.

2011 Saab 9-5 - Keep Your Ride Running Great

The smallest and most efficient engine option for the 2010 Saab 9-5 is the 1.6-lite turbocharged gasoline engine, which is capable of 180 horsepower. In fact, every engine being offered by Saab on the 2010 9-5 comes equipped with a turbocharged from the factory.

How, exactly, did this come to pass? For starters, unlike any other of GM's death-row divisions, owners and fans rallied in dozens of countries, urging anyone who listened to "Save Saab." Now, we're not naïve enough to think that a band of loyalists were all it took to change the course of automotive history, but it's telling that there were no pitchforks and torches – or even a handful of picket signs – produced over the axing of the other brands.

2010 Saab 9-5 comes with a 300-horsepower motor

Aero models have a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6. This 24-valve, DOHC engine, known as the LP9, is part of GM's High Feature family, manufactured in Australia. It is all aluminum, with a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, a variable intake manifold, and continuously variable timing for both the intake and exhaust valves. The version in the 9-3 has a compression ratio of 9.5:1 and an intercooled, twin-scroll turbocharger, with a separate inlet from each cylinder bank to reduce turbo lag. In 2008, Saab raised maximum boost pressure from 7.3 psi to 11.6 psi, increasing output to 280 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.

A funny thing happened on the way to bankruptcy court for General Motors. As part of a bid to have its red-stained slate wiped clean, it moved to divest itself of a number of brands in its bloated portfolio, with Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab all earmarked for sale or closure. However, only one brand inspired sufficient passion among both owners and those with the financial wherewithal to rescue it from GM's 'wind-down' apple polishers. Oddly enough, it was the tiny Swede that successfully swam out to the life raft. Saab, the marque with the smallest and oldest product lineup, lowest volume, and the poorest brand recognition among American consumers somehow found a way to survive.

Test Perfomance SAAB 9-5

While Muller clearly has an affinity for the Swedish marque, he insists it wasn't boyhood sentiment that drove the purchase – it was the company's robust Trollhättan operations and a raft of promising, almost-here product that pushed his team to persevere. That stream of shiny new tin begins with the car you see before you: The 2010 9-5. Click through to the jump to see if Muller and Company have good reason to be optimistic.

The 2.0-liter engine suffers more turbo lag than newer designs like Volkswagen's 2.0 TSI engine. It is slightly weak at low speeds, and power comes on with a bang once the turbo spools up. The 2.8-liter V6 has less lag. The 2.8T performs well at all speeds, although it is no stronger than the normally aspirated V6s in rivals like the Acura TSX. Both 9-3 engines are smooth, but their persistent exhaust drone at cruising speeds annoys some reviewers.