Saab, Sweden's distinctive automaker backed now by General Motors, returns its two luxury and performance lines in 2005 but adds two new models to double the line.

Repeating products are the mid-size 9-5 luxury sedan and sport wagon, and the compact-class 9-3 line with three sports sedans and a premium open-top convertible also in three trims.

A fun-to-drive new compact five-door hatchback named 9-2x becomes Saab's entry-level car packing all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction and optional turbo action.
Then comes the 9-7x, a bona fide sport-utility wagon for the mid-size segment with AWD and two powertrain choices.

Saab's compacts include three versions of a premium sport sedan and three more for the drop-top convertible variation. Themes for 9-3 sedans are Linear, Arc and Aero; the latter dressed with a sporty flair. The convertible appears in Arc and Aero trim plus new base Linear. Saab developed the convertible 9-3 concurrently with the sedan so there are shared features like chassis and powertrains, although the drop-top was fortified with a ring of steel around the cabin to unify its structure and maintain rigidity in the absence of a roof. Saab's DynaCage concept goes to work in the event of a rollover incident with pop-up roll bars concealed at the rear of the cabin.

9-3 cars offer a choice of two aluminum engines, each a 2.0-liter four-in-line with turbo boost. The base 9-3 Linear sedan or convertible draws from a version rated at 175 hp with a five-speed manual shifter. Arc and Aero get the more powerful plant for 210 hp. A five-speed automatic is optional for all, as is Saab's Sentronic manual shift mode.

The class of 2005 from Saab culminates with the rolling out of a big truck-based SUV. It's a mid-size wagon with seats for five, two trim and powertrain choices and standard AWD traction. The foundation for Saab's SUV is the GM platform that also underpins Chevrolet's TrailBlazer and GMC's Envoy wagons, although Saab applies its distinctive design traits and luxurious cabin appointments. A smooth aerodynamic package projects Saab's familiar three-port grille up front on a shapely hood followed by a big cabin that culminates with rear windows which seem to wrap around the rear roof pillars. Inside, the plush cab sets two bucket seats in front of a bench for three that splits and folds, with a generous cargo bay in back. Standard powertrain for 9-7x Linear is a 4.2-liter V6 that delivers 275 hp with a GM Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission. The 9-7x Arc shows more muscle from a 5.3-liter V8 spiked to 300 hp. The wagon employs a smart AWD system that distributes engine torque between front and rear wheels. Also on-board is a standard limited-slip differential at the rear, self-leveling rear air suspension and vented disc brakes with four-wheel ABS. (CONTINUE...)