The Swedish automaker beefs up the luxury quotient in its popular sedan and wagon.
With purse strings tightening all over the globe, upping a car�s luxury quotient doesn�t seem to make much sense. But that�s exactly what Saab is doing in Detroit with its �Griffin Edition� of the 9-5 sedan and SportCombi wagon.
According to Steve Shannon, executive director of marketing and product for Saab Automobile USA, this new trim-level makeover features an "unprecedented" level of standard equipment.
�Saab reaches a new altitude in terms of premium standard equipment and value,� Shannon says.
On the inside, the fully loaded Griffin Edition is outfitted with high-gloss trim, floor mats with gray piping, and accent-color stitching on the steering wheel, shift lever and hand brake.
The leather-upholstered seats, which also have accent stitching, are available in two two-tone variations: black with parchment inserts and parchment with black inserts.
Also standard are rear park assist and power adjustable exterior mirrors that are heated, foldable and auto-dimming.
On the outside, the 9-5 Griffin takes cues from the latest Saab 9-3, such as trimming the grille and xenon headlights with matte chrome.
The sedan gets a trunk-lid spoiler, while the SportCombi has a roof spoiler and matte chrome-finish roof rails.
Both body styles sport unique 5-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as Griffin badges on the front fenders. The only options are metallic paint, ventilated seats and a navigation system.
While the Griffin moniker was inspired by the Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Swedish for griffin), a multirole jet fighter built by the Swedish automaker�s aviation division, for anyone expecting more power, this car won�t be setting their hair on fire.
Propulsion comes from the same Saab standard 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that powers other 9-5s.
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It produces 260 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and can be mated to either an optional 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate or a no-charge 5-speed manual transmission.
The 2009 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition arrives at dealerships this month, with prices starting at $42,775 (including destination) for the sedan and $44,045 for the SportCombi.
