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In Sweden, they apparently believe in getting started early, particularly in the automobile business.

The Swedish car manufacturer Saab Automobile AB has announced the introduction of its 1999 Saab 9-5 and modified Saab 9-3 models. Both are expected in the showroom of local dealer Indy Saab about this time next month.

The 9-5 is an all- new performance sedan. The 9-3 is a modification of the 1998 Saab 900 series. But in view of the fact that Saab says the enhanced model features more than l,000 revisions for ’99, you would have to say it too is almost a completely new automobile.

Saab is heavily promoting the 9-5, and it is different from the company’s previous new car programs.

With classic design elements from Saab heritage like the wedge shape, clamshell hood, and interacting concave and convex lines, a new exterior styling theme has been developed.

The 9-5’s front end appears wide and low, with a fully integrated spoiler. The grille and headlamps flow together. The sedan’s side lines rise slightly to create a wedge-like profile, with sloping flush-bonded windshield and rear window forms. The trunk deck is relatively short and high.

It all has resulted in a new look and lower co-efficient of drag (0.29) than any previous Saab model.

The 9-5 with an overall length of 189.2 inches also is seven inches longer than the 9-3. The corresponding wheelbase at 106.4 inches is almost four inches longer than that of the 9-3.

Saab, whose roots go back to Saab-Scania aircraft always has had a strong aircraft influence in its cabin design. As a consequence. the sedan’s instrument panel, switches and controls, wrap around the driver and other occupants according to their priority of use.

It has led to a design feature that is pure Saab, an ignition key on the floor between the front seats. Saab says the key is there because it is easy to see, easy to reach, and easy to operate, not because the company just wanted to do something different.

The 9-5 is a five- seater with the traditional 2/3 seating arrangement. The analog instrumentation is the standard speedometer-tachometer-temperature-fuel gauge package. However, the panel itself feature’s Saab’s Night Panel dashboard.

This is a panel which dims the background illumination of the dashboard controls in addition to non-essential gauges and displays. Darkening the panel results in reducing distraction during night driving, an important safety function.

The 9-5 has the expected plethora of power accessories, tilt-and-telescope wheel, auxiliary lighting, vanity mirrors, and cupholders and the like to take care of the car’s comfort and convenience features. With the rear seats folded down, objects up to 65 inches in length can be accommodated via a pass through area to the trunk.

Engine-wise, the 9-5 has the advantage over the 9-3 of offering two motors to the 9-3’s one. But power-wise, the differential between the two models is narrowed somewhat.

The 9-3’s singular engine is a turboch arged 2.0-liter (121 cubic inch), dual overhead cam 16-valve motor developing 185-horsepower. That’s pretty good output from 121 inches, and it’s achieved by running high turbo boost.

The 9-5’s four-cylinder motor is a 2.3-liter (140 cubic inch) turbo dual cam 16-valver that produces 170-horsepower but more torque than the 2.0-liter 4.

The prime 9.5 engine is a turbo 3.0-liter(180 cubic inch), dual overhead cam 24-valve V-6 that develops 200-horsepower and 229 foot-pounds of torque, more than the 194 foot-pounds put out by the 2.0- liter or the 207 footpounds put out by the 2.3 engine.

The hooker in this, however, is the V-6 comes with a four-speed automatic transmission only, while the two four-cylinder engines are available with either a manual five-speed gearbox or the automatic.

Given the 9.3’s lighter weight, it’s five-speed, and but 15 horse penalty to the V-6, any flat-to- the-floor acceleration runs more than likely are not going to find the smaller model fading away to the rear.

An extra enticement to the 9.3 is the availability of a convertible model in addition to its three-door and five- door hatchback cars. The 9.5 is available only as a four-door performance sedan.

The 1999 9-5 is Saab’s showcase model that combines the elements of heritage with aviation inspired technology. Indy Saab says pricing will be announced March 18 during the auto maker’s dealer preview in Palm Springs, Calif.