It's leaving the General Motors Co. empire by the end of this year, but GM nonetheless issued the press material detailing Saab's next-generation 9-5 flagship, a car that goes on sale next year after Saab effectively is no longer under GM management. The car will be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show next month.

Although there are well-executed Saab-esque design details, including a feint at the Saab-signature wraparound windshield and an angular sideglass/C-pillar junction reminiscent of the 900 Series, the bodysides betray a hint of Buickness that shouldn't surprise: the all-new 9-5 is built around the GM global midsize architecture on which rides the new Buick LaCrosse, not to mention Europe's well-received Opel/Vauxhall Insignia.

Leveraging the global midsize underpinnings means the new 9-5 is markedly larger than the current flagship, some five inches longer in wheelbase and nearly seven inches longer overall. <<FullArticle>>