Saab’s executive model known by this nameplate entered the market for the 1985 model year, after being unveiled in 1984 as part of the European “Type Four” development program. Although it shared a family connection with the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema, Saab’s version was heavily reworked and became a distinctly Swedish interpretation of the large hatchback/sedan formula, with a practical cabin, strong safety emphasis, and the brand’s familiar front-wheel-drive layout.
The earliest cars were five-door hatchbacks, and the range later expanded to include a four-door sedan. Over time, the model evolved through several notable iterations, including the later CS facelift and performance-oriented Aero variants. It was positioned above Saab’s long-running mid-size car and helped define the brand’s image during the 1980s and 1990s as a technically minded alternative to more conventional European executive cars.
This nameplate remained in continuous production until 1998, when it was replaced by Saab’s new 9-5. Among enthusiasts, it is remembered as one of Saab’s most ambitious and influential cars: a large, distinctive, turbocharged flagship that translated the company’s aircraft-inspired design philosophy into a practical family executive car.