It was the last Saab 9-5 designed under GM management.
It was the swan song of the former glory of the Swedish automotive that was based on aviation technology.

It was announced in September 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The world economic crisis was on the rise and the future of the European brands owned by General Motors was unclear. In January 2010, Spyker bought the Saab but the lack of liquidity closed the factory. Only 11.280 units were built.

The styling was streamlined, in the old fashion of the Saab specific design with a dropped, sloped end. The platform was taken from GM. It was the same platform used by GM on the Opel Insignia, Buick LaCrosse, or Chevrolet Malibu. The front grille had the same airplane theme. The headlights followed the same Saab theme used on the 1994 Saab 900 NG. In the rear, an LED light-bar went across the back, connecting the taillights. It was an unusual feature for a 2009 car.

Inside, there were the specific Saab controls and its classical night panel button that turned off all the lights and dials and left only the speedometer on. The head-up display was taken from the aviation industry. The GM already had that feature on several models, and it was an option for the 9-5.

There were few engine options, with four or six cylinders. The inline-four was front-wheel-drive while the V6 was all-wheel-drive. The 9-5 was offered with a choice of 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.