Saab announces U.S. 9-5 pricing

[Blackseal]

Saab will launch its new 9-5 lineup with the 2010 model year Aero sedan carrying a price of $49,990. The all-wheel drive 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 turbo four-door will actually sit atop the range, with an entry-level 2011 model with Saab's 2.0-liter turbo powerplant coming on stream shortly thereafter with a promised MSRP of "under $40,000."

 

That's ambitious pricing in what already amounts to a very crowded and competent sandbox. For reference's sake, the 2010 Infiniti M37x starts at $48,400 and brings 330 horses to the table, while Cadillac's CTS rings up at $43,465 in comparable all-wheel drive trim with a 304-hp 3.6-liter. The European establishment rings up at $48,925 for Mercedes-Benz's 268-hp E350, and BMW's new 2011 528i will start at $44,500, though both of those segment stalwarts are rear-drive and tend to run comparatively thin on standard equipment.

 

According to Saab's hand-out press release (sorry, no digital version available yet!), the Aero will feature a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddleshifters, so apparently no manual transmission will be available with the V6