BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : APRIL 24, 2000 ISSUE
BUSINESSWEEK LIFESTYLE Loads of Muscle, Plenty of Class Norm Crowe, a car enthusiast in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, recently traded his 1999 Corvette C5 convertible for a 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero. He hasn't regretted it for a minute. That's because Saab's top-of-the-line sedan is one versatile machine. While the Aero's turbocharged acceleration and solid handling provide thrills aplenty, its well-appointed cabin, cavernous trunk, and smooth ride make it perfect for hauling groceries around town. ''It's made for speed, but when you get into the city, it's so docile and refined,'' says Crowe, 32. ''It's awesome.'' I agree. My weeklong test of the front-wheel-drive, $40,175 Aero, the upscale version of Saab's 9-5 model, took me easily from the hilly back roads of rural New Jersey to the potholed avenues of Manhattan. At times, I could have sworn I was piloting a BMW 5 series sport sedan costing several thousand dollars more. I was also zipping about in one of the safest cars on the street: Euro NCAP, the European Union's car safety agency, gave the 9-5 the top crashworthiness rating in its group, tying the 5 series and outpacing the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Volvo S70, among others. The Aero shares the 9-5's bodywork and interior, including comfy leather seats (heated and ventilated ones are options), a nine-speaker CD sound system, and stylistic quirks--the ignition switch is in the center console, below your right thigh, and the cup holder unfolds from the dash at the flick of a finger. KICK IT UP. My model came with OnStar ($895), the satellite and cell-phone network that provides driving instructions and emergency assistance. For forty grand, you deserve such attention. You also deserve fun, and the Aero delivers. Like its smaller high-performance cousin, the 9-3 Viggen, the Aero is powered by a souped-up, 2.3-liter turbo 4 pumping out 230 horsepower. The engine is at its best when you're passing another vehicle. Its ''overboost'' feature virtually eliminates the lag you get with many turbocharged engines between the time you step on the gas and the time you shoot ahead. It lets you kick the Aero up to 240 HP for short bursts of power and pass semis at 70 mph without having to downshift the five-speed manual transmission. (A four-speed automatic costs $1,200 more.) To improve handling, Saab gave the Aero 17-inch alloy wheels and heavy-duty front brakes, stiffened the springs and shock absorbers, and lowered the body four-tenths of an inch. This makes for a firm ride, but lets you breeze around curves without feeling you're losing control. In late April, Saab is bringing out an Aero wagon. Just the ticket for a road rally--or car pool. By WILLIAM GLASGALL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS Luxury Cars Get Even More So PHOTO: BMW Z8 TABLE: Riding High--and Paying for It Loads of Muscle, Plenty of Class TABLE: Saab 9-5 Aero PHOTO: Saab 9-5 Aero INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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