A brief history of Saab

Produced in 1949, the 92 was Saab's first road car and came with 25bhp two-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed gearbox but it was never made available in the UK. It boasted an extremely aerodynamic design, with a drag coefficient of 0.32. 

The 96 was the first model imported to the UK by Saab and throughout its lifetime it was powered by a 38bhp three-cylinder engine and a V4 unit producing around 60bhp. A few famous rally victories cemented the 96's iconic status.

Undoubtedly one of the best looking Saabs produced was the Sonnett III. With an Italian-inspired wedge shape and manually-operated pop up headlights there would never be a Saab quite like this again. A V4 engine provided enough power for a 0-62mph time of 13 seconds.

First produced in 1978 the 99 Turbo was one of the first family cars to be fitted with a turbocharger and produced 143bhp from its 2.0-litre engine. In 1984 it was replaced by the Saab 900 Turbo. 

With its long overhangs and curved windscreen the 900 Turbo looked like no other car on the road and the 175bhp turbocharged engine made sure of a healthy dose of torque steer. The aircraft-inspired dash and ignition mounted next to the handbrake were both novel features.

Produced between 1985 and 1997 the Saab 9000 was designed to move the firm upmarket and it partly succeeded with hugely comfortable seats and a well insulated cabin that kept wind and road noise at bay. 

Things were looking up with the introuction of the new 9-5 with a host of hi-tech equipment and a stylish look to help Saab rival some of the best German competition. Unfortunately, it was let down in a few key areas and never sold in big numbers.

A promising look at what was to come from Saab, the PhoeniX was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It certainly turned heads and was packed full of futuristic tech but it looks like it will never see the light of day.