AFTER the turmoil of change of ownership and funding negotiations who would have thought that Saab would bounce back with a premium saloon that stands comparison with the equivalent Mercedes or BMW?

But that is exactly what has happened with the all new Saab 9-5 saloon, a statement of Saab's future direction and in my view the best car the company has ever made.

Visually it has all the lines and curves in the right places, with rear styling that puts some of its competitors to shame. And it is all done without losing the traditional Saab identity and character.

With the soaring cost of fuel a V6 petrol these days may not generate the amount of excitement it once did, but there is still a demanding place for this type of car in the top executive marketplace.

Its dramatic wraparound window graphic echoes Saab's aviation heritage and is allied to frontal styling inspired by the award-winning Aero X concept car. It all endows a muscular, low-slung stance which speaks the right design language.

High-tech features include an aircraft-like head-up information display (HUD); adaptive lighting (bi-xenon smart beam); adaptive cruise control; DriveSense adaptive chassis with real-time damping control; keyless entry and starting; tri-zone air conditioning; dynamic parking assistance and Saab XWD with a rear electronic limited slip differential - the industry-leading all-wheel-drive system.

As with all Saab's the new 9-5 is very driver-focused with a cockpit featuring a deep centre console which sweeps up at a shallow angle around the driver into the main instrument display.

There is a top-of-the-line Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system and an 8-inch touchscreen navigation system with hard disc storage for map data plus 10GB for MP3 music files.

Rear passengers can listen to their own audio or watch a DVD with audio controls and fold-out viewing screens installed in the front seat-backs. Wireless headphones are provided for listening and viewing.

Gone are the rather workaday driving dynamics of previous models and in are precise steering and very rewarding cornering.

Much of this is due to the all-wheel-drive system plus the adaptive chassis control with driver settings selection through DriveSense.

Three different suspension combinations are factory-fitted according to engine power and are also available with a sport chassis setting.

The 2.8 V6 turbo generating 300bhp and 400Nm of torque delivers its power via a slick six-speed automatic transmission, featuring an impressive 0-62mph sprint of just 6.9 seconds.

Significantly the new 9-5 has been chiefly engineered in Sweden, where it is built at Saab's  factory in Trollhättan.

After years of being in the wilderness under General Motors ownership, Saab, although still fighting for financial future stability has finally got its model range right with a real challenge to established premium marques.