It's the fastest and most technically-advanced car Saab has ever made, and Auto Trader was there to see it.

The all-new Saab 9-5 arrived in Britain for the very first time, and we were among the few VIP guests to check it out.

It might be the first Saab 9-5 in almost 15 years, but the Swedish marque hasn’t forgotten how to build a showstopping car.

The saloon we saw is the most radical Saab yet, and features a host of styling details to tempt buyers from BMW, Audi and Volvo. The styling marks the first time Saab has followed its ambitions with the Aero X concept.

And that means a cool wrap-around windscreen and ‘iceblock’ elements in the front and rear lights. Up front that means an almost Audi-esque daytime running light stripe, but the rear features strip lighting that runs the width of the car, setting it apart from anything else on the road.

Saab’s design bosses have removed excess clutter from the car’s lines for an elegant look, and small touches like the door mirrors, which are painted in the body colour on the bottom and black on the top, help to simplify the lines along the side of the car.

Inside the cabin is a revelation and is a quantum leap over the previous 9-5 in terms of design, quality and fit and finish. The dash is angled towards the driver like an aeroplane’s cockpit; an aeronautical theme that is carried over in the car’s head-up display and speedo which is like a rolling altimeter.

There’s a huge amount of space in the cabin, and the seats are typically comfortable for a Saab.

The boot measures an impressive 550 litres and comes with the option of a set of bars on a U-shaped runner to stop luggage rolling around. Its wide opening boot is said to be among the biggest in its class.

Engine choices will include a pair of 2-litre diesels producing 160bhp and 139g/km and 190bhp, alongside a hot 300bhp 2.8-litre V6.

The 160bhp diesel will be available when the car launches, with the 190 version on its way not long afterwards.

A 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol unit will join the lineup, which will develop 180bhp and emit 179g/km of CO2.

Saab are remaining tight-lipped on price, but insiders suggest it’ll cost around £1-2,000 more than the outgoing model, which starts at £19,580.

Given the huge advances in quality this sounds reasonable.

We’ll be testing the car next year, so make sure you check back for the latest news.