Saab Loyalty on Full Display at NatSaab 2025
Held on June 28, 2025, at the Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels in Best, the latest edition of NatSaab broke all expectations. More than 650 attendees, over 320 Saab cars, and a theme that resonated deeply with the community: “15 Years of the Saab 9-5 NG”.
Organized by Saab Club Nederland, this national gathering—not to be confused with the rotating IntSaab event—is now firmly cemented as the largest Saab meet in the Netherlands. The Brabants weren’t kidding: there was jazz, food trucks, regional beer, and a square packed with seating, laughter, and die-hard Saab devotion.
Browse the full photo gallery via Saab Club Nederland
Or check out the Instagram posts of the club:
The 9-5 NG Lineup: A Sight to Remember
In line with the theme, 55 Saab 9-5 NGs were gathered and positioned prominently, forming a striking wall of Scandinavian engineering. The NG models—once GM’s last reluctant gift to Saab—have since become modern classics, celebrated for their unapologetically Saab design language and cutting-edge features that still feel contemporary 15 years on.
What made this display so special wasn’t just the volume, but the variety:
- Rare factory colors and custom builds
- Aero and Vector trims
- One-off SportCombi conversion
- Several cars with Hirsch tuning and personalized accessories
These weren’t trailer queens. Many had traveled from Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France, the UK, and even Jersey, underscoring the Saab ethos: it’s not about flash—it’s about purpose, design, and community.
A Long-Awaited Lecture: Simon Padian Speaks
The headline moment of the event was an exclusive design talk by Simon Padian, former Chief Designer at Saab and the man responsible for the visual identity of the 9-5 NG. Captured in full by Marcus & Manuela’s Saab Channel, this was his first-ever public presentation of this kind in the Netherlands—and possibly the most detailed insight Saab fans have ever received directly from the source.
Watch the full presentation:
Padian began by retracing his career—from a design studio in Helmond to Trollhättan—and then dove deep into the philosophy that drove the creation of the NG. One line stood out:
“The 9-5 NG was the first car since the original 900 that truly matched what Saab was always supposed to be.”
He explained how the AeroX concept informed everything from the wraparound cockpit, to the “ice block” light signatures, and even the sculpted mirrors designed for cleaner airflow. Perhaps the most revealing segment came when he spoke about corporate interference under GM:
“They tried to save money by using a shared door handle between Saab, Holden, Buick, and Chevy. After months of global calls and failed consensus, everyone went their own way—and it cost more than if we’d designed separately from the start.”
What Most Saab Fans Didn’t Know
Padian’s presentation didn’t just celebrate what was built—it revealed what never saw the light of day. Saab’s design team was already deep into a facelift of the 9-5 NG, planning to modernize the grille and update materials. Simultaneously, a 2020 portfolio project was underway—speculative sketches imagining what Saab’s future lineup might have looked like had the brand survived.
From plug-in commuter modules to minimalist coupe crossovers, the sketches were decidedly Saab, yet bold. Interestingly, Padian’s instructions to his team on one project were:
“Don’t bring in hockey sticks or wraparounds. This shouldn’t look like a Saab.”
He then laughed:
“And yet, it came out looking more like a Saab than ever.”
One haunting moment came when Padian recounted the very day Saab filed for bankruptcy. Midway through presenting the facelift to marketing, an email landed: “Saab has officially declared bankruptcy.” He finished the presentation anyway.
“That was the last thing I ever did for Saab.”
Beyond the Cars: Innovation, Community, and Legacy
Though the Emily EV prototype was not part of this year’s program—as some had mistakenly assumed—the spirit of innovation was very much alive. KC Performance presented a 9-5 NG sedan-to-wagon conversion, and J&D van den Bosch hosted a live discussion on electrifying Saabs with modern tech.
And then there was PAL-V, present with their Liberty flying car—a nod to Saab’s roots in aeronautics and its fans’ constant look toward the horizon.
Also on site:
- Convertible care consultations
- Saab parts swap zone
- Multiple Dutch Saab specialists offering maintenance tips
- Live jazz weaving through the crowd
- Playground access for children
- And, of course, sausage rolls and friet, because this is Brabant after all
The Setting: A Museum of Liberation and Memory
Held at the WWII museum De Bevrijdende Vleugels, the event offered attendees a unique overlap of engineering history and military heritage. Visitors had free access to halls filled with aircraft, tanks, and weapons from Operation Market Garden. It wasn’t just a car meet—it was a multi-layered tribute to resilience and design under pressure.
And perhaps that’s the perfect metaphor for Saab itself.
The Saab Spirit, Reaffirmed
NatSaab 2025 wasn’t just sold out—it was fully realized. With every generation of Saab represented, every conversation by the food truck, and every detail shared by Padian, this event reasserted what Saab stands for.
Integrity. Identity. Innovation.
There will never be another car brand quite like Saab – but thanks to events like NatSaab, that’s not a loss. It’s a legacy.
Let the Saab brand go in peace already. No one will ever be able to revive this legend. Since 1998, it is no longer a Saab, but a pitiful imitation. I had 5 and now I can’t help but sell the last fifth one because it has so many electrical problems and no auto repair shop will take it to buy a new one. No matter how bitter it sounds, it is already the past.