SAAB is targeting company car drivers by making two petrol 9-5 models more fleet friendly through lower carbon dioxide emissions and revised pricing which makes them equal tax-wise to their diesel equivalents.

The firm has reduced the CO2 emissions of the 9-5 2.0t by 14 g/km (from 218g/km to 204g/km), equivalent to a three percentage point improvement in its benefit in kind tax liability (from 25% of P11d price to 22%) by using a modified gearbox.

It has also lowered the price of the car by £1,400 to £19,995, and reduced the price of the 9-5 2.3 HOT Aero by £900 to £27,995.

Jonathan Nash, Saab GB managing director, said: 'Saab's leading CO2 Efficiency Initiative with the new 9-5 is proving that company car motorists do not need to downsize and sacrifice safety, comfort and performance and a premium badge to minimize their tax liability.'