All-New Opel/Vauxhall Insignia (spy shot)
Vauxhall gave us
an early peek at the upcoming Insignia. The current Insignia wasn’t exactly the
most compact of its class, but Opel decided to make it even bigger in order to offer
a cabin that can safely be described as cavernous. Based on GM’s new modular
architecture called E2, the new Insignia will come with a longer by over 9 cm
wheelbase while the overall length has also grown by over 5cm, measuring almost
4.9 m in total.
Tracks are also wider by 1 cm with the roofline
lowered by 3 cm, giving the new Insignia a more imposing stance on the road.
Despite being noticeably bigger than its predecessor, the company
says that their new model will be lighter by as much as 175 kg compared to the
current Insignia thanks to the clever use of lightweight materials.
The range-topping model at launch will be called
Grand Sport and will be powered by a 247 hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine paired
to a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power will be sent to all four
wheels, thanks to a new four-wheel drive system that will also feature torque
vectoring.
Entry-level models will come with a new turbocharged
1.5-litre petrol engine that replaces the old 1.4-litre unit. A new manual
gearbox will be the standard option while there’s also going to be a wide range
of diesel engines to choose from.
The new Opel Insignia is going to be revealed in
full at the Geneva Motor Show next year, with Buick set to offer it under the
Regal nameplate and Holden as the new Commodore.
