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The all-new Insignia – first pictures of Vauxhall’s new flagship

Vauxhall Insignia 2017 dynamic lights
New Vauxhall Insignia

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7 December 2016

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport key points

  • New flagship of the Vauxhall range
  • Elegant coupé style lines with class-leading aerodynamics
  • Up to 175kg lighter than the outgoing version – promising good company car tax figures
  • New all-wheel-drive with torque vectoring and eight-speed automatic transmission
  • New technologies including next-gen IntelliLux Matrix LED headlights
  • Extended OnStar service with hotel reservation
  • Up to seven devices can be connected to the Wi-Fi Hotspot.

WHOAH! If you’re looking for a new company car, then check this out: the all-new Insignia, which Vauxhall is calling the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport.

The new Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport has been styled to look like a coupe but with five-door accessibility to provide all the functionality you would expect from a Vauxhall.

Although there is no word yet on CO2 emissions, Vauxhall has always been strong on low CO2 models for reduced company car tax: the current ecoFlex model has CO2 emissions of 114g/km and a company car tax band of 21%. In 2014 the Insignia won our SME Company Car of the Year title.

The new Insignia Grand Sport should offer company car drivers more of the same, thanks to its slippery coupe shape (the Cd figure is just 0.26) and a lightweighting strategy that has seen the car shed up to 175kg  (about the weight of two adults).

Other significant features of the new Insignia Grand Sport include an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring (which ensures a grippier drive) and the new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
More dynamic – the new Insignia Grand Sport

There is a raft of technologies to make driving the Insignia Grand Sport safer, more relaxing and more comfortable than before for company car drivers. These include:

  • Next generation IntelliLux LED matrix lighting;
  • Lane Keep Assist;
  • Head-up Display;
  • Unique AGR-certified premium seats;
  • Front- and rear-seat heating; and
  • A heated windscreen are just some examples.

Infotainment and connectivity features include the latest generation IntelliLink systems and Vauxhall OnStar, which with the launch of the Insignia Grand Sport, will offer even more functionality for company car drivers.

It is also the first Vauxhall with an active aluminium bonnet, improving pedestrian protection.

“Vauxhall is raising its game even further with the launch of the new Insignia Grand Sport,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director.

“It has all of the virtues of the successful Astra, and takes those to a higher level. The Insignia Grand Sport will set new standards for design, efficiency, technology and connectivity when it debuts next year at the Geneva Motor Show.”

 Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport: design

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
Style cue: Monza Concept

The Monza Concept was the inspiration behind the interior and exterior design.

Despite a largely unchanged length compared to its predecessor, the new generation car has managed to shed around 60kg of weight from its body-in-white alone. In total, the new car weighs up to 175kg less than the outgoing model.

Its roof is 29mm lower and its track has increased by 11mm. The overhangs have been reduced considerably and the wheelbase enlarged by 92mm.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
Insignia Grand Sport

“In its proportions as well as in each detail, we wanted the new Insignia Grand Sport to deliver an upscale quality feel,” said Brit Mark Adams, Vauxhall/Opel vice president design Europe.

“Its design combines flowing lines and subtle surfaces with crisp, precise lines to exaggerate its dramatic proportions: it looks longer, lower and wider than it actually is, and it definitely looks upscale. Every design feature conveys technical know-how and the utmost precision.

“The new Insignia Grand Sport is an excellent value proposition with the aura of a car from the premium, upper class.”

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport: transmissions

The Insignia Grand Sport will be available with a wide range of turbocharged engines and transmissions when it is officially launched next year. But no word yet on what they will be.

An efficient eight-speed automatic transmission is new to the line-up. The eight-speed auto will only be available with all-wheel drive at launch; availability in other derivatives will come later.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport: New intelligent all-wheel drive

Two electrically controlled multi-plate clutches replace the rear axle differential. For the first time, it will provide an all-wheel drive Vauxhall with torque vectoring – the best way to transmit power to the road, says Vauxhall, even if it is wet, icy or snowy.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
Raising the profile

The vehicle receives steering impulses via the active controlled torque distribution to the individual wheel. For example, when cornering, additional torque is transmitted to the outside rear wheel, enabling the Insignia Grand Sport to corner more precisely.

The system reacts within a split-second when the accelerator is pressed, keeping the car more stable and easier to control in every situation.

FlexRide chassis provides adaptive damping, steering, throttle response and shift points (on automatics) independently or based on the modes ‘Standard’, ‘Sport’ or ‘Tour’, which can be selected by the driver.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport: Driving assistance systems

The new car offers a wide range of intelligent technologies.

One of the highlights is the next generation of Vauxhall’s innovative and award-winning IntelliLux LED matrix light. It now has 32 LED segments – twice as many as in the Astra – that are all integrated in the new slimmer headlamps of the Insignia.

The light intensity at the inner matrix segments rises according to steering angle in order to increase the illumination of the curve. In addition, a further high-beam spotlight provides additional illumination at full high-beam for up to 400 metres.

Additional driver assistance systems include:

  • Head-up-Display: Information on speed, traffic signs, set speed of speed limiter or navigation direction is projected onto the windscreen in the driver’s direct line of sight Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which measures the distance to vehicle in front and adapts the speed accordingly. ACC will initiate automatic emergency braking if the distance decreases abruptly.
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning. Provides gentle steering wheel movements (and LDW alerts if necessary) to help drivers avoid accidents due to unintentionally drifting out of their lane.
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The system uses radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect objects coming from up to 20 metres at 90 degrees from the left or right side behind the vehicle.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport: comfort and infotainment

Vauxhall is still one of the few manufacturers to offer seats certified by “Aktion Gesunder Rücken” (Campaign for Healthy Backs) – useful for company car drivers who regularly cover long distances.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
Cabin with more driver aids and connectivity

The premium ergonomic seats in the Insignia offer a unique combination of side bolster settings, massage, memory and ventilation functions in addition to the standard setting possibilities.

The heated windscreen guarantees good visibility quickly on cold winter days – so you can forget the ice scraper! In addition, keyless “Open & Start” comes as standard on all trim levels.

There’s also the latest Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible IntelliLink systems. Along with wireless mobile phone charging.

Vauxhall OnStar service assistant offers Automatic Crash Response to Stolen Vehicle Assistance. A new concierge service will be launched together with the Insignia Grand Sport, enabling its occupants to ask OnStar advisors to select a hotel and proceed to room reservation.

Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport
Class-leading low drag of 0.26Cd – Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport

 

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