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Next-gen Vauxhall Insignia revealed
Date: 07 December 2016 | Author: Daniel Puddicombe
Vauxhall has revealed its all-new Insignia large hatchback ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show in March.
Set to take on the likes of BMW's 3-series and the Mercedes-Benz C-class, Vauxhall's next-gen flagship model is set to go on sale by the middle of next year.
The British manufacturer has not confirmed the model's engine line-up at this stage, but it said the Insignia will be equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, initially available in combination with the all-wheel drive variants.
The car is largely unchanged in length compared with the outgoing model, but has shed around 175kg in weight, while the roof is 29mm lower.
The new Insignia's grille sits lower than on the outgoing model and Vauxhall said this "further emphasises its solid stance", while the rear of the car is made to look wider than it actually is through the use of the 'double wing' lights (see picture below).
Inside, Vauxhall claims the driver sits in a position similar to that of a competition touring car due to the seat being 3cm lower than before with the centre console and instrument panel facing the motorist, allowing them to easily reach the controls, while the touchscreen media system has been given a facelift, which Vauxhall said makes it much more intuitive to use than before.
Meanwhile, the company will expand its OnStar personal assistant services to include a concierge tool offering hotel reservations.
Vauxhall also claims the Insignia offers the widest range of driver safety systems in its segment, including:
- a head-up display in the driver's direct line of sight offering information on speed, traffic signs or navigation directions
- adaptive cruise control, which measures the distance to the vehicle in front and adjusts the speed accordingly
- lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, which can provide gentle steering assistance to avoid drifting out of the lane
- rear cross traffic-assist alert, which uses radar sensors to detect objects coming behind the vehicle.
"Vauxhall is raising its game even further with the launch of the new Insignia," said Rory Harvey, the company's chairman and managing director. "It has all of the virtues of its successful smaller brother the Astra, and takes those to a higher level. The Insignia will set new standards for design, efficiency, technology and connectivity when it debuts next year at the Geneva motor show."
According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 31,085 Insignias were registered to fleets last year, making it the most popular fleet car in its segment and the seventh most registered fleet car of 2015.
