Opel Insignia

Manufacturer	Opel
Also called	Vauxhall Insignia Buick Regal Chevrolet Vectra
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Rüsselsheim, Germany
Predecessor	Opel Vectra Opel Signum Opel Omega
Class	Large family car
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback 5-door estate
Layout	Front engine, front wheel drive Front engine, all wheel drive
Platform	Epsilon II platform
Transmission	5-speed semi-automatic 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,737 mm (107.8 in)
Length	4,830 mm (190.2 in) 4,908 mm (193.2 in) (wagon)
Width	1,856 mm (73.1 in)
Height	1,498 mm (59.0 in)
Designer	Mark Adams

The Opel Insignia (from Lat. insigne = the emblem/badge) is a large family car engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel. Production of the Insignia began in 2008 as a replacement for the Opel Vectra.^[1] Opel launched the vehicle at the 2008 British International Motor Show in London as the Vauxhall Insignia, reflecting the Vauxhall brand that is unique to the United Kingdom.^[2] The vehicle is marketed as the Opel Insignia throughout continental Europe and Ireland.

The vehicle is known as the Buick Regal in China and North America.^[3][4] In Chile, the vehicle was originally due to be marketed as the Chevrolet Vectra.^[5] but is now sold as the Opel Insignia.^[6] The Insignia is the first production car to feature a dual-function frontal camera with traffic sign recognition.

The Insignia was voted 2009 European Car of the Year.

Design

The Insignia offers 30 millimetres (1.2 in) more knee room than the Vectra. Both body variants have identical 4,830 millimetres (190.2 in) length and share the same wheelbase of 2,737 millimetres (107.8 in).

• 

  Rear of the Insignia 4-door

• 

  Opel Insignia 5-door (since 2008)

• 

  Opel Insignia Sports Tourer (since 2009)

• 

  UK-market Vauxhall Insignia

• 

  Interior

OPC

In early 2009, Opel revealed the Insignia OPC, a high-performance variant of the Insignia.^[7] Like the preceding Vectra OPC, it is powered by a 2.8 litre turbocharged V6.^[7][8] The updated engine makes 239 kilowatts (325 PS; 321 hp) and 435 newton metres (321 lb·ft). Of this 435, 400 newton metres (300 lb·ft) is available from 2,000 rpm.^[9] It will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission / six-speed automatic transmission and Saab's (Haldex) active all-wheel drive system. Insignia OPC have upgraded version of McPherson front suspension called HiPerStrut which reduce torque steer. Also standard is an electronic limited slip differential for the rear wheels and Opel's FlexRide adaptive suspension, which has three settings the driver may choose (OPC, Sport and Normal). An OPC version of the Insignia Sports Tourer wagon has also been unveiled and is currently on sale.

• 

  Opel Insignia OPC

• 

  Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer

Engines

From launch, the Insignia was offered with 4 petrol engines – a 1.6litre, 1.8 litre, 2.0 Turbo and a 2.8 litre V6 with 256 hp (191 kW) – and 3 diesel engines (all derived from the Fiat/GM JTD engine) – all 2.0 litres with 109 hp, 128 hp (95 kW) and 158 hp (118 kW). In 2009, a 1.6 litre Turbo petrol, the ecoFLEX diesel and the OPC were introduced.

From September 2010, the 2.0 CDTi Diesel was available with Adaptive 4x4 (4-wheel drive). A '2.0 BiTurbo' CDTI, with 190 hp (142 kW), in development with Saab, was expected to begin production in 2010, but due to the sale of Saab, production was delayed, and is now expected to begin production late 2011/early 2012, in 2WD and 4WD.

Six-speed manual or automatic transmissions are fitted throughout the range.

Since on sale, all diesels have improved their emissions. In 2011, some engines gained Start/Stop, with more engines expected to gain the technology in the future. Also, a 1.4 Turbo, with S/S as standard, went on sale. In August 2011 new engine came in sales: 1.4 Turbo, which replaces 1.8, and 2.0 Turbo with 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp) and 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) only with 4x4 which replace 2.0 Turbo with 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp). Except new engines, Insignia get for other engines Start/Stop system as standard.

Safety features

The Insignia is available with Adaptive Forward Lighting - one of the most advanced headlight systems in the mid segment. The system features bi-xenon, gas discharge headlamps with variable light beam distribution in width, direction and range for driving in the city, pedestrian areas, on country roads and highways. This is complemented by adverse weather light, dynamic curve light, cornering light, high beam assist and daytime running lights with LEDs. Sensors and software constantly monitor the surroundings, traffic and weather conditions so that the system can activate the appropriate lighting function.

Another new system is Opel Eye which uses a camera at the top of the windscreen to monitor the area in front of the vehicle. Information from the camera is continuously analysed to identify road markings and traffic signs. Road markings are used as the basis of the first of Opel Eye’s two functions: lane departure warning. Traffic signs are recognised and indicated to the driver in the second function: traffic sign memory. At speeds above 60km/h, Opel Eye warns the driver if the car is about to veer inadvertently out of the lane in which it is travelling. The system can detect road markings and, if they are sufficiently distinct, unmarked road edges.

Market

The Opel Insignia was made available in European dealerships in October 2008.

As of August 2011, over 400,000 Insignias have been sold. On April 26, 2012, the 500,000th Insignia was produced.

United Kingdom

Vauxhall Insignia is the United Kingdom-market version of the car; it is the first Vauxhall car to receive their new logo design, dispensing with the characteristic "V" grille that has adorned Vauxhall models since 1994. Vauxhall versions are produced in Exclusiv, S, SE, SRi, Elite and VXR specification levels.

It has been a popular choice with British buyers, being the nation's ninth best selling car in 2009 – its first full year on sale, outselling its direct competitor the Ford Mondeo but just falling short of the sales achieved by the more upmarket BMW 3 Series.^[10]

Motorsport

The Thorney Motorsport team will run two Vauxhall Insignias in the 2012 British Touring Car Championship.^[11]

Awards

Since making its debut, the Opel Insignia has won more than 50 national and international awards, including Best Executive Car in the UK and Slovenia, Best Family Car in Ireland twice and best car for fleet customers in the UK, Austria, Denmark and Portugal. ^[12]

• The Insignia was voted 2009 European Car of the Year.^[13]
• The Insignia scored a 5-star rating in EuroNCAP
• In 2011 German institute DEKRA give Opel award for The Insignia as a car with the fewest flaws.

Insignia Concept

Insignia Concept

Manufacturer	Opel
Class	Concept car Luxury Grand tourer
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Premium platform
Engine	5.7L LS1 V8
Transmission	7-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,915 mm (114.8 in)
Length	4,803 mm (189.1 in)
Width	1,914 mm (75.4 in)
Height	1,414 mm (55.7 in)
Designer	Malcolm Ward

Opel Insignia Concept at the IAA 2003

The Opel Insignia Concept is a high-end luxury saloon presented by Opel in 2003.^[14][15] The purpose of the study was the exploration of technical and creative ways in order for the realization of a competitor for the Bentley Continental GT. The car has 344 hp (257 kW; 349 PS) 5.7 L GM "Small Block" V8 engine.

As special features of the Insignia concept are the hydro-pneumatic suspension springs, the pantograph like mechanism for the sliding rear vehicle doors and the trunk lid and LED lighting technology.

In early 2005, it was announced by the Opel, that the concept car can´t be put into mass production (too heavy, too expensive, too complicated). The luxury sedan is expected to remain a pure concept study.

However, the production Opel Insignia builds on the study of the Opel GTC Concept.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Opel Insignia

• Official international Opel Insignia website

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