Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer
The new Vauxhall Insignia range made its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show before first UK deliveries start in October 2013.
Available as a five-door Hatch, four-door Saloon and Sports Tourer estate, the new range now starts at just £16,279, nearly £2,000 less than entry into the outgoing line-up. Also available are a range-topping Country Tourer and a high performance VXR version, the fastest car available in the UK for under £30,000.
There are four new engines, including: a 99g/km 140PS 2.0 CDTi offering large cost benefits to fleet and high-mileage drivers; an all-new 1.6 SIDI 170PS Turbo petrol; and a new 250PS 2.0 SIDI Turbo petrol. Existing diesel units have also benefited from refinement improvements.
An all-new infotainment system, incorporating Bluetooth-operated internet connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen, and 3D navigation and voice control, has full smartphone compatibility and allows drivers unrivalled communications while on the move. A DMB (Digital Media Broadcast) radio is now standard across the range.
Since its launch in 2008, the Vauxhall Insignia has largely dominated the mid-size sector and launched the eye-catching design philosophy that has permeated through all subsequent new Vauxhalls. The Insignia's classic exterior lines remain for the new range, refreshed styling at the back and front of the car, but inside there are important changes to its instrument cluster and centre console design, as well as improvements to control-functionality.
The Insignia's range has been simplified, too. There are now eight trims (down from 14 in the outgoing line-up), ranging from Design to Elite, with a mixture of new models that will appeal to both retail and fleet buyers. And like all Vauxhalls, the new Insignia range will come with Lifetime Warranty, allowing first owners peace of mind for as long as they own the car, up to 100,000 miles.
Vauxhall is raising its game in the highly competitive D-segment with the launch of the new Vauxhall Insignia. 167,000 Insignias have been sold since launch in the UK illustrating its popularity with both retail and fleet buyers, as well as its appeal to buyers who had only previously considered premium cars in the D-sector.
While the Insignia has increasingly found favour with retail buyers, much of its success has been in the fleet market with 80 per cent of Insignias going to business customers.
Vauxhall's combination of more efficient engines, premium design and state-of-the-art infotainment systems will certainly prove tempting to both company car drivers and fleet decision-makers alike.
The new Vauxhall Insignia's direct competitors include the VW Passat , Ford Mondeo , Toyota Avensis and Peugeot 508 . Other potential competitors include the Audi A4 , BMW 3-Series , and Mercedes C-Class .
The biggest change existing Insignia customers will see when they sit in the new car is a completely re-designed centre console and instrument cluster. The centre console has been simplified and now has fewer buttons for more intuitive operation of common functions, such as air conditioning and infotainment, while the instrument cluster has new dials and a fresh, high-tech look.
Optional across the range is an 8-inch screen infotainment display (up from 5-inches in the outgoing range) and a new, upgraded instrument cluster with an 8-inch, high-resolution colour display. The cluster incorporates two outer dials showing fuel and revs, while in the centre sits a speedometer that can be displayed in analogue or digital form, or changed to show functions such as smartphone or audio use, or navigation.
The 8-inch infotainment display has touch-screen functionality, allowing drivers to access all functions and sub-menus such as radio stations, song titles, smartphone connection or 3D navigation in an intuitive and safe way. Its illuminated, touch-sensitive surface reacts immediately to finger movements, with even individual letters and numbers being accessible via this method. Up to 60 favourite menus can be stored from all functions and apps, available next year, can also be downloaded via the car's Bluetooth-connected internet.
In addition to button, touchscreen and touchpad operation, Insignia drivers can also control the infotainment system via re-designed controls on the new-look steering wheel. The advanced voice recognition function can also be operated by a single push of a button on the steering wheel.
Stylish new leather and cloth trims are available in the New Insignia range, complemented by upgraded dashboard materials and decors.
With 40 industry awards to its name - including the coveted European Car of the Year in 2009 - the outgoing Vauxhall Insignia has earned respect from media and customers alike. One of the pillars of its success has been its premium design - we called it 'sculptural artistry meets technical precision' at launch - and with the new range this has been enhanced still further.
Starting at the front of the car, the high-gloss chrome grille is wider and lower than before. The logo-bar that cradles the Griffin badge is thinner and includes winglets that link with the re-designed headlamps. On Elite models, these feature bi-xenon lamps with AFL (Advanced Forward Lighting), which is optional on all other models.
Standard headlamps are trimmed in high-gloss black with chrome-embedded accents, with the up-level AFL lights getting a 'wing-signature' daytime running light with energy-saving LEDs.
The lower front fascia inserts are designed to appear slim and wide to emphasise the upper grille size. Fog lamps are combined with wide, black inserts and chrome accents, which grow in width as they near the cabin.
In profile, the New Insignia range's Hatch and Saloon models are better defined through their unique tailgates and rear spoilers. The crease line on the C-pillar of the Hatch fades out before it reaches the spoiler's trailing edge, giving it a classic coupe silhouette. On the Saloon, the crease line continues along the edge of the spoiler to emphasise the body's length.
At the rear, the New Insignia range models appear wider and lower. The high-gloss chrome logo bar has been positioned lower on the tailgate. It extends into the tail-lights and incorporates the slim-look reversing lamps. The tail and stop functions of the two-piece tail-lights are illuminated by LEDs throughout the range.
The Sports Tourer's rear styling embodies a similar wider and lower appearance. The main visual enablers are again the stretched chrome brand bar, also framing the reverse functions, and an uninterrupted body-colored division between the tailgate glass and the longer, slimmer light units. The rear bumper moldings for all models also incorporate several black 'cut-out' inserts according to the powertrain choice, with or without visible exhaust tailpipes.
The New Vauxhall Insignia range offers a raft of technology, safety and comfort highlights. These include state-of-the-art radar and camera-based assistance systems (including adaptive cruise control and second-generation park assist), premium seats, and 'Open & Start', the keyless entry and start system, to name just a few.
Two new exterior colours - Emerald Green and Aurum Green - join the exiting 10 colour choices.
Vauxhall's new Insignia is not only the lowest CO2 emitting car in its sector but now also the most streamlined vehicle in the world in its class.
Thanks to clever changes to the body design of the new Insignia, Vauxhall's engineers have reduced the vehicle's drag coefficient to under 0.25 for the Insignia hatchback and 0.28 for the Sports Tourer. New extended underbody covers, wider front spoiler lips, tail lamp housings designed to enhance airflow separation and an integrated rear deck lid spoiler contribute to the new Vauxhall Insignia's slippery shape.
Insignia 2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX (120/140PS) models with Start/Stop also feature an additional, ultra-modern aerodynamic element: an active front air shutter. Air flowing through the front grille to cool the engine usually accounts for up to eight per cent of total vehicle air drag. To reduce this effect, a shutter in the lower front grille automatically closes to prevent air entering and causing turbulence. For cold starts, an additional advantage is a faster engine warm-up, which also helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Whenever the engine needs air for cooling, the shutter opens automatically.
These changes help the new Insignia ecoFLEX (120/140PS) achieve class-leading CO2 emissions of 99g/km and 76.3mpg on the combined cycle.
This gives the ecoFLEX a range of up to 1175 miles, which means that an average UK driver covering 8,200 miles, would only have to refill with diesel seven times per year. Or put another way, an ecoFLEX driver could travel from London to Budapest on one tank of fuel!
The new Insignia range's powertrain line-up has been broadened still further with the addition of an all-new petrol engine and new derivatives of the existing 2.0 CDTi unit.
Now available with a choice of three power outputs - 120PS, 140PS and 163PS - the New Insignia range's 2.0 CDTi engine offers drivers ultra-low C02 emissions of 99g/km (76.3mpg combined) for the lower two outputs and 114g/km (65.7mpg combined) for the higher output unit (figures for Hatch models). But performance hasn't been compromised, with even the 120 and 140PS models producing up to 320 and 370Nm of torque respectively, and the 163PS model up to 380Nm.
For company car drivers, the new diesel engines offer an even more compelling argument, with both the 120 and 140PS ecoFLEX Hatch versions emitting just 99g/km of C02 and dipping in to the 14 per cent Benefit-in-Kind category for the 2013/14 Tax Year.
Also new to the engine line-up are two direct injection petrol units: the new-generation 1.6-litre SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) producing 170PS/280Nm that recently launched in the 2013 Cascada convertible, and the 2.0-litre SIDI, producing 250PS/400Nm. Both engines provide an exceptional mix of refinement, economy and performance. They can be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission and Start/Stop function, or with a new, low-friction six-speed automatic gearbox.
Across the New Vauxhall Insignia range, there have been improvements including dampers, roll-bars and steering, which result in improved noise and vibration behaviour and even higher levels of comfort. Completely new suspension control arms and carrier housings were built into the axle architecture to improve driving comfort. Electronic Power Steering (EPS) is standard in all but the VXR models has been reprogrammed for improved feel. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels have also been reduced for enhanced occupant comfort.
Vauxhall's FlexRide adaptive damping chassis system, with its real-time driving style recognition, is also used in the new Insignia. This innovative chassis networks all driving dynamics systems and features electronic damper adjustment, as well as speed-dependent power steering. The driver can choose between three driving modes: Standard for driving comfort, Tour for an even softer, more comfortable drive, and Sport for a more direct, sporty driving experience.
The new Insignia features cutting-edge infotainment with many existing features radically simplified over the outgoing model.
Vauxhall technicians set three developmental criteria when working on the new Insignia's infotainment offering safety, simple operation and personalisation. Most importantly, any infotainment must offer maximum safety for driver and passengers, with the lowest-possible distraction from road traffic. The system also had to be clear and simple to operate and drivers and passengers had to be able to individualise it to their personal tastes.
The centre console has a completely new look and feel. It has a host of state-of-the-art technologies and functions. The control panel was simplified and the operation of the infotainment system as well as air conditioning or the premium FlexRide chassis is now fast and intuitive.
The new infotainment generation is part of the IntelliLink family introduced in the ADAM this year. Thanks to user-friendly IntelliLink technology, smartphone functions can be optimally integrated into the car. In the Insignia, the driver can choose between four different operating possibilities. The new system Navi 900 Touch can be controlled over an 8-inch colour display with touch operation. From the starting screen the driver can access all core functions and sub-menus such as radio stations, song titles, smartphone connection or 3D navigation map via the touchscreen as well as a button on the steering wheel, voice control or the brand new touchpad.
The degree to which the system can be individualised is unique - up to 60 personal favourites can be stored. While earlier infotainment systems only enabled the selection of radio stations, driver and front passenger in the Vauxhall Insignia can now also choose their personal favourites in navigation, telephone and entertainment. For example, the most popular radio station is directly next to the most important telephone numbers on the display, which are just one fingertip touch away from the stored business address in the navigation directory.
The touchpad is ergonomically integrated in the centre console and offers a completely new way of quickly and intuitively accessing the infotainment system. Its touch-sensitive surface recognises handwriting and reacts immediately to finger movements, vibrating lightly to give noticeable haptic feedback and making operation of the new infotainment generation simple and without distracting the driver.
To move the cursor, just one finger is needed, followed by slight pressure on the touchpad to open the selected menu option. With a two-finger swiping motion, the driver can for example change the audio source and a three-finger swipe over the touchpad surface opens the favourites list. The navigation system map has zoom functionality which can be controlled with a pinching motion just like on a smartphone. Even individual letters - for instance when searching for a song title in the database or a city in the navigation system - can be entered by fingertip on the touchpad. When just the first letter is entered, a list of stored addresses appears in the navigation system.
Synchronisation of the infotainment system and a smartphone is easy. Drivers only have to connect their phone to the infotainment system and many smartphone contents are displayed on the colour touchscreen in the centre console. These include not only telephone and song lists but also films that are saved on the smartphone on the Insignia's 8-inch monitor (only when the car is stationary).
Insignia drivers can control the newest generation infotainment system over newly designed, clearly laid-out steering wheel controls as well as voice commands in addition to via buttons, touchscreen and touchpad operation in the centre console. The advanced voice recognition function can be activated by the simple push of a button on the steering wheel controls. Then using voice control, the driver can enter addresses into the navigation system, play songs saved on the smartphone or make calls, all while the drivers' hands stay safely on the steering wheel.
The newly designed instrument panel with an up to 8-inch high-resolution colour display also contributes to the driver's optimal information overview. In addition to the classic readouts like speed, rpm and fuel tank level, further driver-defined details on navigation, smartphone use and audio options are directly in the driver's line of sight.
Similar to the infotainment system display in the centre console, the most important functions can be called up here on the starting screen and then the sub-menus selected. To do this, the driver uses the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. The steering wheel buttons on the left are to control safety functions such as cruise control or the speed limiter. So Insignia drivers not only benefit from a multi-functional, customisable infotainment system, but also from an instrument panel with a centrally located, colour display that can be tailored to individual needs and preferences.
A state-of-the-art Bose Sound System, with nine loudspeakers, a sub-woofer, four broadband loudspeakers, tweeters and a digital sound processor, is available as a £525 option.
The new Vauxhall Insignia's cabin offers access to a host of advanced driving safety and assistance features, many radar and camera-based. These include:
Adaptive Forward Lighting Plus (AFL+). Vauxhall's innovative system improves driving safety and significantly eases driving strain at night by automatically optimising light beam patterns for different driving situations, road and weather conditions. Numerous intelligent AFL+ lighting configurations are provided, including High Beam Assist (HBA), which automatically engages high and low beam by using a forward-facing camera to detect approaching traffic or a vehicle ahead.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) helps the driver keep to a selected speed, while always maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle(s) in front. In combination with automatic transmission, ACC will now also bring the car to a complete stop and automatically re-start it. The system includes Forward Collision Alert (FCA) with automatic Collision Imminent Braking (CIB) to mitigate a potential impact.
A speed limiter function allows the driver to select a maximum vehicle speed, a useful feature in town or city driving to prevent a 30 or 50mph speed limit being inadvertently exceeded.
Traffic Sign Assistant (TSA), which recognises and displays circular speed limit signs and rectangular advisory road signs as a reminder for the driver.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW), which recognises road markings and initiates an audible warning chime and tell-tale light display if the vehicle should unintentionally veer out of lane.
Other radar-based driving safety functions are: Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), which warns of traffic close-by within the driver's blind spot, and Lane Change Alert (LCA), which warns the driver of traffic rapidly approaching from the rear in a parallel lane. New for Insignia is Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which is activated when reversing and warns the driver of traffic approaching from up to 20 meters away on either side of the vehicle. LCA and RCTA are provided in combination with a Rear View Camera (RVC), also new for Vauxhall Insignia. This is mounted above the rear number plate, and a full colour image is displayed in the centre stack screen, together with a dynamic overlay showing the path of the vehicle when reversing.
Advanced Park Assist (APA) helps the driver detect a suitable parking slot by using multiple sensors in the front and rear bumpers. APA calculates the optimal parking path, and guides the driver with steering input displays in the centre stack screen and audible warnings.
