Insignia"s got everything

It rained and rained but not enough to dampen my enthusiasm for the new Opel Insignia, the car that replaces Opel"s Vectra. Opel"s new model is due to hit Irish dealerships at the start of November. Opel has gone for a complete upgrade with the Insignia and the fact that the new car is utterly different from the Vectra is emphasised by the fact that it gets a new name. So get used to the name Insignia, it will be part of the Opel range for some time to come. The most significant change is the new car design. Opel has copied some of the design lines of cars such as the BMW 5 Series to achieve what is a very modern and stylish looking car. There is not a single panel on the new Insignia model to link it with the older Vectra. There are engine similarities but the main vehicle structure is different. The wheelbase and wheel track widths are different and Opel claims to have put a lot of effort into developing a new and improved multi-link suspension. The wet and windy gales of the Scottish highlands proved a good test for the new Opel Insignia. We took cars with petrol and diesel engines on test. While the entry 1.6 litre petrol engine version was not on hand, we drove the next one up, the new 1.8 litre model. This car is heavier and packed with more goodies than in the past. That proved a challenge for the new Insignia as the 1.8 litre petrol engine seemed under powered for what is a sizeable car. Opel plans to launch new smaller capacity but more powerful and cleaner petrol engines along the lines of those from Volkswagen, in the near future. Next up to drive was the 2.0 litre turbo-diesel model. This improved engine ticks the boxes in terms of CO2 ratings. Opel tell us that they have an even more efficient EcoFlex diesel on the way for mid-2009 that will lower the CO2 levels even more. This will be the car worth waiting for because it will be more economical as well as being cheaper to buy and pay road tax. All diesels in the Insignia range come with diesel particulate filters and meet the 2009 Euro 5 emission regulations. The CO2 rating for the 130bhp Insignia model is 154 g/km, just enough to allow it to stay in Band C for VRT and road tax purposes. All Insignia models come with a six-speed gearbox. Gear change is firm and smooth, while some of the diesel powered test cars during the launch drive were fitted with a smooth automatic box. The Insignia wheelbase is longer than that of the Vectra and the wheels on the new car are 50mm farther apart than those of the Vectra. These design changes give the car a very solid feel on the road, supported by a new multi-link suspension and what felt like good build quality in terms of the car itself. Side by side, the Insignia measures up to the Ford Mondeo in length respects. The Mondeo appears to have a little more rear legroom and headroom, due to the sloping roof of the Insignia. Both the Insignia and the Mondeo are big cars that will take a bit of getting used to for some drivers. Back to the Insignia, the internal design style of the car is also impressive. Opel has gone for a stronger cabin look with a solid production feel to the fittings. The dash design seems higher and stronger looking than in the past. Circular dials are used for speed and revs, fuel and temperature. They fit neatly in front of the steering wheel, which itself has its height and reach adjustable and has a solid feel to it. The stalks and switches have a firm German feel to them and the indicator operation is more definite than in the Vectra. The front seats are fully adjustable. As you move up the specification grades you can expect more seat fittings and comfort levels. The test cars for the Insignia launch were higher specification models, mostly in the Vauxhall livery and provided impressive comfort in the Scottish highlands. The sloping bonnet and heavy rear should design is a feature of many cars in this class. This design does restrict rear visibility a little giving blind spots, while the sloping hatchback rear window was adequately filled in the rear view mirror. The Insignia boot is big at 520 litres for the hatchback model. The high boot design gives it a feeling of space, while the opening seems narrower than some of the competition due to the position of the lights. Opel has developed an impressive car in the new Insignia. The real engine improvements have yet to come and they will change to offer to even better value with lower running costs. This new Insignia has a quality feel to it; the styling is good and the value attractive. Get used to the name Insignia from Opel, you"ll be seeing a lot of it from early 2009.