New Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport 07 | 12 | 2016

THIS IS THE new Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport which will enter Scottish showrooms next June. Aiming to wrestle buyers away from the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Vauxhall has upped the ante with more space and a higher quality cabin.

Set to be officially unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March, the Insignia Grand Sport — the new name for this second-generation Insignia — will include a 247bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol version with all-wheel drive.

Based on an all-new and modular General Motors platform called Epsilon 2 (or E2 for short), the five-seat, five-door Insignia Grand Sport is up to 175kg lighter than the model it replaces. And that’s despite a marginal increase in size. The base model weighs around 1400kg.

The new Insignia Grand Sport is 55mm longer than the car it replaces, making it 4897mm. That means it’s closer to the size of a BMW 5 Series than a 3 Series.

Vauxhall — which continues to lead the new car market in Scotland — has also increased the car’s wheelbase by 92mm, up to 2829mm, in order to improve space in the cabin. And while the new model is only 7mm wider, at 1863mm, the tracks have been increased by 11mm at both back and front,

Significantly, the overhangs at both front and rear have been reduced to enhance the car’s stance, and the car’s height has been reduced by 29mm.

Boasting a new look, the Gen II Insignia also comes with boosted connectivity and infotainment options; options include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a wi-fi hotspot to connect up to seven devices, wireless charging for smartphones and an enhanced version of Vauxhall’s OnStar assistance service.

And while the new model has as much space for rear passengers as an Audi A6, Vauxhall highlights improved textures within the cabin, allied to a new dashboard layout.

Drivers also sit 30mm lower in the car, plus the front seats can be supplied with new functions, including a massage. The two outer rear seats can also be fitted with heaters.

As for power plants, the entire range is compiled of turbocharged four-cylinder units and is crowned by the 247bhp 2.0 petrol engine, mated to a new eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The range-topper all gets an all-wheel drive system which features GKN drivetrain technology similar to that on the Ford Focus RS. And for the first time on a Vauxhall, it also includes torque vectoring.

There’s one new engine in the range, a 163bhp 1.5-litre petrol, which has been mated to a six-speed manual gearbox

There are also two diesels — a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre — and while power will be no lower than 110bhp, Vauxhall will confirm performance, economy and CO2 details closer to the car’s launch next Spring.

First to arrive will be the five-door hatchback pictured here. This will be followed by an estate and rugged Cross Tourer. Expect to pay around £18,000 for the entry-level model, which is close to what the current Insignia range starts at.

Related: Vauxhall's £2000 scrappage offer

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Jim McGill