Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer revealed 06 | 02 | 2017
VAUXHALL HAS REVEALED first images of its new estate version of the Insignia Grand Sport, which will enter Scottish showroom this summer. The car will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The 2017 Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is based on new architecture and is is a significant 200kg lighter than the model it replaces. That’s despite the fact the new model is slightly bigger than its predecessor and benefits from a longer wheelbase. Headroom has also been increased by 31mm and shoulder-room by 25mm.
In addition, it offers 100 litres more boot space and gets an all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring, as well as a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
The all-wheel drive system uses two electrically controlled multi-plate clutches to replace the rear axle differential. The FlexRide chassis enables drivers to select from standard, sport or tour modes which adjust the dampers, steering, throttle response and gear changes on automatic models.
Buyers can also opt for 40/20/40 folding rear seats, which can be collapsed at the push of a button. The tailgate can also be opened with a kicking motion underneath it, in combination with the keyless entry option.
And while a sunroof, heated steering wheel and an 18-way adjustable driver’s seat with massage and ventilation functions are all on the options list, the new Insignia Sports Tourer comes with Vauxhall’s latest IntelliLink system with a touchscreen and three rows of buttons, as well as OnStar.
Rather bizarrely, the Insignia will offer a new ‘personal assistant’ service that enables the driver or passengers to book a hotel through OnStar. Sensibly though, it also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging is also available.
Elsewhere on the options list, there’s LED matrix lighting, head-up display, lane keep assist, heated seats in the front and rear, plus a heated windscreen. According to Vauxhall, it’s also the first model to get an active aluminium bonnet which it says improves pedestrian protection.
Though Vauxhall, which continues to be the bestselling manufacturer in Scotland, has yet to confirm prices for the new Sports Tourer — in the past the estate accounted for around 20% of all Insignia sales — it’s expected the model will start close to the starting price of the current model, at £20,299.
Related: 2017 Vauxhall Crossland X unveiled
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Jim McGill