Opel Insignia, 2009
The Opel Insignia elegant styling can be summed up as sculptural artistry meets German precision - a mantra that will be chanted in Opel models moving forward. With the Insignia, Opel successfully has brought the sporty coupé design to the mid-size sedan class without making any concessions in interior space. The Insignia offers three centimeters more knee room than the Vectra. The car also proves to be particularly efficient aerodynamically with a spectacular Cd of 0.27 which positively influences the economic, dynamic and acoustic qualities of the car. Both body variants have identical 4.830 mm length and share the same wheelbase of 2,737 mm.
The new car will hit dealerships in Germany before the end of 2008 and other markets as of January 2009 with a line-up of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with six-speed transmissions, either manual or automatic. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Opel Insignia feature displacement of 2.0 liters. They offer outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp and excellent torque values ranging from 260 to 350 Nm. All combinations compare competitively in CO2 emissions.
Powerfully Sculpted Lines Give Opel Insignia its Dynamic Look
The design of the new Opel Insignia signals a paradigm shift for Opel by adding emotion back to the brand. Both the notch and hatchback of Opel's new car feature a flowing, muscular silhouette with a sporty roofline. The designers created a powerfully sculpted shape for the body and used the same design cues in the interior, giving the Insignia a premium feel.
Opel has a long successful tradition of building very aerodynamic cars. Just remember the spectacular 1990 Calibra and its Cd of 0.26. With a drag coefficient of 0.27, the Opel Insignia is more streamlined than competitors with underbody shields. The Insignia's fuel consumption and driving dynamics benefit from its sleek, flowing styling which was optimized during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel.
Redefined design vocabulary
Like the signature crease on the hood, a blade form has been chiseled into the side, signposting a styling element that becomes another defining characteristic of future Opel cars. Other unmistakable design elements include a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem as well as sweeping front and rear light forms. The dynamic tapered shape of the wing lighting signature is another Opel Insignia DNA detail.
Echoing the exterior design, the shapes and surfaces of the interior also articulate this promise of exciting mobility and are crafted with high quality materials. The new car's dashboard wraps around from the instrument panel to the door in a very sophisticated way, embracing the occupants. The bold exterior "blade" graphic is echoed in the shape of the interior door grab handle, the steering wheel or the central gear-shift lever.
The designers focused on painstakingly refining the surfaces, carving the crisp intersecting lines and colors; testing the textures, feeling the materials and ensuring all the surface finishes were of the highest quality. At the same time, practical needs - such as good ergonomics and numerous storage compartments - also were given top priority. The orangish-red ambient light that warms the interior also will be found in future Opel models.
Powertrain
The new Opel Insignia launches with a exceptionally broad range of seven engines that all meet Euro 5 emissions standards. The four gasoline engines range from 115 to 260 hp completed with three new 2.0 liter turbo-diesels featuring power outputs of 110, 130 and 160 hp. In the coming months, the powertrain range will be expanded with new, more powerful motors. In addition, an ecoFLEX version with especially low CO2 emissions will join the lineup. In each of their respective power output category, these engines are among the best or the best in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The three diesel and four gasoline engines all come with a six-speed manual gearbox. The top diesel and gasoline units also are available with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive (see chassis chapter) versions, too, can be ordered with the 2.0 Turbo and 2.8 V6 Turbo gasoline engines and later with the more powerful diesel engines.
Opel Insignia Gasoline Engines
The 2.0-liter turbo is new in the Opel mid-size class segment. The 220 hp direct-injection engine is closely related to the sporty unit in the Opel GT. The all-aluminum engine is a powerhouse generating 350 Nm of torque from 2000 to 5200 rpm, with twin balancer shafts to ensure smooth running. Offering strong power allied to economic fuel consumption, it makes a perfect partner for the dynamic, comfortable Insignia. This engine also illustrates the downsizing policy at GM as this 2-liter 4 cylinder can compete with the competitors 5- and 6 cylinders in performance but with lower fuel consumption and emissions.
The entry level gasoline engines are the 1.6 ECOTEC (85 kW/115 hp) and 1.8 ECOTEC (103 kW/140 hp) recently introduced on other models of the Opel range. The top of the line gasoline engine is the 2.8 V6 Turbo developing a generous 191 kW (260 hp) and 350 Nm of torque between 1800 and 4500 rpm.
All gasoline engines feature camshaft phasing - on both intake and outlet sides for the four cylinder units, and on the intake side for the V6. Variable valve timing increases torque at low rpm and plays an important role in reducing fuel consumption as well as meeting new Euro 5 emissions standards.
Opel Insignia Diesel Engines
The new-generation Opel diesel engines in the Insignia feature 2.0-liter displacement, more power and torque, as well as excellent fuel economy. The Opel Insignia launches with 3 versions of the 2.0 CDTI engine developing respectively 81 kW/110 hp, 96 kW/130 hp and 118 kW/160 hp. This last engine variant also powers the Opel Insignia ecoFLEX with lower fuel consumptions and CO2 emissions. All versions come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard and meet Euro 5 emission levels.
The engines have two overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and common-rail, multiple fuel direct injection, together with a variable geometry turbocharger for a rapid throttle response at low rpm. Thanks to the large 70-liter tank, the diesel models boast a driving range of over 1200 km between visits to the gas station.
The new car will hit dealerships in Germany before the end of 2008 and other markets as of January 2009 with a line-up of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with six-speed transmissions, either manual or automatic. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Opel Insignia feature displacement of 2.0 liters. They offer outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp and excellent torque values ranging from 260 to 350 Nm. All combinations compare competitively in CO2 emissions.
Powerfully Sculpted Lines Give Opel Insignia its Dynamic Look
The design of the new Opel Insignia signals a paradigm shift for Opel by adding emotion back to the brand. Both the notch and hatchback of Opel's new car feature a flowing, muscular silhouette with a sporty roofline. The designers created a powerfully sculpted shape for the body and used the same design cues in the interior, giving the Insignia a premium feel.
Opel has a long successful tradition of building very aerodynamic cars. Just remember the spectacular 1990 Calibra and its Cd of 0.26. With a drag coefficient of 0.27, the Opel Insignia is more streamlined than competitors with underbody shields. The Insignia's fuel consumption and driving dynamics benefit from its sleek, flowing styling which was optimized during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel.
Redefined design vocabulary
Like the signature crease on the hood, a blade form has been chiseled into the side, signposting a styling element that becomes another defining characteristic of future Opel cars. Other unmistakable design elements include a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem as well as sweeping front and rear light forms. The dynamic tapered shape of the wing lighting signature is another Opel Insignia DNA detail.
Echoing the exterior design, the shapes and surfaces of the interior also articulate this promise of exciting mobility and are crafted with high quality materials. The new car's dashboard wraps around from the instrument panel to the door in a very sophisticated way, embracing the occupants. The bold exterior "blade" graphic is echoed in the shape of the interior door grab handle, the steering wheel or the central gear-shift lever.
The designers focused on painstakingly refining the surfaces, carving the crisp intersecting lines and colors; testing the textures, feeling the materials and ensuring all the surface finishes were of the highest quality. At the same time, practical needs - such as good ergonomics and numerous storage compartments - also were given top priority. The orangish-red ambient light that warms the interior also will be found in future Opel models.
Powertrain
The new Opel Insignia launches with a exceptionally broad range of seven engines that all meet Euro 5 emissions standards. The four gasoline engines range from 115 to 260 hp completed with three new 2.0 liter turbo-diesels featuring power outputs of 110, 130 and 160 hp. In the coming months, the powertrain range will be expanded with new, more powerful motors. In addition, an ecoFLEX version with especially low CO2 emissions will join the lineup. In each of their respective power output category, these engines are among the best or the best in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The three diesel and four gasoline engines all come with a six-speed manual gearbox. The top diesel and gasoline units also are available with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive (see chassis chapter) versions, too, can be ordered with the 2.0 Turbo and 2.8 V6 Turbo gasoline engines and later with the more powerful diesel engines.
Opel Insignia Gasoline Engines
The 2.0-liter turbo is new in the Opel mid-size class segment. The 220 hp direct-injection engine is closely related to the sporty unit in the Opel GT. The all-aluminum engine is a powerhouse generating 350 Nm of torque from 2000 to 5200 rpm, with twin balancer shafts to ensure smooth running. Offering strong power allied to economic fuel consumption, it makes a perfect partner for the dynamic, comfortable Insignia. This engine also illustrates the downsizing policy at GM as this 2-liter 4 cylinder can compete with the competitors 5- and 6 cylinders in performance but with lower fuel consumption and emissions.
The entry level gasoline engines are the 1.6 ECOTEC (85 kW/115 hp) and 1.8 ECOTEC (103 kW/140 hp) recently introduced on other models of the Opel range. The top of the line gasoline engine is the 2.8 V6 Turbo developing a generous 191 kW (260 hp) and 350 Nm of torque between 1800 and 4500 rpm.
All gasoline engines feature camshaft phasing - on both intake and outlet sides for the four cylinder units, and on the intake side for the V6. Variable valve timing increases torque at low rpm and plays an important role in reducing fuel consumption as well as meeting new Euro 5 emissions standards.
Opel Insignia Diesel Engines
The new-generation Opel diesel engines in the Insignia feature 2.0-liter displacement, more power and torque, as well as excellent fuel economy. The Opel Insignia launches with 3 versions of the 2.0 CDTI engine developing respectively 81 kW/110 hp, 96 kW/130 hp and 118 kW/160 hp. This last engine variant also powers the Opel Insignia ecoFLEX with lower fuel consumptions and CO2 emissions. All versions come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard and meet Euro 5 emission levels.
The engines have two overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and common-rail, multiple fuel direct injection, together with a variable geometry turbocharger for a rapid throttle response at low rpm. Thanks to the large 70-liter tank, the diesel models boast a driving range of over 1200 km between visits to the gas station.
