Vauxhall/Opel Insignia Sports Tourer Revealed

World debut in Paris

Opel Insignia Sports Tourer
by Clinton Deacon
August 14, 2008 3:00 PM
Filed Under: European, Opel, Paris Motor Show, Vauxhall

Having already unveiled the sedan and hatchback version of the all-new Opel Insignia, General Motors has now presented us with the third variant of the range. The estate version which is labelled as the Insignia Sports Tourer will be unveiled to the world's press on the 2nd October at the Paris Motor Show.

This new version will be available with two new engines in addition to the five already offered: a more powerful turbodiesel and a smaller capacity turbocharged gasoline engine. Specific details are yet to be released.

This estate version is being presented as a stand alone model as a posed to just another variant of the Insignia.

Mark Adams, Vice-President of GM Europe Design says, “this is a stand-alone model and not simply an estate version of the saloon. In fact, all the bodywork aft of the B-pillars is unique to the Sports Tourer. We’ve also ensured that its design combines the sculptural artistry and technical precision found in the saloon and hatch models.”

The wraparound design of the rear end smoothly fits into the the Insignia’s design backing up Adams' argument and it houses one of the largest cargo spaces in it's class. The overall length of the vehicle grows by 80mm over the hatchback and sedan whilst the 2,737mm wheelbase is retained.

Source: Opel
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Comments

nadster
August 14, 2008 3:09 PM
Quite distinctive when compared with the Vectra estate, and quite an attractive design.

renaultfan
August 14, 2008 3:18 PM
after Renault Laguna Estate, this is the most beautiful estate in its class!

amade.ch
August 14, 2008 3:55 PM
wonderful. this just have to be a huge success for opel.

amade.ch
August 14, 2008 3:56 PM
has to be (why is there no edit function?)

daviepops
August 14, 2008 4:39 PM
I agree ... the lack of an edit function is annoying when you need to fix a typo.

BENZian
August 14, 2008 4:00 PM
...the writers need help also...stand alone model as a posed to just another variant of the Insignia...the phrase they are looking for is opposed not a posed

AG4
August 14, 2008 4:08 PM
Rear looks like an Audi Q7.

daviepops
August 14, 2008 4:34 PM
Congratulations to Q7 ... "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" ... but hey when it looks this good why wouldn't you try to copy Audi

asif
August 14, 2008 4:56 PM
stand alone model? come one! how exactly? its a insignia estate pure and simple. give us some credit! its like they are "embarrassed" for it to be part of the hatch and saloon duo. dont go down the whole signum route guys. that was just a vectra with a beter styled rear, and look what happened to that! other than that its a nice looking estate for sure. also do the rear light lift up in the door, from what i can make of the shutlines around them? thats one massive door then!!

milonakis
August 14, 2008 6:23 PM
I Thought It Was Law That Rear Lights Have To Be Visible When The Door Is Open. I Read It In A Review Of THe Clubman, It Has Exposed Wires.

asif
August 14, 2008 4:56 PM
stand alone model? come one! how exactly? its a insignia estate pure and simple. give us some credit! its like they are "embarrassed" for it to be part of the hatch and saloon duo. dont go down the whole signum route guys. that was just a vectra with a beter styled rear, and look what happened to that! other than that its a nice looking estate for sure. also do the rear light lift up in the door, from what i can make of the shutlines around them? thats one massive door then!!

nadster
August 14, 2008 5:05 PM
Actually, the more I look at it, the more Honda Accord Tourer I see in that rear...

sfero
August 15, 2008 1:11 AM
Yep, I'd completely agree with you. If anything, it's most likely the new Honda Accord Tourer as far as the rear end is concerned. Anyways, I'm already a fan of this car!

Car_Nut
August 14, 2008 5:37 PM
Nice looking car... well done GM!

BritBoy
August 14, 2008 6:02 PM
I prefer the Insignia Hatch over the Mondeo hatch but for me the Mondeo Estate edges the Vauxhall. Both very good designs though and way, way ahead of the boring VW Passat and hideously ugly Renault Laguna.

mmr66
August 14, 2008 6:56 PM
i dont get why in england they call it vauxhall and in dubai they call it opel can anyone eplain it to me

nadster
August 14, 2008 6:59 PM
Yes, Vauxhall was originally a British company until it was bought by GM like Opel, and then Opels which are sold in Europe, are badged as Vauxhalls ONLY in the UK due to brand loyalty.

dom6698
August 15, 2008 3:01 AM
it is what is commonly known as marketing it appeals to the side of the consumer which craves familiarity

wiking
August 14, 2008 7:38 PM
They did a great job in russelsheim... $$ to the design guys..

Nurchus
August 14, 2008 8:30 PM
SATURN IS GETTING A NEW DESIGN!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here comes a rebadge...

BabyMilo
August 15, 2008 12:34 AM
the rear end looks kinda bloated and fat... i think that the c5 estate is better looking

racsozelev
August 15, 2008 1:07 AM
i agree with you babymilo, the overall design is too good to need to copy the Q7 rear solution. pity. still great job opel! hope you sell what you deserve.

dom6698
August 15, 2008 3:37 AM
Why are all these cars so BIG? Is it because people are fatter? Anyway I can see supermarket car parks filled with Insignia estates with 300lb parents with kids eating McDonald's fries and shakes and a large queue of cars waiting for some twit attempting to shoehorn it into a space. A Renault Laguna has better engines. It weighs less than most of the Mondeos and Passats and Citroens. It is easier to drive, costs less to tax, costs less to run, is easier to park in the city.

How daft would you have to be to think that its is actually a genuine Opel, Vauxhall, Saturn or Holden? Every person will have one soon.

DieselDog
August 15, 2008 4:12 AM
I like the design of the rear end, although I am concerned that the designer's choice to include the top half of the rear bumper face in the hatch itself would make for very costly repairs in a relatively low-speed accidnet (such as backing into a stationary pole at 2.5 mph). There is NO protection for the bottom edge of the hatch. I wonder if the hatch could be easily popped-open after a light impact. Of course, I could be looking at it all wrong - I have not yet seen photos of the rear hatch open.

daviepops
August 15, 2008 10:20 AM
Good point ... well spotted ... the look good factor could easily turn out to be an extra cost factor when it comes to repairs for a small shunt in the rear.

norther
August 15, 2008 11:36 AM
oh my god. opel made enough money to by a photocopier :))

joelynn
August 15, 2008 12:20 PM
It's very attractive, but I agree cars are getting too big, and especailly too wide, a lot of the roads in the countryside in the UK are too narrow to deal with 2 wide cars meeting, especially as people are reluctant to fling their pride and joy into the hedge (the only way to get past)

EJ255
August 15, 2008 5:29 PM
what's up with the audi-esque rear end?

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