Despite the economic malaise, Vauxhall Insignia - 2009 European Car of the Year - has been a resounding success, bucking a downward sales trend with more than 15,000 orders taken in the first month of the car reaching dealer showrooms in the UK.
Enhancing the range still further is the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer model, the third significant body style in the Insignia's line-up and the first new model to be added since the car's launch.
Retaining the hatch and saloon's rakish, but graceful silhouette, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is available with all the class-leading innovation found in the current range, such as FlexRide, Intelligent AFL and Adaptive 4X4, but with enhanced practicality, thanks to a 540-litre load area with the rear seats up. Dropping the 60:40 split rear seats converts the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer into an even more capacious load-lugger, with a volume of up to 1530-litres.
Wrapping this practicality in a sporty, premium body was a challenge set down to the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's designers. One of their many solutions was to create a distinctive tailgate with large, fully integrated tail lights that curve around the sides of the car giving a cohesive and unique appearance in this class, while keeping the same wheelbase as hatch and saloon models.
Coinciding with the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's launch is the introduction of the sixth engine to the Insignia range, the 180PS 1.6 Turbo. Available on all front-wheel-drive models, (apart from 'S' trim) the new turbocharged petrol engine emphasises Vauxhall's increasing commitment to smaller capacity, forced-induction units, which provide exceptional performance combined with reduced fuel consumption and C02 emissions.
The 1.6 Turbo joins the 1.8, 2.0T and 2.8T V6 in the Insignia's petrol engine range, with the 2.0 CDTi 130PS and 160PS diesels also carrying across to the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer. All engines meet the latest Euro 5 emissions standards.
The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's newly developed chassis, designed to offer a high level of safety and comfort, can be enhanced with the innovative FlexRide system which provides drivers with a choice of three dynamic settings - Standard, Tour and Sport - depending upon their driving style and the prevailing conditions. In addition, the Sports Tourer is available with a choice of two base chassis: Sport, which is standard on all SRi models; and Comfort, which is standard on S, Exclusiv, SE and Elite models.
"Buyers in the mid-size estate market are craving more practicality than ever before to cater for families and lifestyle activities," said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. "But they're not content to compromise on style and running costs, which is why the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is such an ideal choice in this growing sector."
The UK has traditionally been a strong market for estate cars, which is why Vauxhall is predicting that more than 15 per cent of all Insignia sales will be attributed to this model. Like the hatch and saloon, most buyers will opt for the SRi model, with SE and Elite also accounting for a major proportion of Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer sales.
Inevitably, with its highly competitive C02 rating of 159g/km and low fuel consumption, the 2.0 CDTi 130PS and 160PS engines will continue to prove popular with private buyers and fleets alike, accounting for around 69 per cent of all sales. However, the new 1.6 Turbo engine will be a significant addition, appealing to those buyers who still prefer the outright performance of a petrol-fuelled car, but who are conscious of the emissions and fuel penalties this often brings.
Exterior
While designers wanted to retain the Insignia hatch and saloon's trademark styling cues, they were equally keen to give the Sports Tourer its own identity. "This vehicle has its own individual personality - it's not simply an estate version of the saloon or hatch," said Mark Adams, the Brit-born Vice President of GM Europe Design. "In fact, all the bodywork aft of the B-pillar is unique to the Sports Tourer. We've also ensured that its design combines the sculptural artistry and technical precision of the other Insignias."
The result is a dynamic-looking, sporty estate which elegantly conceals its high degree of functionality. To achieve this, designers re-interpreted a number of elements. They pulled the 'wraparound' tailgate deep in to the car's flanks and punctuated it with large, distinctive and fully integrated tail lights. A chrome strip holding the refreshed Vauxhall Griffin runs across the tailgate, accentuating its deep curve, and the whole unit integrates with the rear bumper giving the car an up-market, classy appearance.
In profile, the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's roofline and rear cabin taper down dramatically towards the rear of the car, accentuated by its roof rails. The roof spoiler effectively elongates the roofline, optimising airflow and reducing both drag and rear-end lift, while the two vertical fins which bridge the spoiler and tail lights ensure that the saloon's sporty proportions are maintained.
These clever design elements mean that airflow is sharply cut off at the rear of the Sports Tourer, again reducing lift, adding stability and also contributing to the overall Cd value of just below 0.30, making this the most aerodynamic Vauxhall estate ever built.
Safety features were also paramount in the design brief. The tail lights have been intentionally mounted quite high up on the tailgate, protecting them in the event of a minor collision. The plastic cover between the lights and the bumper can absorb small knocks without a problem and is not expensive to replace in the event of a more serious accident.
Unique in this class are the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's secondary tail lights, which are exposed when the tailgate is lifted. Incorporating brake, tail and indicator lights, these units allow other road users to see the rear of the car if, for example, items are being unloaded from the luggage compartment at night, or in poor visibility conditions.
Interior
The Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer's dynamic look encapsulates an interior that offers ample room for five occupants. It also gives rear seat passengers plenty of headroom, combined with a seats-up luggage volume of 540-litres. While the wheelbase is identical to that of the Insignia hatch and saloon's (2740mm), the Sports Tourer's cargo length has grown by 80mm to 1910mm with the rear seats folded flat, allowing a maximum capacity of 1530-litres. The overall length of the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is 4908mm, 78mm longer than the hatch and saloon.
Standard on all SE and Elite models is a power tailgate that can be electrically opened and closed via a button on the key fob, or by controls mounted on the inside of the driver's door and at the base of the tailgate itself. The system features a programmable opening height that prevents damage to the tailgate in garages with low ceilings.
Standard on all Sports Tourer models is a retractable luggage compartment cover and DualFloor luggage compartment, which incorporates an under-floor storage area. All models, apart from S-spec cars, also get a 12-volt auxiliary power socket in the luggage compartment and silver-effect roof rails (S models get black items). Dark-tinted Solar Protect glass is standard in all but S and Exclusiv models, while a vertical load-restraining net is optional across the range.
Also optional on all Sports Tourers is Vauxhall's FlexOrganiser that separates and secures cargo loads. This complements the Insignia's already vast array of trays and storage areas, including compartments in the front doors that can accommodate a 1.5-litre bottle, a large glove compartment and a closed cubby for occupants' valuables. Storage compartments on the back of the front seats offer additional space for maps and books.
The seats, shared with the Insignia hatch and saloon, feature a wide range of adjustment - not just for seat travel and recline - but height and 4-way lumbar adjustment too, in addition to the reach- and rake-adjustable steering column. An active ventilation system is available as an option with the Ergonomic Sports Seats (SRi models only), which also provides four-way pneumatic lumbar support, additional tilt adjustment and ergonomic seat contours. The Sports seats have received a much coveted seal of approval from ARG, an independent European panel of experts and physicians.
0 comments:
Post a Comment