2009 Opel Insignia

Opel has announced that it will showcase its new Insignia at the 2008 London Motor Show this coming July. The Insignia will replace Opel’s current Vectra sedan. Developed at GM Europe’s International Technical Development Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Insignia will be sold in the U.S. as the next-generation Saturn Aura.

The Opel Insignia is a 4.83m sedan with a coupe-like profile featuring a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem, a sweeping front and rear light “wing” signature and a “blade” side contour that begins directly behind the front wheel arch and glides through the entire body flanks.

This successor to Opel Vectra will have 7 engine variants mated to either manual or automatic tranny, both 6-speed boxes. All powerplants meet stricter Euro 5 emissions standards. Four of them are petrol engines ranging from a 4-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. Mostly for European market, the other three are direct-injection diesels of 2.0L capacity in different state of tunes, producing 110 hp to 160 hp. Driveline options are either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD) with Adaptive Stability Technology – what Opel called FlexRide - which has ride and handling settings adjustable by the driver.

The all-new Opel Insignia will go on sale in Europe by Q4 2008.