Opel Insignia News

Opel has confirmed that it is considering selling vehicles in Australia again, but – as per the New Zealand model – not in the traditional sense, and likely with electric vehicles (EVs) only.

What would be the world’s fourth largest car company – by volume – took a step closer to becoming a reality this week. The long-running saga of the merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group looks set to be finalised by early 2021, after the two sides signed cross-border merger terms.

The new Opel-built Holden Commodore from Germany will be aimed at lower-end European models in addition to its usual rivals

Joining the updated Opel Insignia range at the 2013 Frankfurt show in September will be the all-new Insignia Country Tourer, revealed today as the Opel brand’s new flagship. The vehicle is based on the Insignia Sports Tourer station wagon but gets some off-roading attributes such as taller ground clearance and protective body elements.Opel was prompted to develop the car following the European success of the smaller Mokka crossover – which arrives locally later this year. The Insignia Country Tourer now meets the demand of Opel customers seeking a toughened-up vehicle with a little extra cargo capacity.Opel is yet to confirm the Country Tourer for Australia, but Opel Australia spokesperson Michelle Lang suggests that any decision will be influenced by the upcoming Mokka's local success. "Given the Australian market's appetite for SUVs and crossovers, we think the Insignia Country Tourer would be an interesting option for Australia, but any local arrival would still be a long way off."Ms Lang suggested that a right-hand-drive version would likely make it to the UK wearing Vauxhall badges, which would significantly aid Australia's chances of seeing the Country Tourer.   In mainland Europe, the Opel Insignia Country Tourer will come standard with all-wheel drive and a range of torquey turbocharged engines, the most powerful of which is a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0 litre four-cylinder with 187kW and 400Nm on tap. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.Drive is sent to all four wheels via a Haldex-based all-wheel-drive system incorporating an electronic limited-slip differential. The system constantly adapts to changing road conditions and varies torque distribution from 0- 100 per cent between the front and rear axles, as well as between the rear wheels.Onlookers will be able to easily recognize the Insignia Country Tourer by its taller ground clearance, underbody guards front and rear, and prominent wheel-arches with body cladding. A set of dual-exhaust tips round out the unique visual touches.Inside, the vehicle gets all the latest goodies introduced for the Insignia’s 2013 update. The highlight is a new centre console with an 8-inch touch-screen display. A touchpad surface common to many luxury cars has also been installed, just below the gear lever.www.motorauthority.com 

Opel’s flagship Insignia sedan, hatch and Sports Tourer wagon have received a slew of updates as part of their respective mid-cycle refreshes

...that's nearly ready for European showrooms. It has a much smoother nose with new lights, bumpers and grille that will also be previewed at the Geneva show.  

Carparazzi caught the Sport Wagon during testing at Death Valley in the USA, with camouflage pointing to a new look to the nose and tail. There's also likely to be a mild interior work over.

....just as the German brand tweaks its family-focussed Insignia models. The changes caught by Carparazzi are tiny, just work on the nose and tail, to give it the latest family look.

It's a very mild job, mostly changes around the nose, to bring it into line with the latest Opel corporate look.

It says everything about the ubiquity of such things that the authorities in Baghdad are holding one. What better way to present the image that all's well in this most dangerous of cities than to stick a bunch of cars on stands and charge admission?The realisation that these things are becoming a bit of a yawn has not been lost on the organisers of the British International Motor Show, which has kicked off in London's Docklands.It started with the most memorable pre-launch stunt in recent history, Opel's new Insignia being lowered by a massive crane from atop Tower Bridge. Cute as these things go, but counting for nothing if the show lacked stars and substance.Unlike some other international motor shows, the Brit edition has plenty of both. There are 600 cars running the alphabetical gamut from Alfa Romeo to ZEV (that'd be Zero Emission Vehicles) worth some $100 million.While Britain's biggest consumer exhibition comes close to being all things to all people, it's the 23 models making their debut that is the chief draw for the anticipated 550,000 punters.The show-stealer is undoubtedly the Lotus Evora. The Norfolk marque's first all-new model in 12 years is a mid-engined 2+2 V6, intended to give Porsche something to think about, especially if _ as anticipated _ it combines the brand's trademark lightweight build (just 1350kg) with razor handling.While the Evora represents a significant step forward for Lotus, Jaguar has looked to the past for the XK60, a captivating special edition of the current production coupe to commemorate the unveiling of legendary XK120 sporters in 1948.Powered by the atmo version of the 4.2 V8, the Jag cops enhancements such as 20-inch Senta alloy wheels, alloy gear knob and selector-gate surround, new front spoiler, chrome-finished side vents and special tailpipe finishers. Which is nice.Performance with an eco-conscience? Why not? Mercedes-Benz is showcasing its BlueTEC version of the stylish CLS. Reassuringly for the rev-hungry, there's a Brabus-built Bullit Black Arrow, their V12-engined C-Class.The show's green tinge is evident in the Lightning Car Company's Lightning, a 100 per cent electric GT sports car, and Allied Vehicles' E7 electric taxi, whose lithium-ion batteries imbue the seven-seater with a range of 160km and top speed of 100km/h. Other green gambits include the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic with carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g/km.While the British blowout is not spoken of in the same breath as the biennial Frankfurt or Paris salons, the lesson for organisers of Australian events are salient.Not least of these is making `events' singular _ just as we have too much government for 21 million people, there are too many annual shows. Oh, and staging it in a venue that's spacious and accessible isn't a bad idea, either.