Opel Insignia Officially Unveiled!

Following a series of leaks – the latest being a new set of images that we posted earlier today, Opel finally decided to officially take the wraps off the all-new Insignia. Designated to replace the Vectra in Opel’s European line-up, the Insignia will be available in the UK with the Vauxhall badge (see pics after the jump) while it’s quite possible that we will also see it in the States as the successor to the Saturn Aura.

Opel’s new 4.83 meter / 190.1 in. mid-size sedan boasts a sexy silhouette that’s clearly inspired from the 2007 Geneva Show GTC Concept. “With Insignia we are introducing an exciting new sophisticated design vocabulary, which combines sculptural artistry with German precision,” says Mark Adams, Vice President Design, GM Europe. “Our aim was to develop a confident look which compels the world to experience for themselves the superb driving dynamics the Insignia radiates.”

For the first time, and apart from the front-wheel versions, Opel will be offering its mid-size sedan with an all-wheel drive system dubbed “Adaptive 4X4”. Both versions of the Insignia will can be combined with Opel’s FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with Adaptive Stability Technology that helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood.

The Insignia’s initial engine line-up will consist of seven units, four gasoline engines ranging from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp and three new direct-injection diesels featuring a displacement of 2.0 liter and outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. -Continued

“The Opel Insignia sets new standards in technology and innovation -- this will be obvious right from the launch. But we are keeping several cards up our sleeves when it comes to environmental compatibility, excitement and safety, which we will play strategically overtime” says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, GM Europe.

The Insignia notch- and hatchback will make their debut on July 22, 2008 at the London Motor Show with sales set to start in Europe this fall.

2009 Opel Insignia: New Image Gallery Released

After releasing pictures of the taillight - headlight treatment and an initial set of camouflaged shots (click here), Opel has followed up with a new image gallery of its upcoming Insignia sedan that will replace the Vectra in Europe, and most possibly, the Saturn Aura in the States.

While the Insignia shown in these pictures is once again covered with that annoying black adhesive tape, the new images give us a clearer view of the mid-size sedan’s exterior styling which is heavily inspired from the 2007 GTC Concept. The Insignia which is based on GM’s Epsilon-2 platform, is to be unveiled at the London motor show in 2008 with sales beginning in Europe shortly after.

About a year later, Opel plans to unveil a sporty edition of the Insignia bearing the OPC logo that will be powered by an updated version of the current Vectra OPC’s 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine delivering approximately 300 HP. Unlike the top-notch Vectra however, the Insignia OPC will get a four-wheel-drive system. –15 high res pics after the jump

Nissan Qashqai+2: 7-Seater, Long-Wheel-Base Version Revealed

Earlier today we revealed to you the initial details on Nissan’s newest variant of the Qashqai –also called Dualis in Japan, Australia and elsewhere, the seven-seater Qashqai+2. No thanks to an online leak, we now have the official images of the long-wheel-base version of Nissan’s compact crossover.

Set to make its global debut at the London Motor Show in July, the Qashqai+2 features an extended wheelbase by 135 mm or 5.3 in. – taking it to 2,765 mm or 109 in.– while its overall length has risen to 4,526 mm or 178.2 in, an increase of 211 mm or 8.3 in. over the five-seat version.

Additionally, Nissan’s designers lengthened the roofline and re-profiled at the rear of the vehicle, adding 38 mm to the overall height and taking it to 1,643 mm or 64.7 in. Headroom in the front and middle row of seats has increased by 16 mm and 10 mm respectively, while knee room in the middle row has improved by 23 mm. -Continued after the jump

At the same time, both front and rear doors have been restyled while the rear pair are completely new – longer and also with squarer window frames. According to the Japanese carmaker, these changes allowed the addition of a third row of foldable seats that are designed to fit children or adults up to 1.6m or 5.2 ft tall. Probably more important is the fact that, when the third row of seats are folded away, the Qasqhai+2 boasts almost 500 litres of potential luggage capacity, an increase of 90 litres over ithe standard Qasqhai.

The extra length and equipment found in Qashqai+2 had its toll on the cars overall weight which has been raised by approximately 100 kg or 220 pounds. According to Nissan, suspension settings have been revised to take account of the extra weight, while steering assistance has also been retuned.

In Europe, the Qashqai+2 will offer buyers a choice of two petrol (115Hp 1.6-litre 140 Hp 2.0-liter) and two diesel (106 Hp 1.5-liter and 150 Hp 2.0-liter) versions. While the two smaller engines will be solely available with front-wheel drive, the 2.0-litre diesel and petrol models will also be offered with Nissan’s ALL-MODE four-wheel drive system.

Finally, transmission options include a five-speed manual (1.6-litre petrol), six-speed manual (2.0 petrol and both diesels), six-speed automatic (4WD 2.0 dCi) and, a CVT transmission option on the 4WD 2.0-litre petrol.

Opel Releases New Insignia Teaser Shots Along With Details on the Headlights

Since we’re still a few months away from the Insignia’s debut that will take place at the London Motor Show on July 2, Opel decided to give us a second set of teaser shots following an initial picture of the car’s tail-lamp that was released last November. The Insignia will replace the Vectra in Europe while it’s speculated that the mid-size sedan will most possibly succeed the Saturn Aura in the U.S.

Along with the darkened front-end, GM’s German subsidiary published a few shots of the Insignia’s headlights that feature Opel’s new generation AFL technology that automatically adjusts headlamp beam distribution to the prevailing road profile and visibility conditions. The AFL headlamps, which will make their debut on the Insignia, also boast innovations such as LED daytime running lamps as standard, which require considerably less electricity, and therefore, less fuel. –Click through for details and more images

Overview of the AFL’s nine lighting functions:

·At speeds under 50 km/h, the Town Light provides a wider, symmetrical beam with reduced range, helping drivers see pedestrians at the edge of the road better. The Town Light’s beam intensity is less than the normal low beam as additional light sources – such as street lighting – are available.

·The Pedestrian Area Light is activated automatically at speeds between five and 30 km/h. It is designed especially for zones where the driver must exercise extreme caution, such as residential areas with corresponding traffic restrictions. The function adjusts the cone of light for both headlamps by eight degrees toward each roadside.

With this light, pedestrians and children playing next to the road – who often cannot properly judge the speed of a moving vehicle – can be seen earlier, particularly when cars are also parked on the roadside.

·The Country Road Light provides a brighter and wider beam to both sides of the road than a conventional low beam. This helps drivers see animals at the sides of the road earlier. It is activated between 50 and
100 km/h and projects a beam 70 meters ahead.

·With the Highway Light, beam intensity is increased and the headlamps set slightly higher, because there is no risk of blinding oncoming traffic and the smoother road surface causes fewer vehicle body movements. The Highway Light creates a cone of light that illuminates the road 140 meters ahead and the
left-hand roadside better. An increase in electrical output from 35 to 38 watts also provides a noticeable improvement in visibility. The Highway Light activates automatically above 100 km/h, but only when the steering angle sensor indicates that the road’s curve radii do not match those of a country road.

·The Adverse Weather Light is activated during rain or snow when the rain sensor detects a certain amount of rain or when the windshield wipers are switched on and off in rapid succession. The light output is then distributed asymmetrically: the right headlamp beam is increased from 35 to 38 watts so the driver can see the guiding lines better, and the left headlamp decreased from 35 to 32 watts to reduce the risk of blinding oncoming drivers, which is often the case on wet, reflective road surfaces. The right light cone is also much brighter and the left cone slightly shortened.

·The High Beam Light (already included in the current AFL generation) provides maximum headlamp beam output and range. Rather than beam asymmetrically, the High Beam Light optimally illuminates the full width of the road. The headlamps’ output also increases from 35 to 38 watts.

·The High Beam Light Assistant is an innovation in this segment and offers a considerable safety advantage when driving in darkness. The Assistant automatically activates the High Beam Light for better road illumination and thereby improved visibility. The system’s camera recognizes the headlamps or tail lights of other vehicles and automatically switches the headlamps to low beam when required to prevent blinding other road users.

·The Dynamic Curve Light (already included in the current AFL generation) ensures improved illumination in curves. Curve Light’s swiveling bi-xenon headlamps shine at up to 15° right and left of the vehicle into the oncoming curve. The Curve Light angle is determined by the car’s speed and steering angle. A new addition to this system is the sport switch, which when activated enables a more dynamic response from AFL. The Cornering Lights are controlled quicker and the Dimm characteristic curve has been modified for quicker response.

·The Static Cornering Light (already included in the current AFL generation) illuminates an area to the right or left of the vehicle up to an angle of 90 degrees, making maneuvering easier in poorly illuminated areas, such as on dark access roads. It is activated at speeds below 40 km/h or when the car is put into reverse gear. A new function is the delayed switch over to the normal low beam headlamps to make drive-away maneuvers easier.