► A closer look at the second-gen Insignia
► Sloped roof, Monza concept cues
► Likely to make its debut at Frankfurt 2017
Fresh spy shots have given us a closer look at the second-generation Vauxhall/Opel Insignia, which is due for launch in 2017.
Captured here is the five-door hatchback, undergoing tests on public roads. This prototype is the least disguised example we’ve seen, and offers the best look at the production-spec bodywork and lights.
So, what’s different about the next-gen Insignia?
It’s slightly bigger car than the existing Insignia. The body as a whole will grow slightly in length, but the wheelbase is about to stretch considerably – by as much as 10cm according to reports. Expect vast rear legroom, as a result
At the same time, it’ll lose a great deal of weight compared with the current model. The new Vauxhall Astra has chopped a chunky 130kg on average from the outgoing model’s mass, and the new Insignia is following a similarly extreme diet – with a mooted weight loss of 200kg.
When the disguise comes off in its entirety, the 2017 Insignia is expected to display many styling cues from the Monza concept of the 2013 Frankfurt show – although naturally they’ll appear rather less dramatic on the narrower, taller production car’s body.
Previously, we’d spotted an aggressive-looking prototype of the second-gen Insignia being tested at the Nürburgring. Our spy photographers said that it wasn’t a high-performance VXR version, however – and that it was reputedly a car being used to check out the chassis dynamics when larger wheels are fitted.
However, that test car sported Cadillac-branded calipers, presumably lifted from the GM parts bin for testing purposes – and they’re far bigger than the standard Insignia’s stoppers. Perhaps they were only fitted to prevent braking issues during testing, or perhaps it wasn’t a cooking model…
Will there still be a four-door saloon version?
No, that’s been cut. The 2017 Insignia will be five-door hatch or Sports Tourer estate only. Expect the wagon to follow around six months after the launch of the hatchback.
What kind of toys will there be to play with?
The latest spy shots granted us our first look at the upcoming car’s interior. It’s a pretty conventional affair but – like the current version – a more modern-looking digital instrument cluster will probably be on offer as an option.
Fitting a digital cluster would at least fulfil some of the promise of the Monza concept’s interior – although it’ll likely considerably scaled down from its sweeping full-width digital dash.
The new interior is likely to additionally feature a heads-up display. Like the rest of the latest Vauxhall range, the Insignia will come with Opel’s ‘OnStar’ in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and concierge services.
When can I see it?
Word on the grapevine is that the new Insignia will make its official debut at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show.
Read CAR magazine’s Vauxhall Insignia reviews
