GM Launches Police-Specification Insignia with up to 260HP

General Motors' UK Special Vehicles division has pulled the wraps off the all-new police specification version of the Vauxhall Insignia that is available with all three body styles - four-door sedan, five-door liftback and the Sports Tourer estate pictured above. Police fleets throughout Britain can opt among three versions of the car equipped with either 2.0-litre 220HP turbo or a 2.8-litre 260HP petrol engine and all-wheel drive, or a 160PS 2.0 CDTi diesel with front-wheel drive.

The Police-spec Insignia comes equipped from the production line with all of the usual patrol car knickknacks including Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) cameras, Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) system, roof lightbar with 360 blues, side alley lamps, sirens and full comms radio equipment.

Opel Insignia OPC in Sports Tourer Form Spied Completely Undisguised!

If you were in any doubt that Opel and consequently, its British arm Vauxhall, was readying an estate version of the recently introduced Insignia OPC, here's the proof that you've been asking for. Carscoop's secret agent hit the jackpot with the Insignia OPC Sports Tourer snapping the car without a single trace of camouflage. Naturally, the German firm's Audi S4 Avant contender comes with a similar sports outfit to the sedan featuring a new front end with two large vertical intakes and a specific rear bumper with dual integrated exhausts.

The profile photos also show a roof spoiler and a new set of wheels. Like the sedan, the Insignia OPC Sports Tourer will ride on 19-inch alloys shod in 245/40 high performance tires while 20-inch lightweight forged wheels with 255/35 tires will be available as an option.

As you probably have already guessed by now, under the skin you'll find the same hardware used in the Insignia OPC sedan. In other words, a four-wheel drive chassis mated to a 2.8-liter V6 fitted with a twin-scroll turbo that generates an output of 325 horsepower and 400Nm or 295-lbs/ft of torque. Power is channeled to all wheels through a six speed manual gearbox. As with the sedan, the transmission is coupled to an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) that can feed torque to individual wheels.

A sportier suspension set up and beefier Brembo brakes with cross-drilled discs complete the changes.

Since it's almost certain that the Insignia OPC Sports Tourer will be a bit heavier than its sedan sibling, don't be surprised if you see slightly worst acceleration figures. For the record, the OPC-ized Insignia saloon hits the 100km/h mark in 6.0 seconds (0 to 60mph in 5.8 seconds). Top speed should remain the same at 250km/h or 155mph (electronically limited).

(The black colored Insignia pictured below is an OPC prototype scooped near the 'Ring)

Opel Insignia Tops the Charts in Europe, Over 100,000 Orders in the First Quarter

While in their home turf, General Motors as well as Ford and Chrysler are taking a beating from Japanese automakers in the sedan segments, across the pond, GM's Opel Insignia has topped the charts in the first quarter of the year surpassing all competition in the mid-size sedan category in Europe. According to Opel, more than 100,000 orders have been received for the Insignia that was crowned Europe's "Car of the Year 2009".

To keep up with demand, Opel has decided to add another three extra shifts at its Rüsselsheim plant in Germany in May.

"The Insignia is showing very good conquest potential, all the way to customers of classic premium brands," says Alain Visser, Vice President Opel at General Motors Europe. "It is a symbol of our performance and ability – it shows what Opel can do."

Unfortunately for GM, the American automaker's economic woes may lead the German brand to the hands of Fiat by the end of the year.

Opel Insignia Sports Tourer Tweaked by Steinmetz

Having already meddled around with the sedan and liftback (five-door) versions of the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia, German tuning house Steinmetz is now completing its offerings with the introduction of a sports package for the Sports Tourer model that will premiere at this week's Tuning World Bodensee. Its appearance is upgraded thanks to the addition of a new honeycomb grille, front spoiler that complies with the European directives on pedestrian protection, new tail pipes and a two-piece roof spoiler.

The Sport Tourer's looks are complemented by a set of 20-inch alloy wheels available in white or black finish, shod in chunky 245/35 R20 rubber. There's also a lowering kit that brings the car approximately 25mm closer to the ground that further enhance the sporty look.

As far as the interior goes, Steinmetz offerings are limited to a set of foot mats and aluminum sport pedals.

New Vauxhall Insignia ecoFLEX with 160HP and 54.7mpg UK

GM's British arm, Vauxhall, has introduced a new eco-friendly version of the Insignia to the UK market. The Insignia ecoFLEX is powered by a 2.0-liter CDTi diesel engine that produces 160HP and 350Nm from 1750-2500 rpm, with overboost to 380Nm. This is the same engine used in the standard 2.0 CDTi model, however, thanks to a series of fuel-saving measures that include improved aerodynamics and the use of low resistant tires, the ecoFLEX achieves a combined fuel economy figure of 54.7mpg UK (45.6mpg US or 5.2lt/100km), or 10 percent improvement over the 2.0 CDTi.

Vauxhall claims that the new derivative of the Insignia can achieve a top speed of 135mph or 217km/h, while the 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint takes 8.9 seconds.

The new Insignia ecoFLEX will be initially available in five-door hatch and four-door saloon versions and in all trim levels apart from SRi. In the U.K., prices start from £19,600 OTR for the Exclusiv model.

Hatchback and Saloon	On- the-road
S	£20,945
Exclusiv	£19,600
Exclusiv Nav	£20,395
SE	£22,900
SE Nav	£23,195
Elite	£24,950
Elite Nav	£25,745

Buick Considering Opel Models for its U.S. Range, Including the Insignia

For those that know a thing or two about the auto industry, GM's decision to get rid of Saturn automatically meant that there was a strong possibility that the brand's current and future planned Opel-based portfolio could pass onto Buick which will remain along with Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and most likely, Pontiac, under the umbrella of General Motors. Apparently, the same thought has crossed the minds of GM's people.

Citing inside sources from the company who asked not to be named, Bloomberg reported that General Motors officials are considering the option of expanding Buick's U.S. range which now consists of just three vehicles, the Enclave SUV, the 2010 LaCrosse and 2009 Lucerne sedans, with the Saturn Vue compact SUV (Opel Antara) and other Opel based models including the Insignia. The latter is already sold in China as the Buick Regal.

If GM goes ahead with this plan, the Insignia would find a place right under the 2010 LaCrosse in Buick's range, and yes, this could mean that we might see the Insignia OPC with its AWD system and 325HP V6 engine heading towards our way.

Another model that could make it here would be the next-generation Opel Astra that's due to be revealed at the Frankfurt Show in the fall of 2009. The subcompact model will be available in various body styles, including a five-door hatchback, a sporty, coupe-like three-door hatch, a hardtop-convertible coupe and a minivan in the form of the Zafira.

However, as good as this may sound when you read about it on blogs and news websites, we reckon that in order for this move to have a chance at success, General Motors will have to revaluate Buick's position in the group and more importantly, pour some serious cash into the marketing department so as to convince / inform buyers of the reshaping of the brand. Badge-replacing and a new waterfall grille simply won't do the trick.

Source: Bloomberg

VIDEO: Opel Insignia OPC - Vauxhall Insignia VXR in Motion

Watch the first promotional film on the all-new Opel Insignia OPC that sports a 325-horsepower 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine and an adaptive four-wheel drive system with an electronic rear limited slip differential. Opel claims that its high-performance sports saloon reaches a top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph (restricted) and sprints from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in six seconds The Insignia OPC, which will be badged in the UK as the Vauxhall Insignia VXR, will make its world debut on May 7 at the Barcelona Motor Show with pan-European sales scheduled to begin this fall.

Opel Insignia OPC with 325HP Turbocharged V6 and AWD: First Official Photos and Details

Click Here for a Video of the Insignia OPC

The first official photos of Opel's high-performance Insignia OPC are finally out in the open. The new sports sedan from GM's European unit that will be sold in the UK under the name Vauxhall Insignia VXR has been designed to compete against the likes of the Audi S4 and its ilk. However, it is expected that the Insignia OPC will be priced lower than most of its rivals. The top-grade Insignia comes with a specially modified version of GM's 2.8-liter twin-scroll turbo V6 engine that produces a satisfying 325HP and 400Nm of torque channeled to all four wheels.

The first ever four-wheel drive Opel OPC model also benefits from a new electronically controlled, rear limited slip differential (eLSD) which can transfer up to 40% of torque to whichever (rear) wheel has more grip. This is the same system that is used on the Saab 9-3 Turbo X.

Four-wheel drive system and eLSD aside, Opel's engineers have also fiddled around with the Insignia's suspension system as well as with the brakes. Stopping power is now provided by a set of Brembo vented and cross drilled discs.

Opel claims that it's hot Insignia can accelerate from standstill to 60mph (96km/h in 5.8 seconds (0 to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds) and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph or 250 km/h. In comparison, the Audi S4 with its 333HP 3.0 TFI V6 goes from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 5.1 seconds, almost a second faster than the OPC.

If you liked the standard Insignia's appereance -and we don't see any reason why you shouldn't- then you're going to love the OPC. Without going haywire, the German manufacturer's styling team beefed up the Insignia's looks with a new front bumper with tear-like air scoops at both corners that is directly inspired from the GTC coupe concept, side sills, a discreet boot lid spoiler and a new rear bumper that houses two large matte chrome tailpipes. The package is rounded off with newly designed 19-inch alloys while buyers will also be able to opt for 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the OPC gains a set of Recaro front seats, a new three-spoke leather steering wheel and a different gearknob for the six-speed gearbox plus a redesigned instrument cluster.

Sales of the new Opel Insignia OPC are scheduled to begin in Europe this autumn.