It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of the 2008 British Motor Show – and it has made a spectacular touch down on UK soil!
As part of an elaborate publicity stunt, the new Vauxhall Insignia was hidden in a futuristic capsule, which was left lodged in the ground next to London’s Tower Bridge all weekend.
Intended to look like an unidentified flying object that had crash landed from outer space, the capsule was then hoisted out of the ground by a huge crane. The new Insignia then dropped down to the ground in dramatic style as the world’s media looked on. Both four and five-door versions were then revealed.
The world premier took place a day before the first press day of the British Motor Show, where the Vectra-replacing model will soon go under the scrutiny of the public. The first buyers will take delivery at the end of the year.
And it’s no coincidence that the Insignia’s dramatic unveiling took place in the same city that the Corsa was flown into under a helicopter two years ago. The firm explained, “everything we launch here turns to gold.â€
Whether the new family car will be as successful as its supermini sibling remains to be seen. It will depend largely on how much the Insignia will cost to buy – prices will be revealed on the show stand.
Si mult asteptatele preturi care din pacate sunt tot pt Anglia ...
The Vauxhall Insignia makes its much anticipated debut today at the British International Motor Show. With the Exclusiv package, the petrol 140PS 1.8-liter ECOTEC costs £15,935, while the 2.0-litre diesel is £16,935.
Standard equipment for the Exclusiv model includes ESP, automatic headlights, an electric driver’s seat height adjuster and electrically adjustable four-way lumbar support. Cruise control is also standard on this model, along with single-zone climate control, front, side and curtain airbags, Isofix and ABS. Other noticeable standard equipment include Front Camera System, which reads traffic signs and warns drivers if they veer out of their lane, next-gen AFL lighting and a heated windscreen wash system.
Joining the 1.8 ECOTEC engine, which is available with both 6-speed manual and automatic transmission, are two more petrol and two diesel. The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder makes a substantial 220 PS while the range topping 2.8-litre turbo V6 makes 260 PS and 350Nm of torque between 1900 and 4500rpm. All-wheel-drive is standard on 260PS V6 models, and optional on 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol cars. The two new 2.0-litre turbo-diesels are available with either 130 or 160PS.