With 10,000 kilometres of gruelling validation at the world's most fearsome and demanding test track now under their belt, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR hatch and saloon are set to raise the bar in their sector with a heady mix of high performance, practicality and sophisticated dynamics.
And now, adding even greater versatility to the range, Vauxhall can confirm that the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer will be the third body style to join the line up and will be available in UK dealerships this autumn, after enduring the same rigorous testing at the notorious Nürburgring Circuit.
Combining all the technical highlights of the VXR hatch and saloon with best in class-matching luggage capacity (rear seats up), the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer is not only the fastest estate car Vauxhall has ever produced, but also the first to incorporate Adaptive 4x4 and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD).
Like its saloon and hatch siblings, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer sits 10 millimetres lower than the regular Sports Tourer, and features the unique HiPerStrut system, which reduces torque-steer and maintains negative camber during cornering, thereby improving wet and dry grip levels.
Complementing these features are standard 19-inch alloy wheels (20-inch lightweight forged alloys are a cost option) with bespoke tyres, revised bushing and damper settings on both axles, and Brembo brakes with colour-keyed callipers and vented/cross-drilled discs.
And with 325PS, the Brembos are a must. Using a modified version of the 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 engine that's standard in the Insignia Elite model, the Sports Tourer VXR will hit 60mph from zero in 6.0 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.
Inside, the Sports Tourer's performance credentials are laid bare, with its front Recaro seats, VXR steering wheel and gearknob, as well as different instrument graphics, VXR sill plates and black headlining.
But where the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer really scores is in its versatility. With 540-litres of load space with the 40:60 split rear seats up, the SportsTourer matches the best in class. Drop the 40:60 split rear seats and you have a maximum load volume of 1530-litres.
Accessing this area has never been easier, thanks to the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer's standard electronic tailgate, which can be operated off the driver's key fob, or via a rotary knob on the inside of the driver's door. Using these functions, not only can the opening height of the tailgate be restricted, but it can also be pre-set at a lower level if you frequently park in a garage with a low ceiling.
Deeper bumpers, front mesh grilles and dual matt chrome exhausts are among the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer's visual armoury, complemented by a colour palette comprising Arden Blue, Power Red, Carbon Flash Black, Silver Lake, Olympic White and Technical Grey.
'The Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer will be a compelling alternative for buyers in the premium sector who may currently be considering an Audi S4 Avant or BMW 335i M Sport Touring,' said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. 'We've already seen a swing to the Insignia from premium buyers who'd never before ticked the Vauxhall box on their wish list, and we expect to see the same buying pattern emerge with all versions of the Vauxhall Insignia VXR.'
Officially known as the Vauxhall VXR8 Tourer, it is a part of the VXR8 range (which includes the saloon and Maloo pick-up ) and is the UK's largest estate...
In January 2007, the station wagon variant was awarded Estate Car of the Year 2007, by What Car? magazine. 188 kW (252 hp) version uses the VXR name in the UK...
Built on the Epsilon platform, the Opel Vectra C of March 2002 was initially available as a four-door sedan (saloon) and a five-door hatchback, known as...
In the United Kingdom the power of the High Feature V6 engine was increased to 188 kW (252 hp), giving a maximum speed approaching 250 km/h (155 mph).
In the UK, the hatchback is not considered a specialty model. In Australasia, the rebadged Holden Vectra ZC is considered more upmarket...
Vauxhall Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe feature styling upgrades to help them stand out on the road. A 10mm lower profile thanks to revised suspension...
From standard, the All-New Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer features the latest automated driver assistance systems. All models come with a Driver drowsiness system...
The 2016 Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is now on sale priced from £16,585 on-the-road, with first cars arriving in Vauxhall showrooms March 2016 after...
The new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer promises to boost the appeal of the new Astra still further. Bolstering Vauxhall's 12.6 per cent of the UK market...
The Astra Mark 5 was first launched in early 2004 as a five-door hatchback, which by the end of the year was joined by a five-door estate and a sporty...
The new VXR8's Eaton supercharger has 4-lobe rotors, 9psi boost and 1.9 litres of air per revolution. Unlike a turbocharged car, the Eaton supercharger...
The front-end design of the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R has bold graphics and shallow ramp angles that emphasise width and stance. The focal point of the new...
The storming Vauxhall VXR8 is back with a vengeance, packing heavily revised front- and rear-end styling, a new cabin and a raft of new technology to...
Although practical, with a spacious boot, comfortable, long-legged cruising ability and luxuries such as climate control and leather trim, the VXR8 is certainly...
Vauxhall has achieved the performance-oriented handling characteristics by equipping the All-New Vauxhall Astra GSe models with a dedicated chassis that is 10mm lower...
Astra continues Vauxhall's new bold and pure design language, featuring the instantly recognisable Vauxhall Vizor front end that houses the new Griffin logo.
The upper and lower portions of the new Vauxhall Astra's radiator grille automatically open and close independently of one another, further improving...
The new Astra is on sale, with first cars arriving in Vauxhall showrooms this October 2015 after its global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. One of...
In every respect, the Vauxhall Astra VXR is a more extreme version of the GTC, and nothing embodies the visual changes more than the new model's exterior...
Launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the all-new Vauxhall Astra is poised to raise the bar for compact cars sold in the UK, with a combination of...
Since the Vauxhall Astra GTC shares no body panels with either the Astra Hatch or Sports Tourer , it...
The original hot hatch Astra VXR was announced in January 2005 and went on sale in the summer of 2005. Based on the Vauxhall Astra Mark 5, it was fitted...
Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, Holden in Australasia, and Chevrolet in Latin America. In Russia, it is sold as both an Opel and a Chevrolet.
The MK5 has was the most successful version of the Astra. It was Britain's second-best selling car in 2005, 2006 and 2007, further narrowing the gap between...
Despite the economic malaise, Vauxhall Insignia - 2009 European Car of the Year - has been a resounding success, bucking a downward sales trend with more...
The next generation Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer is more practical than before; the overhang between bumper and boot has been reduced, thanks to...
The Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer is more spacious and considerably lighter than its predecessor, thanks to an all-new architecture, and comes with...
The Sports Tourer's rear styling embodies a similar wider and lower appearance. The main visual enablers are again the stretched chrome brand bar, also...
Vauxhall is set to add a rugged SUV-inspired all-purpose estate to its new Insignia range in late 2013. Known as the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer,...
With 10,000 kilometres of gruelling validation at the world's most fearsome and demanding test track now under their belt, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR ...
Despite the economic malaise, Vauxhall Insignia - 2009 European Car of the Year - has been a resounding success, bucking a downward sales trend with more...
Packing 325 horsepower, a sophisticated four-wheel-drive chassis and a sub-six second 0-60 time, Vauxhall Insignia VXR is set to take the mid-size...
The Opel Insignia GSi Sport Tourer's eye-catching sporty looks featuring chrome-edged front air-intakes and exhaust pipes as well as a distinctive...
The new Opel Insignia Sports Tourer is up to 200 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model - depending on powertrain and trim. This was mainly made possible...
Opel Insignia Country Tourer impresses with the same virtues as its Grand Sport and Sports Tourer siblings - it is spacious and considerably...
With 239 kW/325 hp and 435 Nm maximum torque, the Opel Insignia OPC is the ultimate top-of-the-line performer among Opel models. The all-wheel drive model...
The new Insignia family was completed when the Opel Insignia Country Tourer made its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. While its Sports...
The Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer will hit dealerships in late 2009, but first it has to go through hell - the Green Hell of the Nürgurgring's...
The new Opel Insignia Sports Tourer showcases the dynamic look of the new Opel midsize class in the station wagon segment and reflects this in its name.
+ 2.8-litre V6 twin-scroll turbocharged engine + 188 kW/255 hp and 355 Nm maximum torque + IDSPlus²: Second-generation adaptive chassis control system...
The cockpit makes a lighter, more elegant impression, thanks to the new contours of the instrument panel, the rounded corners of air vents and the...
Ford Mondeo Wagon Hybrid delivers the driving range and freedom offered by a traditional combustion engine with the efficiency and refinement of an electric powertrain.
All-new Ford Mondeo will feature a sports coupe profile with low roofline and incorporate a retractable panoramic glass roof for the wagon bodystyle.
This contributes to an improved aerodynamic drag for Ford Mondeo, down to 0.29 for the four- and five-door versions and 0.30 for the Ford Mondeo Wagon.
Ford has released the first images of the all-new Mondeo ahead of its world debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. The dramatic all-new Mondeo is designed to...
The ST220 produced 226 bhp (169 kW) from the newly developed 3.0-litre V6 engine, which made it capable of 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.6 seconds, and on to...
Facelift in 2003 saw the introduction of some new trim levels. Titanium and Titanium X slotted in between Zetec S and Ghia, and ST220 slotted in above ST.
The bodies of the Volkswagen Arteon R and Arteon R Shooting Brake are 20 mm lower as a result of this sports running gear; the lower centre of gravity and stiffer...
Behind the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake's rear seat bench is a luggage compartment capacity of up to 565 litres when loaded up to the rear seat backrest...
Volkswagen Passat Variant is the ideal touring and business vehicle thanks to the interplay of spaciousness, carefully coordinated high-quality materials, pleasant haptics...
The Volkswagen Passat will be the first Volkswagen that is capable of partially automated driving across practically the whole speed range (0 to 210 kmh).
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack is also a comfortable and fast touring car. The Passat Alltrack is available with a 2.0 TSI petrol engine with 200 kW (272 PS) or...
As the most successful German business car, the VW Passat represents a new type of business class - a transition car between the mid- and premium classes...
The second generation Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (generation I debuted in 2012) is immediately recognisable as an individually designed estate and SUV...
The Volkswagen Passat represents one of the very great success stories in automotive history, with over 15 million cars sold since the VW Passat was first...
Over the past four decades , well over 15 million Passat cars have been built. Along with its favourable all-round...
In August 2005, the sixth generation of the Volkswagen Passat Variant was launched in Germany. As early as September, it was launched in most of the other...
The Volkswagen Passat W8 Variant was a comfortable, well-built and luxurious large estate. 4.0 L W8 engine producing 275 PS (202 kW) was introduced in 2001.
In mid-2000, the Passat received a facelift, involving a minor tweaking of the styling and some mechanical alteration, the platform is now commonly known as B5.5....
The Mk 4 Volkswagen Passat was a very significant car in its class. Not only was it the first step of VW moving its products upmarket to plug a gap between...
The VW Passat was heavily facelifted in 1993, and as a result it has sometimes been referred to as the Mk IV Passat; Volkswagen even renamed the platform B4.
Only sedan and station wagon versions were available, without the fastback option of previous models. It was marketed under the Passat name in all markets.
The platform, named B2, was slightly longer and the car's updated styling was instantly recognisable as a Volkswagen Passat, with the most obvious difference...
Volkswagen Passat was one of the most modern European family cars at the time, and was intended as a replacement for the ageing Volkswagen Type 3, and as a...
Customers are more environmentally aware and are looking for efficient engines and driving pleasure. The new Peugeot 508 SW adds the practicality of its elegant silhouette...
With the launch of two new high-performance versions of the new Peugeot 508 Fastback and SW, Peugeot is unveiling the first model of its Peugeot Sport Engineered...
Consequently, New Peugeot 508 SW enjoys all the styling traits of the saloon's radical design. Its new proportions give it an extremely dynamic body shape.
The new Peugeot 508 reinforces the qualities recognised at the launch of the vehicle, whether in styling, the breadth and modernity of its equipment...
Adopting the HYbrid4 technology as standard, also available on the sedan, the Peugeot 508 RXH is a vehicle in a class of its own: its all road stance...
On the Peugeot 508 SW this in-car satisfaction is enhanced by the large panoramic glass roof. The boot too, is practical and accommodating, with a generous...
The Peugeot 508 RXH represents the new, up market positioned Peugeot. It sees the launch of an identity that combines the traditional designation of...