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July 23,
2008
This Week:
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Double Premiere at London Motor
Show for Opel Insignia

Rüsselsheim/London - At the
British International Motor Show (July 23 – August 3) Opel
presents to the public for the first time both the four-door
notchback and five-door hatchback versions of its new flagship
car, the Insignia.
The new Opel Insignia highlights
breathtaking design: Both body styles boast a flowing, muscular
yet elegant silhouette with a coupé roofline. Designers of the
new car deliberately created similar versions to retain the
beauty of Opel’s latest mid-sized car. The length of both the
notch and hatchback, at 4,830 mm, and the wheelbase of 2,737 mm
remain the same.
The Insignia’s fuel consumption,
CO2 emissions and driving dynamics benefit from the aerodynamic
efficiency that was perfected during more than 650 hours in the
wind tunnel. The result: A class-leading drag coefficient of
0.27.
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Offering both the notchback and
hatchback from the start is particularly important for markets
such as the U.K. and France, where 5-door sedans traditionally
enjoy a high market share of the mid-size class segment. German
and Spanish customers, on the other hand, generally prefer
notchback sedans. Prices for the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria
and Switzerland will be announced July 22 in London and cars
will hit German dealerships before the end of the year. Opel
expects both models to sell in about equal numbers. |
From the beginning, the Insignia
will be launched with a broad line-up of motors. Seven engines
will be available; all meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come
coupled with six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines
range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp.
Three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed
for the Insignia feature a displacement of 2.0 liters and power
outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp.
The newly developed chassis can be
enhanced with the innovative, integrated FlexRide mechatronic system, as
well as the sophisticated Adaptive 4x4. Its lightning-fast distribution
of torque over the four wheels ensures top stability and traction while
improving dynamic handling performance.
Photo: GM
(July 21, 2008)
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