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Opel Flagship Continues its Success Story

Opel Insignia – Model Year 2012 (short version)

2011-08-30

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Full Press Kit: Opel Flagship Continues its Success Story

Rüsselsheim.  Since making its debut, the Opel Insignia has won more than 50 national and international awards, including the especially prestigious title “Car of the Year”. Customers have affirmed this critical acclaim with great demand – over 400,000 units of the brand flagship have been sold to date. With new gasoline engines, technologies and equipment, the Insignia is set to continue its successful run in model year 2012.  

Three years of the Opel Insignia: Leader in Europe

It is not only the trade media and buyers who are praising the Insignia. In the DEKRA defects report 2011, Opel’s top model achieved the best result of all tested cars with an index of 96.1 percent defect-free vehicles. Due to continued high demand, Opel has shortened the works vacation in its Rüsselsheim plant. Compared to the first half of 2009 (about 73,300) and 2010 (more than 71,000), sales in the first half of 2011 rose to about 79,000 units.

In Great Britain the Insignia was the uncontested bestseller from January to June 2011 in the tough upper mid-size class segment. The five-door hatchback variant is number one in its category in Europe and in the important markets Germany and Great Britain. Taking all model variants into consideration, the Insignia range occupies second place in Europe, while the Sports Tourer station wagon version is also second in Europe and Great Britain. For the whole of 2010 the Insignia’s market share in the European “D-Segment” was 15.2 percent.

Insignia customers choose top equipment  

Customers are already impressed by the Insignia’s design quality. In addition, Opel also fulfills the expectations of even the most demanding premium customers with innovative technologies and high-grade equipment. 

The fact that customers are convinced by the additional product features is confirmed by the figures for the equipment variants. Throughout Europe, more than half of Insignia buyers opt for a navigation system, in Germany it is almost 90 percent. Two thirds (Europe) and 86 percent (Germany) choose the park pilot. With a quota of over 60 percent, large alloy wheels between 18 and 20 inches are particularly popular with customers in Europe, while in Germany every second Insignia is purchased with the ergonomic premium driver’s seat with the Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Action for Healthy Backs) seal of approval.

Buyers of the top Cosmo variant who select the Nappa leather package “Indian Summer” place special emphasis on exclusive interior design, and order additional premium features much more frequently than buyers who choose a vehicle without Nappa leather. With over 60 percent, twice as many buyers opt for the automatic transmission, while ten times as many select the top 2.8 V6 turbo engine. For the adaptive 4x4 all-wheel drive version the order rate is four times higher and for the trailer hitch twice as high.

New 1.4 turbo ecoFLEX gasoline engine  stands for fuel economy

In combination with the six-speed manual transmission, the new 1.4 turbo ecoFLEX powertrain is the most economical gasoline engine in the whole mid-size class segment. The highly efficient downsizing unit delivers 103 kW/140 hp and replaces the equally powerful 1.8-liter aspirated version. Insignia 1.4 turbo ecoFLEX standard equipment includes Start/Stop technology, electric power steering, aerodynamic underbody paneling and low-rolling-resistance tires.

Thanks to these measures the new 1.4-liter unit uses only 5.7 liters of premium gasoline for 100 kilometers, two liters less than its predecessor, while the CO₂ emissions are reduced accordingly by 45 grams to 134 grams per kilometer – a consumption and emissions reduction of more than 25 percent. Despite the smaller displacement, the torque delivered by the very economical gasoline engine was increased by almost 15 percent to 200 Nm.

Refinements to the transmission ratio ensure that the increase in efficiency is accompanied by perceptibly improved agility. With this engine variant the Insignia can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 10.9 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 205 km/h. In the Sports Tourer version it achieves the best values in the station wagon segment with consumption of 5.9 l/100 km and CO₂ emissions of 139 g/km.

2.0 turbo 4x4: Higher output and torque with reduced consumption

The new Insignia 2.0 turbo 4x4 with gasoline direct injection features 30 hp higher output and adaptive 4x4 all-wheel drive.  To achieve this, Opel engineers increased the boost pressure, optimized fuel injection and reduced flow losses in the intake and exhaust system. Completely constructed in aluminum, the 2.0 turbo has a range of high-tech features including a double-flow turbo charger with charge air cooling, two cam shafts with variable valve control and two balance shafts. It delivers 184 kW/250 hp while developing a maximum torque of 400 Nm (previously: 350 Nm).

The driving performance is accordingly impressive. The two-liter turbo can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h. With the optional Start/Stop system and low-rolling-resistance tires it was possible to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ values to 8.4 l/100 km and 197 g/km (without Start/Stop: 8.5 l/100 km / 199 g/km CO₂). The Insignia 2.0 turbo with front-wheel drive continues to deliver 162 kW/220 hp.

From 115 g/km CO₂: Thrifty diesel engines with optimum performance

The three 2.0 CDTI units with 81 kW/110 hp, 96 kW/130 hp and 118 kW/160 hp are now optionally available with the Start/Stop system. The Insignia 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX with 118 kW/160 hp shows just how effective this intelligent fuel-saving technology is: the sedan’s fuel consumption is reduced from an average of 4.9 to 4.3 liters of diesel per 100 km with CO₂ emissions of just 115 g/km.

The two-liter diesel engine, which has optimized combustion control and further reduced internal friction, already generates its maximum torque of 350 Nm (with overboost 380 Nm) at 1,750 rpm. The Insignia ecoFLEX with 118 kW/160 PS, six-speed manual transmission and Start/Stop system accelerates to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 221 km/h. The efficient diesel unit combined with the adaptive 4x4 all-wheel drive, which is available for all three body styles, provides the driver the dynamics and high active safety of an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Start/Stop: Effective fuel-saving technology

The Start/Stop system was developed by Opel and is optionally available for the 1.4-liter and 2.0-liter turbo gasoline units as well as for the diesel engines. It reduces engine idling times and thus fuel consumption as well as greenhouse gas emissions and noise – an advantage for all road users, especially in urban areas. For reasons of safety and passenger comfort, temperature controls and the brake booster vacuum control remain active during the Autostop phase. When deemed necessary, for instance in slow-moving stop-and-go traffic, the driver can manually deactivate the system with the “eco” switch

Precise response thanks to electric power steering

The newly developed Rack Assist Electric Power Steering (REPS) with speed-dependent power steering featured for the first time in the Insignia ensures enhanced driving dynamics. A significant advantage of the REPS system – alongside precise power dosage, response and excellent road surface contact – is the potential for fuel saving and thus a reduction in CO₂ emissions. As it does not permanently rely on a running hydraulic servo pump, the electric power steering is only active when it is required.

New Opel front camera with additional functions

The reworked Opel Insignia also offers further optimizations in terms of safety. The second generation of the multi-award-winning front camera “Opel Eye” forms the basis for additional innovative functions:

The Following Distance Indication helps to prevent collisions and possible fines for tailgating. The central driver display shows the distance away from the car ahead in seconds. If the Insignia gets into a critical situation where a collision with the preceding vehicle is imminent, its Forward Collision Alert warns the driver with a loud audible and visual warning. The driver can adjust the sensitivity of the feature over a control switch on the steering wheel.

The Traffic Sign Recognition identifies even more of the road signs commonly used in the EU. In addition to round signs, the new front camera now also recognizes rectangular signs e.g. Autobahn, and traffic-restricted zones. Due to multiple exposure technology, the detection rate of dynamic signs, e.g. on LED light bridges, is further improved. The combination of front camera and adaptive forward lighting AFL+ also includes a high-beam assist function.  

New generation of navigation and infotainment systems

In the new infotainment systems Navi 600 and Navi 900 Europa all of the map material is stored on SD cards. In addition to the default points of interest (POIs), further POIs can be downloaded and stored via USB connection on the device. Another practical feature: as well as the fastest and shortest routes, the navigation system also allows the selection of the most economical, i.e. the lowest fuel consumption routes.

The Navi 900 Europa system also offers a voice recognition and log book function – the latter with the option of separating private and business trips. An additional POI announcement informs the driver of points of interest in the direct proximity by audible signal, text or popup. As of the equipment variant “Edition”, a high-end sound system from hi-fi specialists Infinity is also available.

Premium equipment: Nappa leather “Indian Night”

The model year 2012 Insignia also offers enhanced comfort and style features. Opel’s top model is available on request with the new premium Nappa leather finish “Indian Night”, which is distinguished by a combination of high-quality black leather with contrasting stitching in an elegant Cognac tone. “Indian Night” supplements the “Indian Summer” trim introduced in 2010, which has warm orange and brown tones.

The multi-award-winning exterior design is refined by the new dark blue metallic lacquer “Luxor”, which also has blue-violet color reflections depending on the light. The Opel Insignia’s sporty, elegant silhouette will be rounded off in the coming months by a selection of new alloy wheels with striking rim designs.