The Opel Insignia is a large family car (D-segment in Europe) developed and produced by the German car manufacturer Opel from 2008 to 2022. Taking its name from a 2003 concept car, the model line serves as the flagship model, slotted above the Astra and Corsa in size. The Insignia serves as the successor to both the Signum and Vectra model lines, replacing both vehicles under a single nameplate. The model line was offered in four-door sedan/saloon body styles, five-door liftback, and as a five-door station wagon/estate.
Sold worldwide, the Insignia is marketed under multiple nameplates. Under Opel tradition, the model line is marketed by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, taking on the Vauxhall Insignia name. Both generations of the model line have been marketed in North America and China as the Buick Regal (sales of the Regal continue in China). In South America, the vehicle was originally due to be marketed as the Chevrolet Vectra, but went on sale as the Opel Insignia instead. GM Australia marketed the second-generation Insignia as the Holden Commodore (ZB) until discontinuing both the model line and the Holden brand at the end of 2020.
The launch vehicle of the GM Epsilon II platform, Opel produces the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia in Adam Opel AG Werk Rüsselsheim in Rüsselsheim, Germany. SAIC-GM produces the Buick Regal in Shanghai, China (exclusively for the Chinese market).
In February 2022, Opel confirmed that the Insignia would be discontinued after the model completes its current generation lifecycle at the end of the year without a successor planned, due to poor sales and plans to shift Opel into selling the Astra, Corsa and SUVs like the new Frontera.
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History In December 2006, Vauxhall stated they would retire the Vectra nameplate from the previous model. Then General Motors Europe president, Carl-Peter Forster, explained that the all new car would be "a radical departure" from the current model and that the "Vectra" name would be dropped to reflect this change. In late 2007, Vauxhall confirmed that the successor's name would be Insignia.
With the Insignia, Opel planned to regain some of the market share that the executive Omega once occupied during its production.
First generation (G09; 2008)
The Insignia debuted as the Vauxhall Insignia at the 2008 British International Motor Show in London on 23 July. It then went on sale in European dealerships in October 2008 for the 2009 model year as a five-door liftback and five-door estate dubbed Sports Tourer – a departure for Opel which traditionally used the "Caravan" name to denote the estate bodystyle. It was the first production car to be based on the Epsilon II platform, which was also used on other models such as the 2010 Saab 9-5 and the Chevrolet Malibu.
Design wise, the Insignia offers more knee room than the Vectra. The saloon and liftback variants have the same length, while the estate version is slightly longer at . All three models share the same, wheelbase.
The Insignia also marked the debut of redesigned badges for both the Opel and Vauxhall brands. For Vauxhall, it was the first car to dispense with the characteristic "V" grille that has adorned Vauxhall models since 1994, which had helped differentiate them from the otherwise identical Opel models.
The Insignia was also the first Opel to debut many new and improved safety features, including:
Improved adaptive Forward Lighting – bi-xenon, gas discharge headlamps with variable light beam distribution in width, direction and range. Advanced Front-Lighting System (AFS), static cornering light, complemented by daytime running lights with LEDs. Sensors and software monitor the surroundings, traffic and weather conditions so that the system can activate the appropriate lighting function. Opel Eye – This uses a camera at the top of the windscreen to monitor the area in front of the vehicle. Information from the camera is continuously analysed to identify road markings and traffic signs. Road markings are used as the basis of the first of Opel Eye's two functions: lane departure warning. Traffic signs are recognised and indicated to the driver in the second function: traffic sign memory. At speeds above , Opel Eye warns the driver if the car is about to veer inadvertently out of the lane in which it is travelling. The system can detect road markings and, if they are sufficiently distinct, unmarked road edges. The Insignia was the first production car to feature a dual function frontal camera with traffic sign recognition.
A small number (17 examples) of the Insignia OPC were modified by Erich Bitter and sold as the "Bitter Insignia". Only available with the 2.8 Turbo engine, these luxurious derivatives received a new front clip and other exterior modifications, as well as a more luxurious, all-leather interior, where as much plastic as possible was replaced with other materials.
Pre-facelift
Markets
OPC In early 2009, Opel revealed the Insignia OPC, a high performance variant of the Insignia. Like the preceding Vectra OPC, it is powered by a 2.8 litre single-turbo V6 (Manufactured in Melbourne, Australia).
The updated engine makes and . Of this 435, are available from 2,000 rpm. It is paired with a six speed manual transmission / six-speed automatic transmission and Saab's (Haldex) active all wheel drive system. The Insignia OPC has a modified MacPherson strut front suspension called HiPerStrut which reduces torque steer.
Also standard is an electronic limited-slip differential for the rear wheels and Opel's FlexRide adaptive suspension, which has three settings (OPC, Sport, and Normal). An OPC version of the Insignia Sports Tourer wagon was also unveiled. In April 2011, Opel launched the Insignia OPC Unlimited, with no speed limiter.
Country Tourer The Opel Insignia Country Tourer made its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 as a crossover-styled station wagon.
Facelift A major facelift was introduced in June 2013, with new exterior and interior styling, new engines, and new safety features. The car officially premiered at the September 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, before going on sale later in 2013.
The new design includes a newly designed cockpit with a simplified control panel and two eight inch colour displays, a four way infotainment system via new a touchpad in the centre console, an eight-inch touchscreen, steering wheel controls, voice command, radar and camera based driver assistance and safety systems, such as full speed adaptive cruise control and imminent collision braking, rear camera, lane change assistance, blind spot alert, and rear cross traffic alert.
The second generation Insignia was revealed in December 2016, and was reported to be renamed Insignia Grand Sport.
Engines
2008–2013 From launch, the Insignia was offered with four petrol engines:
1.6 L ; 1.8 L ; 2.0 L Turbo ; 2.8 L V6 with –
and three diesel engines (all derived from the Fiat/GM JTD engine), all displacing 2.0 litres:
2.0 L ; 2.0 L ; 2.0 L .
In 2009, a 1.6 L Turbo petrol , the ecoFLEX diesels, and the OPC versions were introduced.
From September 2010, the 2.0 CDTi diesel engine gained Adaptive 4x4 as an option. A 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI developed with the help of Saab, with , was expected to begin production in 2010. Due to the sale of Saab, production was delayed until 2012. The BiTurbo CDTI was offered with front- or four-wheel drive. All engines have a six speed manual transmission as standard, with some engines having an automatic transmission as an option.
Since launch, all diesels have improved their emissions. In 2011, some engines gained Start/Stop, all diesel engines have this option, with more petrol engines expected to gain the technology in the future. A 1.4 Turbo , with S/S as standard, became available - replacing the 1.8 - and the 2.0 Turbo with four-wheel drive was upgraded to ; the front-wheel drive 2.0 Turbo still had .
In 2009, a new range of ecoFLEX diesel engine offered same amount of power, but less CO2-emission (g/km) and fuel consumption. The 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX with and have emission of only 114 CO2-emission (g/km), as well as a version with 2.0 CDTI 4x4. The Bi turbo diesel engine has 129 CO2-emission (g/km).
Petrol enginesModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNote(s)Year(s)1.4 Turbo S/SI41,364 cc at 4,900–6000 rpm at 1850–4,900 rpm2011–131.6 VVTI41,598 cc at 6,000 rpm at 4,000 rpm2008–121.6 TurboI41,598 cc at 5,500 rpm at 2,200–5,500 rpm 1.8 VVTI41,796 cc at 6,300 rpm at 3,800 rpm2.0 TurboI41,998 cc at 5,300 rpm at 2,000-4000 rpm A20NHT (non-flex fuel version of A20NFT)2008–132.0 Turbo 4x4I41,998 cc at 5,300 rpm at 2,000-4000 rpm 2008–112.0 Turbo 4x4I41,998 cc at 5,300 rpm at 2,400–3,600 rpm 2011–132.8T 4x4V62,792 cc at 5,500 rpm at 1,900–4500 rpm 2008–132.8T 4x4V62,792 cc at 5,500 rpm at 5,500 rpmOPC/VXR2009–13Diesel enginesModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNote(s)Year(s)2.0 CDTII41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpmN/A in UK2.0 CDTII41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpm 2.0 CDTII41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpm 2.0 CDTI 4x4I41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpm 2010–132.0 CDTI Bi-TurboI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpm 2012–132.0 CDTI Bi-Turbo 4x4I41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2500 rpm 2012–13
2013–2017 Alongside the facelift of 2013 came a new range of engines – some existing, some tweaked, and some brand new. Diesel engines available at launch include the 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX (also with Start/Stop), with outputs of 120 PS, 140 PS, and 163 PS and the existing 195 PS BiTurbo. There is also a non ecoFLEX engine with 130 PS which is only available with automatic transmission.
Petrol engines include the existing 1.4 Turbo and 1.8 (only on some markets), and the all new 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine introduced in the Cascada, and new 2.0 SIDI Turbo.
All engines come with a six speed manual gearbox as standard, with a six speed automatic available as an option on the 1.6 and 2.0 SIDI turbo petrol engines, and the 2.0 CDTI 163 PS and 195 PS diesel engines. All petrol and diesel engines have a Start/Stop system except the 2.0 CDTI with 130 PS.
In September 2014, Opel introduced its all new generation of engines – large diesel engine, starting with 2.0 CDTI engine with 170 PS and 400 Nm, which is a part of new strategy in which Opel will introduce 17 new engines in a period from 2014 to 2018. The new engine became available from the end of 2014/beginning of 2015.
Petrol enginesModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNote(s)CO2 (g/km)Year(s)1.4 Turbo S/SI41,362 cc at 4,900–6000 rpm at 1850–4,900 rpm1231.6 SIDI Turbo S/SI41,598 cc at 4,250 rpm (overboost ) at 1,650–4,250 rpm 1391.8 VVTI41,796 cc at 6,300 rpm at 3,800 rpm1642.0 SIDI Turbo S/SI41,998 cc at 4,500 rpm at 2,000–4,500 rpm A20NFT (used in Astra J GTC VXR/OPC)169Diesel enginesModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorqueNote(s)CO2 (g/km)Year(s)1.6 CDTII41,598 cc at 4,000 rpm at 2,000 rpm 109-1042015–171.6 CDTII41,598 cc at 4,000 rpm at 2,000 rpm 104-992015–172.0 CDTI ecoFLEX S/SI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm (overboost ) at 1,750–2,500 rpm 992013–152.0 CDTII41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm (overboost ) at 1,750–2,500 rpmOnly with AT1192013–152.0 CDTI ecoFLEX S/SI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm (overboost ) at 1,750–2,500 rpm 992013–152.0 CDTI ecoFLEX S/SI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm (overboost ) at 1,750–2,500 rpm 1142013–152.0 CDTI ecoFLEX S/SI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,500 rpm 1142014–172.0 CDTI Bi-Turbo ecoFLEX S/SI41,956 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750–2,500 rpm 1252013–15
Awards Since making its début, the Opel Insignia has won more than fifty national and international awards, including 'Best Executive Car' in the United Kingdom and Slovenia, 'Best Family Car' in Ireland twice, and best car for fleet customers in the United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, and Portugal. The Insignia was voted 2009 European Car of the Year. The Insignia scored a five star rating in EuroNCAP.