Opel Insignia, elue 'Car of the year' in Europe

Finally, good news for General Motors-builder who through his Europeenne division Opel has just seen the new Insignia model, adorned with the title of 'Car of the year. Although the Opel brand that benefits most from this appointment, it goes without saying that the British Vauxhall division, will also benefit from this global media coverage.

Vectra, Aura, Insignia

No, this is not Latin. After three generations of loyal and good services, the Opel Vectra range derives its reverence. It will be replaced in the beginning of the year 2009, a new range of cars CALLED Insignia.

The current generation of the Opel Vectra, particularly in its sedan version is the one that has served the development of the North-American version, called Saturn Aura, laureate of the title of 'Car of the year' in 2007, awarded in part of the auto show in Detroit.

A less radical decisions taken by GM, one can easily imagine that the Opel Insignia sedan, could in turn provide the basis for development of the second generation of the Saturn Aura, scheduled for 2011.

Opel / Vauxhall Insignia (Europeenne)

The Insignia range comprises three complementary models. At first, it was the sedan that took the lead, followed by the five-door hatchback versions and break (family), as say our French cousins.

Cote aesthetic, this particular car in its sedan version presents a very accomplished and very slender, even sensual silhouette is very similar lines very inspired by the Volkswagen Passat CC, its direct rival.

Under the hood of the new cars has dual nationality German and English, no less than seven different engines, there are proposed to serve different European auto markets. All these mechanical blocks already meet European environmental standards EURO 5, regarded among the most severe in the world. Thus, gasoline engines available 4L V6 and see their power range between 115 and 260 horsepower, while a new family of direct injection turbodiesel engines 2.0 liters, was born. The power delivered by these engines range between 110 and 160 horses.

The 'Car of the year' in 2009

These are 58 journalists representing 23 European countries who participated in the nomination. Initially, they were 37 vehicles that fought this very title envy and seven of them found themselves in the final. The winner, the Opel Insignia by harvesting 321 points after the Ford Fiesta (320) VW Golf VI (223) Citroen C5 (198) Alfa Romeo MiTo (148), Skoda Superb (144) and finally the Renault Megane ( 121).