Vauxhall has released official details on its next-generation Insignia hatchback, which will be fully revealed to the public in March during the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.
Official images of the new Insignia in disguised form have also been released. The new full name for the large five-door family hatchback is Insignia Grand Sport.
While it’s predictably difficult to figure out much of the styling underneath the car’s current testing disguise, the front grille does appear to have a similar design to the current Astra hatchback launched last year.
More practical and lighter than predecessor
Using a completely different architecture to its predecessor, the new Insignia Grand Sport has a considerably longer wheelbase by over 9cm but has shorter front and rear overhangs. That means the car is just 5.5cm longer than its predecessor but should offer a significantly more practical cabin, even though the roofline is lowered by 3cm.
Vauxhall also says that thanks to the extensive use of lightweight materials, the new Insignia is 175kg lighter than the previous gen and it will feature “cutting-edge technology on board”.
Engines are set to include a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 163bhp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The Insignia Grand Sport with this unit will be able to record over 50mpg combined.
Also available will be a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit boasting 247bhp connected to a four-wheel drive powertrain with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Diesel options are likely to include 1.6 and 2.0-litre units and, like with the previous Insignia, the diesel engines are expected to largely outsell their petrol counterparts.
