Test drive Opel Insignia sedan since 2008 sedan

View of "premium"

Residents of the Austrian Salzburg are respectful of history. They remember that the first tunnel was dug in their city. Mozart and the dietrich Matheshits, the inventor Red Bull, who lives here, honor. Will they remember that the riding presentation of Opel Insignia, which recently became a European car of the year 2009, passed here?
The name of the Opel model, in the current fashion, is synthetic. However, in terms of the exterior, Insignia is not an example of natural purism. According to Mark Adams, vice president in the design of the European branch of GM, insignia brings emotions and passion, characteristic of future models to the Opel brand. And it is precisely for this that many seemingly extra elements work.
The wing-boomerang selected as a logo of the model is visible from any angle: daylights in front and overall lights from behind. The same form and substetricians on the front doors.
You will not hide from the wings and in the cabin. Cracked inner wings door handles. Inserts in a torpedo from expensive plastic at the level of sensations are fenced off the driver and passenger with winged arms from the dangers of the outside world. And this hint is quite justified. Naturally, the usual equipment that is responsible for passive safety is on board in full set.
New players appeared in the Active Security team. In everyday use, the most striking of them will be the AFL+system, completely taking on the control of the head light. At the same time, its genius lies not in the seven operating modes or cunning of the control of the luminous flux form, but in the fact that in two days of the desire to turn on something, contrary to the solution of automation, it never arose, despite the kaleidoscopic change in the weather and illumination conditions.
Another innovation of the Opel Eye system. Thanks to her, you do not need to remember which sign just traveled, but did not consider: they (signs), in the form of icons, are displayed on the dashboard display. In addition, the eye warns of the intersection of the marking line.
It is believed that such systems wake up a doomed driver. Alas, the sound signal and the drawing on the Insignia display are unlikely to be capable of this, unlike the Citroen vibrating chair. However, in Russia good markings are still in short supply, and most roads are equipped with vibro effects.
These are flowers, but in terms of berries at Opel Insignia, everything is in order. What is at least a mechatron chassis, the behavior of which on the road depends not only on the mechanics, but also on the dictated by the electronics of Flexride shock absorbers, the steering wheel and sensitivity to pressing the gas pedal.
It is even more interesting if the car is equipped with an ADAPTIVE 4X4 all -wheel drive system with an optional ELSD system, which allows to distribute the moment between the wheels of the rear axle in an arbitrary proportion. It is in this case that the Insignia orchestra gathers in full force. The chip is that the machine does not need to feel the slipping of the front wheels in order to throw part of the moment into the rear axle: when the first gear is turned on, still motionless insignia is ready for an energetic start. If you overestimate its capabilities in the turn, the stabilization system throws the moment between the wheels, rolling the car into a turn, and does not strangle the motor and speed with the brakes.
But all this is relevant when you want to anneal, which helps the Sport flexraide. Two modes (of the three main) systems are designed to provide comfort. In default, Insignia is moderately tough. Just right for European cities and Russian capitals. And for distant intercity trips on the torpedo, a Tour button is displayed, which translates the car into the most comfortable mode. In such insignia, it seems that from Paris to the find, connect their German autobahn, not so far.
In this case, Opel offers the Hot Shot system, which pours the windshield first with a stream of steam, and only then heated water, and the magnificent driver's seats with 17 adjustments and a sliding pillow. Oh, not in vain during the presentation infrequently, but the concept of premium sounded persistently.
Nevertheless, in the direction of active driving of references in Insignia, more. Bertrand Bach, deputy. The main designer of the model, during the presentation, did not get tired of repeating: sexy, emotional, compartment! Coupe! And the factor of the frontal resistance in Insignia as in the record in this regard, the Opel Calibra coupe: CD 0.26!
And during the presentation on the screen, a photo of a cult, but absolutely not practical double Opel GT of the 1968 model, it was successful that alpine serpentines were at hand, on which Insignia that the front, that all-wheel drive stands with the persistence of the trolley of American slides. The top, at the moment, the 2.8 V6 Turbo engine about 260 horses is also hinted at the merchant aura. We got less hot, but more practical versions. Of the three tested options, more than others liked the combination of a two-liter of a 220-horsepower gasoline ecothek and an automatic gearbox. Smooth and muscular acceleration, smart switching of automatic transmission ranges both on the highway and in urban conditions are quite combined with claims of insignia to defended solidity.
Versions with mechanics left a dual impression. It seems that the euro-5 is incompatible to the stream moment on the bottoms: what's the gasoline, what diesel engines. On the other hand, a 160-horsepower turbodiesel and 2.0 Turbo 220 liters pleased in motion. With. In combination with all -wheel drive transmission.
The magnificent selectivity of the gearbox drive provokes to play with transmissions, but the calm movement is not contraindicated due to the enviable, with a working turbine, the elasticity of the engines.
In total, at the moment, Insignia can be equipped with one of the seven power units, of which four are combined with six ranges.
Next year, two more power units will be available to a turbocharged version of a 1.6-liter engine with a return of 180 liters. With. and 190-horsepower diesel biturbo. And the version in configuration with OPC with a 300-horsepower V6 is also expected.
In general, hold competitors! Moreover, the price of the base is 670,000 rubles. For the front-wheel drive sedan with 115-horsepower 1.6 in the Essentia configuration is quite attractive. Whether the initial InSignia will be deprived of most of the delicious options, as well as top versions, we will find out in February when Russian sales start
Text: Vlad Bobylev
Photo: Vlad Bobylev

 
 
   
 

Source: Wheel magazine [December 2008]