Test drive Opel Insignia sedan since 2008 sedan
Another Opel
When the first messages about Opel Insignia appeared, I immediately drew attention to the peculiarity of the computer perception of the name of the model. If the Word program perceived the word Opel as foreign and emphasized it with a red wavy line, then Insignia accepted at once and without objections, as a native. He became interested, climbed into the dictionary. It turned out that in translation from Latin Insignia means in one version a symbol or emblem, in another a distinctive feature or a characteristic feature. Very accurate name! For Opel, the new model really has become a symbol of the changes that occur in RUSESLCHAM. A deceiving impression
We can assume that at the Moscow International Motor Show in August I did not see this car. Or did not understand. As if one car flashed on the catwalk, and now, with a personal, so to speak, acquaintance was another. Which is not what surprised at the struck! In the open air, Insignia seemed to show new facets that somehow dissolved in artificial light.
Nothing in common with any of the models that have already entered the Russian market. In the parking lot in front of AMADEUS, one of the terminals of the Salzburg airport, there were some kind of limousines, I really did not know? No, perhaps not limousines. But cars are practically a representative class. The first thing that comes to mind. Direct, as if knife cuts with massive tutors of wheeled arches, completely new to Opel, head -on -light and other solution of the radiator grill. Huge cast discs of strict geometry with black edging of low -profile rubber. And the lean ass of a real athlete. Sprinter. Styer. Or a marathonber depends on what the future owner is counting on.
I managed to taste this car in a variety of Ipostas in the back of the sedan and hatchback, with a turbodiesel and a gasoline engine, with front and all -wheel drive. And, honestly, I am completely delighted with the car. Because despite the fact that in recent years Opel and GM have done a lot to make the brand revive in its former glory, Insignia is a high -quality not even a jump, but a jump forward. Four versions of Essentia, Ellegance, Sport and Cosmo will enter the market, and next year also with the Sport Tourer body. Athlete
So, here he is this silver-gray sedan-nonsense. Massive side faces, mowed roof racks, a slightly outstanding radiator bars, going down, on the front bumper, in which gills of the air intake and fog lights are hidden.
It stands, but it already looks swift thanks to the silhouette, which is emphasized by the test on the front door. Having passed over the threshold itself, it disappears in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear wheel arch. Or is it just going smoothly into it? The back is really narrowed, like an athlete that follows its form. The wedge of the trunk lids, the rear lights with the geometric inserts of the LEDs slightly entering the wings, the stylish Opel emblem spread out in the continuation of two chrome wings. And from under the trunk, two flattened pipes of the muffler peek out.
Well, what else to say, except for wow!: Only this year I happened to skate several Opel models, including the new Zafira, and Astra Sedan, and Corsa OPC, but here's a completely different matter! And the point is that Insignia really does not resemble what they were previously proud of Rüsselsheim. It is worthy of respect that the designers and designers simply put a blank sheet of paper in front of them and painted it. The task was set by the director of the GM design center Mark Adams: to create a completely new car that should combine sculptural expressiveness and German accuracy. True, the work was hard, and the path is long. The Germans showed the concept back in 2003, and the prototype last fall in Frankfurt. Only in July of this year did it come to the official premiere.
Five years from the concept to the serial model are a lot. But it must be taken into account that Rüsselsheim decided to once and for all abandon the stereotypes of the Vectra series, perceived all over the world as an inexpensive German family sedan. Now inexpensive is not about Opel. And the point here is not only in rubles or euro. The point is the surroundings.
Firstly, the sedan was given the appearance of the compartment, and the sedan is a little sedan. A considerable component in this appearance, according to designers, sexyness, which is difficult to disagree with. The silhouette is so licked that the actual resistance coefficient in Insignia is only 0.27.
Secondly, the interior decor has changed. Now it uses chrome and aluminum elements. The design of the dashboard and its backlight were changed: from amber it it has become energetic red. The salon itself can be dark or light beige (on the Cosmo version).
Thirdly, the power constructions of the body have been changed: the rigidity for twisting compared to Vectra increased by 19%.
Fourth, the maintainability of the car has increased: the spare parts are now easier to replace (this quality, fortunately, has not been able to check).
Fifth, seats. They are completely new, they have active head restraints and a ventilation system, which I quote GM representatives only on limousines from Stuttgart and Opel. The seats have adjustments in 18 directions, including 6.5 cm height and back and forth by 27 centimeters. They are really very convenient, have good side support. Plus, a popliterated roller is advanced in front. Moreover, it is advanced manually: the electrical control here is not put from saving the buyer's money. But the roller of the lumbar support, obeying me, floats along the back, finding the right position. What, hands are extended a little longer than I wanted? It's okay: a leather bagel of a multimedia steering wheel can be lowered a little lower and stretched out a few centimeters. Now convenient.
But in general, already tested, but from this no less popular surrounding the flying saucer. At the same time, the insignia salon is comfortable.
The central console is occupied by a bright screen of the navigation media system. Under it, the gap of the CD-Diski receiver and the sensory control buttons. Everything is clear at a subconscious level. Vernierov three: volume, setting and joystick.
But I do not find a parking brake. O! Instead, the key. To remove from the anchor, you need to press the brake and pull it down. The icon went out. Now the turn of the key and the miracle! Bright scarlet arrows, in Taulf, having spent all four dials, return to places. O-Bal-bast! By the way. Under the hood, seven engines four gasoline and three diesel engines can be hidden. The basis of the gasoline line is a 2-liter turbocharged motor with a direct fuel injection with a capacity of 220 hp. (This is exactly what we have to test now). There is a more powerful version of V6, 2.8 liters and 260 horses. There is just a 1.8-liter gasoline, and there is a modest 1.6. The volume of diesel engines is the same 2.0 liters. But the power is 110, 130 and 160 hp.
Next year, another gasoline engine and one diesel engine will be added to the line.
But back to the salon. Of course, the pre -production Insignia is not without sin. One was found right there, in the cabin. The upper facet of the driver's door with the top line of the front panel forms a noticeable threshold of 3-4 millimeter high. From the side of the passenger door, this is not. However, in the series they promise to fix it.
Another sin, at first causing inconvenience, the pedal node, placed as if in the tunnel in which the legs are buried. At the same time, the toe of the left boot, controlling the clutch pedal, all the time touches for something.
Well, reader, were convinced that I am objective?
Sprinter
The first race was a short distance from the force of three kilometers from the airport to the parking lot near the historical center of Salzburg, where the presentation was supposed to be held. However, by the end of the working day, on narrow and crooked streets, traffic plus all kinds of road repairs. We weave slowly. And despite the fact that under a hood of 220 hp! I confess a couple of times it stalled at a traffic light: all Insignia engines meet Euro-5 standards, which means that they are still strangled. But the steering wheel is enough to fit into any pretzel of local turns, and is very convenient on the serpentine of the rise to the scout parking. I just turned the steering wheel a little and practically did not change its position all four floors, screwing up around the fire elevator shaft.
Details of the presentation I miss have been said a lot, but something just has not yet found embodiment in metal, plastic, glass or skin. All these lotions of which will be discussed below were demonstrated at a special training ground that evening.
Thank God, Spechi and the buffet ended very quickly.
So, you can again on the road!
Again through the city, past the airport, to the mountains. Here the beauty is simply crazy: almost vertical cliffs are overgrown with still green fir trees and have already begun to yellow with trees. I don't want to drive at all! We go at a speed of 80 km/h: the police do not recommend more on the serpentine. Of course, the Austrians and especially the Germans sneezed these warnings, but Insignia gives a feeling of joy of managing themselves. And where to rush? Here, by the way, is a suitable platform for a photo shoot in yellow and red leaves. While my colleague and I enjoyed peace and silence, another Insignia flashed past, and I just waved her hand. The brakes screeched immediately, and the car stopped. The doors opened, the journalists jumped out: what happened? Do you need help? With a characteristic guttural reprimand, one asked. No, I answer, I just waved. The guys calmed down immediately. Where are you from?, I ask. From Georgia, one answered, as it seemed to me, a little embarrassed, but with a certain challenge. From the Rustavi TV channel. However, the challenge was in vain: I personally do not suffer from anti -Georgian or other anti -moods. By the way, these guys too.
Stayer
During the photo shoot, we made a fatal mistake drowned out the engine, and the navigation system, of course, also went into sleep mode. Actually, restart her trifle business, but we made a mistake with the destination. We would need a landfill in the mountains, and we introduced the name of the final point of a two -day test. And, taking the course from that site again, at the nearest intersection they turned not to the right, but to the left.
In general, they did not regret it at all. Firstly, very beautiful views. Although the road was so -so rained all the time, all -wheel drive allowed to relax a little (I think that we will tell you more about the all -wheel drive transmission in the winter when we twist the car well in the snow). By the way: at some point we came close to the border with Germany, judging by the fact that the mobile phone suddenly decided to update the time zone, and then the greeting came from the German cell operator.
But only when the familiar spiers of Salzburg appeared on the horizon, we worried. It turned out that the navigator did not led us to the test landfill, but to the place of the night. Of course, there is nothing wrong with an early dream, but
The system needed five seconds to recalculate the course, so we barely managed to thank the Austrian drivers to turn right, turn over the overpass and rush on the return trip. Again an airfield, a beautiful road between the mountains, that is the site on the odometer of almost one hundred extra kilometers. Here is the right turn, but
In place we need to be at 17.30, and the navigator shows the time of arrival 18.13. Are we late? Yes, somehow I don't want to. Well, it's time to check the high -speed capabilities of Insignia! Let us release all the horses?
The pedal is on the floor, and the car rushed from a place without slipping. On the serpentine, the speed is 110-120, at the straight line under 150, which is clearly not the limit. We overtake trucks according to the oncoming lane, since there is an intermittent marking everywhere. By the way, not a hint of ski, although the road is just after the rain!
And then the navigator began to change the forecast first we played for 4 minutes, then three more, then another five. In a word, we arrived at the place of demonstration at 17.53, late about 20 minutes. Fortunately, the journalist brothers never come in time.
Zorn's eye What the AFL adaptive headlights and the new Opel Eye system were promised to show us at the training ground.
I think that the adaptive headlights AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting) today will not be surprised today, especially since this is OPEL’s own development, which appeared on SIGNUM and VECTRA models back in 2003. Since then, many auto companies have been using the same rotary optics covering the turning area. On Insignia there is a new AFL: the electronic sensors of the car measure its speed, the angular displacement around the vertical axis and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel. They determine whether it is raining or not. The auxiliary optical sensor monitors the profile of the road, driving style and visibility conditions. All this information enters the control unit, which selects the optimal operating mode of lighting devices in specific conditions.
You also need to mention the auxiliary system for high light. Speaking briefly: the automation itself turns on the high light to better illuminate the road, and it turns it off itself if the oncoming bunch of headlights falls into the field of view of the optical sensor. In urban conditions, at a speed of up to 50 km/h, a beam of light becomes symmetrical, and up to 30 km/h illuminates pedestrian areas: the lighting area expands in both directions by 8 degrees. there are also modes when driving along the highway, in rainy weather, etc.
I liked the Opel Eye system. The video camera installed between the windshield and the salon mirror makes 30 shots per minute, and even in the dark is capable of reading the readings of road signs, projecting them onto the tripe-computer display and, most importantly, warn the driver in the event that he, without turning on The turning indicator will leave its lane. The system is still tested, and on serial cars it will appear only next year. The only thing that causes some doubts between passing by the sign and its reading passes a few seconds. This is the first. And the second camera will also clearly read signs on Russian roads?
Marathon
From the landfill, where, among other things, everyone was offered to check the operation of the Opel 4x4 system (we already felt it in action), our crew went on a hatchback with front-wheel drive, automatic and 1.8-liter engine.
The weather was spoiled in front of his eyes and just catastrophically. The rain poured such strength that the wipers could not cope with the cleaning of the windshield. However, almost 70 kilometers reached the place of overnight without difficulties, rather even easily and comfortable. The machine in a calm mode acted above all praise, absolutely imperceptibly smoking low and high gears. And when the car escaped onto the motorway, he allowed him to confidently stay in a tight and fast stream.
And, finally, the version of the test with a two -liter turbodiesel in design was saved on the snack in the last morning of the dough. It is the simplest. Sitting fabric. Manual seats adjustment. But the cabin is bright and two -color. The diesel INSIGNIA also liked. With one exception: we must think about improving sound insulation! Diesel, although free from turbo, is hiding, without ceasing. However, we are somehow surprisingly quickly accustomed to muffling, partially drowned out by music. They specially chose a long district route along the coast of the mountain lake of 80 kilometers. Diesel confidently led the mountains and lowered it from the mountains (while the brakes held the car at starting up the mountain), worked on the bottoms when it was required to slow down, and rapidly carried us forward when narrow The path went to the auto track.
Well, what can be summed up. Opel did a tremendous job. This will feel everyone who saw this car in motion. InSignia is a worthy rival to any medium-sized sedan of classes D or E. BMW 5th series, Audi A6, Honda Accord, Mazda 6, Volkswagen Passat among them Opel Insignia will feel very confident.
Although it is worth recognizing the same in Russelheim that Insignia enters the market in a very difficult time. Whether a new characteristic feature of Opel will work, we will find out very soon. The car is about to appear at official dealers. The price of the minimum Essentia configuration from 670 thousand rubles for a version with a 1.6 -liter engine is known.
Moscow Salzburg Moscow
Dmitry Semenov
Photo by the author and Opel
