Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Saturn, Misc. Auto Shows, Opel
Opel Insignia unceremoniously revealed a week early
by Damon Lavrinc on Apr 14th 2008 at 2:36PM 
Click any of the images for a gallery of the Opel Insignia.
The folks at AutoWeek.nl decided to take the wind out of Opel's sails by posting images of the new Insignia before it released official information later this week. We've seen the basic shape and several details of the Insignia when Opel sent out "official" spy shots of their new D-segment player (think Mondeo, Passat), but these newest pictures tell the whole tale, sans artful camouflage.
Due to hit dealers in Europe this October, the Insignia will replace the Vectra and come equipped with a handful of diesel- and gasoline-powered engines, ranging in displacement from 1.6- to 2.8-liters. Both 1.6-liter and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engines will be equipped in the entry level models, with a 250 hp, 2.8-liter V6 powering the range-topper. Diesel mills packing 1.9-liters of displacement and outputting 120 to 150 hp will also be offered, and there's also talk of a 180 hp, 1.9-liter turbo and a 2.9-liter V6 diesel.
The Insignia is relevant to those of us in the States since it will likely replace the Saturn Aura in the next few years. The styling is a slight step above Saturn's current sedan, with an attractive front clip and a rather dynamic swage line that begins aft of the front fender and runs parallel with the rocker panels. The Opel Insignia will be publicly debuted at the London Motor Show this July and we should see a Saturn variant making its way to the U.S. sometime around the turn of the decade.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Xcountryflyer 2:45PM (4/14/2008)
Very nice. Bring it on over.
Reply
brian 2:51PM (4/14/2008)
i like it, just think they need to calm down the grill. the logo reminds me of Danger Mouse or something
Reply
Red 2:30AM (4/15/2008)
Coincidentally, they did the blade grill thing better than Acura. Hmm...
Dan 2:54PM (4/14/2008)
Looks very upscale.
So upscale they could justifiably price it out of Camcord land - which the "D segment, Passat competitor" descriptor alludes to.
Reply
TBlueMax 2:56PM (4/14/2008)
Very handsome... hope the Aura looks identical save for a few badge swaps.
Reply
TriShield 2:58PM (4/14/2008)
A US plant will probably be retooled to build this car for Saturn. Some of the styling or interior touches will probably be different like they are on the Saturn VUE which is made here and also made in Europe and sold as the Opel Antara.
Reply
Mirko Reinhardt 12:21AM (4/15/2008)
The Opel Antara is made in Korea.
Alex Nunez 2:59PM (4/14/2008)
Wish they could bring it over sooner than later. Offering this as the Saturn Aura would summarily end the entire Malibu-is-nicer-than-Aura issue GM created when it made the Malibu, well, nicer than the Aura...
Reply
Seminole 3:39PM (4/14/2008)
Couldn't agree more.
While the Malibu is nice, I still don't know if I would take it over an Accord. Even with the button happy dash, I think the Accord has a nicer interior. I can't stand the two tone dash on the Malibu. Exterior wise, the Malibu wins hands down.
This on the other hand is gorgeous, both inside and out!
ChopperDave 3:01PM (4/14/2008)
No! Please don't bring this over as the new Aura ... I'd much rather see this with the Saab nose on it as the new 9-3. Anyone here have the photochop skills to make that happen?
Reply
John P. 3:09PM (4/14/2008)
Looks pretty good, a much better use of that swoopy thing on the side than the lexus fish gill. This car looks better everywhere too. I like the design cues that look like they are taken from cadillac on the interior also.
I agree with the above comment about looking more upscale than a camry, could be priced accordingly and sell.
Reply
Larry 3:09PM (4/14/2008)
ROFLMAO! All these WONDERFUL comments and all this GUSHING! It is a DEAD RINGER for the Hyundai Genesis! Which (almost) everybody MOCKED!
Reply
Ya Know 4:05PM (4/14/2008)
Larry, please get your eyes checked. This doesn't look anything like the Hyundai Genesis.
If you must compare it shares many styling cues, in the rear and side view with an 08 Altima.
I like the Genesis, but the styling is even better on the InSigna.
jgp 4:17PM (4/14/2008)
Doesn't look like the Genesis at all.
This looks like Altima + Passat. The Genesis looks like the top half of an 04-08 Maxima on the bottom half of the Azera. Completely different.
Torrent 6:10PM (4/14/2008)
Larry. Just give up on life.
Larry 8:29AM (4/15/2008)
Torrent, what a fifth grade level reply.
Torrent 2:04PM (4/15/2008)
I'd suggest something by Lenscrafters for your eyes.
jsjs 3:21PM (4/15/2008)
Doesn't look much at all like the Genesis.
Otoh, the Insignia's dash does look a bit like the new dash for the Sonata.
afrokaze 3:10PM (4/14/2008)
Am I the only one who thinks that character line behind the front fender is taken from the vents on the IS-F?
Reply
Eric77TA 3:31PM (4/14/2008)
While similar, it's taken from the Opel GTC concept, which debuted at the 2007 Geneva show. That was two months after the IS-F concept at the 2007 Detroit show. So it's likely coincidental since the GTC was probably already styled when the IS-F was revealed.