Spy Shots: Undisguised Vauxhall Insignia VXR caught napping
It didn't make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show, but General Motors' white-hot Vauxhall Insignia VXR is spending more time out of doors and (accidentally?) posing for pictures for the folks at Auto Express. With 320 horsepower and a rumored all-wheel drivetrain at work, the fettled Insignia is said to have lapped the Nürburgring in (grains of salt at the ready) just over eight minutes on its 20-inch wheels. If true, that's the kind of time aimed for by smaller, nimbler cars.
Even better: Pretty soon we expect to see pictures of the Insignia VXR hatch and wagon versions, perhaps wearing Opel badges. Mmmm, hot wagons... Yum.
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
P.V. 3:41PM (3/28/2009)
Napping? Hmmm...
Anyway, that is one sweet midsize sedan. I wouldn't mind seeing it here as the new Saturn Aura Red Line.
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EU_reader 3:48PM (3/28/2009)
Isn't saturn being terminated or something?
Indeed, the vauxhall/Opel insignia is a very beautiful sedan, with a good selection in engines (for euro market anyway)
I also read on another blog that the first 1000 ford fiestas arrived in the US for a small group of selected individuals. It seems that more and more Euro designs are making it's way to the states.
Since opel is GM, maybe there's a chance that this platform will appear in future GM products (or it should, anyway)
Michael 9:18PM (3/28/2009)
sadly, I highly doubt it...
montoym 6:05PM (3/30/2009)
@ EU_Reader:
I suggest reading more blogs about cars.
The Opel Insignia platform is absolutely coming to the US, and in many forms.
First off, it will be the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. It will also become the basis for the next-gen Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura(would-be if Saturn survives), and Pontiac 6(also possible if the 6 survives).
The Insignia is just the first in the next-gen of those models' platform.
Swede 3:49PM (3/28/2009)
Yes because the Blitz logo is so Vauxhall....
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Swede 3:51PM (3/28/2009)
Everyone knows the UK is part of Hessen!
Taglane 4:15PM (3/28/2009)
This news is soooo last week. It's weird, because I sent this tip in 10 days ago.
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-opel-insignia-opc-bi-turbo-v6.html
I think if this engine makes it to America, it's home will be in a Buick Super.
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Mazda FTW! 5:01PM (3/28/2009)
WOW. So damn hot. The next Lacrosse (Allure) is already one of most anticipated cars. It's design is one of the cohesive I have seen in recent times that doesn't have a Audi logo on it. This would make for a great Super edition like Taglane said.
WOW
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Other Man 5:04PM (3/28/2009)
Hope it's a twin-turbo setup and AWD.
Would BUY this as my winter/daily if they sold it here, likely as the LaCrosse Super.
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Nd4spd 5:04PM (3/28/2009)
The Insignia is sold as a Buick Regal in some parts of the world and is supposedly coming to the US. Can you say Grand National?? XD
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why not the LS2LS7? 5:34PM (3/28/2009)
Is the engine going to gain DI soon? On the 9-3 and the SRX it has turbos but no DI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High_Feature_engine#LP9_Turbo
The HP figures seem to indicate it might be significantly revised, hopefully DI.
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mrdci 7:57PM (3/28/2009)
I'd buy one if it came to the US unchanged. But nope it will be a Buick and Buicks are for old people. Make it a Pontiac and don't add fake hood scoops or put a stupid BMW copy grill in it and you might have a chance.
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X-owner 11:23PM (3/28/2009)
as someone said, they should brand this in AWD form a Grand National (it's not a RWD platform so no option there). Heck, Audi has Jason Statham so maybe Buick can have Vin Diesel (think new movie). Between fighting the new SHO, retro cars like the challenger being cache, the great history of the GNX and people who remember it like me reaching their earnings prime age, the alleged 8 min ring time of this thing, and the economy of scale of a global platform car, it might work (and actually bring non septuagenarians into the Buick fold). Do it GM, and make mine black on black.
KeatMP 8:00PM (3/28/2009)
Those wheels look freakin awesome.
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efmvii 8:49PM (3/28/2009)
Those rims look EXACTLY like the rims on the car on the cover of the The Official MTO Driver's Handbook
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Taglane 2:51AM (3/29/2009)
Good eye. They copied and pasted from the concept.. *tisk tisk*
Avinash machado 7:24AM (3/29/2009)
Would make a nice LaCrosse Super.
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