Tongue-Waggin' Wagon: Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer unveiled
by Alex Nunez on May 20th 2009 at 9:57AM 
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer
No more spy shots. GM has formally unveiled the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer (a.k.a. the Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer on the other side of the Chunnel). By now, you're probably seen the specs, but we'll go over them again for the sake of being complete. 325 horses are corralled in the 2.8-liter turbo V6 underhood. Yep, that's a six-speed stick you see in the attached photo gallery, and both all-wheel drive and eLSD are standard. Stopping power is supplied by Brembo, the seats are by Recaro, and the overall appearance is liberally sprinkled with awesome. All told, the whole package is good for a zero-to-60 run in six seconds flat, which has us dreaming of this car, in this color, wearing the Buick Tri-Shield up front. Maybe Grand National badges on the fenders, too. Okay, it's more like a pipe dream, but let us have our fun. The PR joins an official video after the jump.
Gallery: Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW INSIGNIA VXR SPORTS TOURER PACKS POWER, POISE AND ALL YOUR PARAPHERNALIA
* Fastest ever Vauxhall estate with 6-second 0-60 time
* 1530-litre load capability combined with Adaptive 4x4 chassis and 325 horsepower
* Third and final body style to be offered in Insignia VXR spec
Luton – With 10,000 kilometres of gruelling validation at the world's most fearsome and demanding test track now under their belt, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR hatch and saloon are set to raise the bar in their sector with a heady mix of high performance, practicality and sophisticated dynamics.
And now, adding even greater versatility to the range, Vauxhall can confirm that the Insignia VXR Sports Tourer will be the third body style to join the line up and will be available in UK dealerships this autumn, after enduring the same rigorous testing at the notorious Nürburgring Circuit.
Combining all the technical highlights of the VXR hatch and saloon with best in class-matching luggage capacity (rear seats up), the VXR Sports Tourer is not only the fastest estate car Vauxhall has ever produced, but also the first to incorporate Adaptive 4x4 and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD).
Like its saloon and hatch siblings, the VXR Sports Tourer sits 10 millimetres lower than the regular Sports Tourer, and features the unique HiPerStrut system, which reduces torque-steer and maintains negative camber during cornering, thereby improving wet and dry grip levels.
Complementing these features are standard 19-inch alloy wheels (20-inch lightweight forged alloys are a cost option) with bespoke tyres, revised bushing and damper settings on both axles, and Brembo brakes with colour-keyed callipers and vented/cross-drilled discs.
And with 325PS, the Brembos are a must. Using a modified version of the 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 engine that's standard in the Insignia Elite model, the Sports Tourer VXR will hit 60mph from zero in 6.0 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.
Inside, the Sports Tourer's performance credentials are laid bare, with its front Recaro seats, VXR steering wheel and gearknob, as well as different instrument graphics, VXR sill plates and black headlining.
But where the VXR Sports Tourer really scores is in its versatility. With 540-litres of load space with the 40:60 split rear seats up, the SportsTourer matches the best in class. Drop the 40:60 split rear seats and you have a maximum load volume of 1530-litres.
Accessing this area has never been easier, thanks to the Sports Tourer VXR's standard electronic tailgate, which can be operated off the driver's key fob, or via a rotary knob on the inside of the driver's door. Using these functions, not only can the opening height of the tailgate be restricted, but it can also be pre-set at a lower level if you frequently park in a garage with a low ceiling.
Deeper bumpers, front mesh grilles and dual matt chrome exhausts are among the Sports Tourer VXR's visual armoury, complemented by a colour palette comprising Arden Blue, Power Red, Carbon Flash Black (pictured), Silver Lake, Olympic White and Technical Grey.
'The Insignia VXR Sports Tourer will be a compelling alternative for buyers in the premium sector who may currently be considering an Audi S4 Avant or BMW 335i M Sport Touring,' said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. 'We've already seen a swing to the Insignia from premium buyers who'd never before ticked the Vauxhall box on their wish list, and we expect to see the same buying pattern emerge with all versions of the Insignia VXR.'
Prices for the Insignia VXR range will be announced early summer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ligor 9:35AM (5/20/2009)
want one
maybe even more than the CTS wagon
now please
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JDM Life 10:11AM (5/20/2009)
Maybe more then a CTS wagon??
You joking right.
The CTS wagon has NOTHING on this. Period. Wont even consider it.
Ligor 10:23AM (5/20/2009)
you forget, the CTS wagon is RWD baised and will likely outhandle this Opel (for me that counts a lot)
and I love the CTS front end, the rear on the wagon needs help to really make it the hottest wagon around IMO
Ken Stamper 11:29AM (5/20/2009)
@JDM Life
The Insignia not only has AWD, but also has a 6MT- the CTS is auto only, which pretty much ruins it for me
F-22 12:24PM (5/20/2009)
Ligor,
If the Handling is that important for you, you will end up in a BMW...not a Cadillac!
Yikes 10:13AM (5/20/2009)
I'm sure this has some decent cargo space over the CTS wagon also.
Buick needs this car now.
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PiCASSO 1:47PM (5/20/2009)
Agreed... bring back the Regal... and have BOTH sedan and wagon versions available. Have this along side the new LaCrosse.
JDM Life 10:13AM (5/20/2009)
I love the specs and features of this, but the front has a little too much goin on. I wonder how the added weight affects the performance
The sedan looks much better.
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zamafir 10:20AM (5/20/2009)
No need to wonder, just look at the specs, more hp than the R36, awd like the R36 but only hitting sixty in 6 seconds? Yes the R36 has been doing it in 5.8 for a while now, I would have expected a little better than 6 for the VRX.
Gladius 10:14AM (5/20/2009)
hmm. This is a breakaway from previous Vauxhall/Opel VX-R/OPC cars.
The first new generation OPC car is the Corsa, and that's a 1.6 Turbo 225hp front wheel drive torque steering small hatchback.
Other notable mentions are the Astra OPC, a 2.0T 240hp torque steering mid size hatchback monster.
Or the Vauxhall Zafira "Vomit Rocket" VXR, a seven seater people carrier with the same manic engine.
Not to mention the Vauxhall Monaro VXR, known down under as the Holden Monaro, with the 6.0 V8, or the Vauxhall VXR8, known elsewhere as the Holden VE Commodore, with the same massive engine.
And then they come out with this, relatively mild estate, with a just a tad more power than what is stirctly regarded safe and no frills AWD. It'll get slammed in the UK.
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Dennis 10:16AM (5/20/2009)
Did Opel just turn chinese and steel the Audi A6 avant's tail. Still a great looking Buick GN potential that I would consider...
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Franz 10:20AM (5/20/2009)
If I were looking for a wagon, I'd buy this in a heartbeat.
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Mike 10:22AM (5/20/2009)
The car looks great, tightly skinned. I'm not a fan of the Saber Tooth Tiger look. I like the 325 hp. from the V6. Turn the boost up for another 50 hp and that would make a nice SS Malibu. I guess it would have to be AWD, add another 25 for good measure. Then focus on weight reduction.
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Roadkill 10:22AM (5/20/2009)
Rear looks like an audi Q5. only lower
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Roadkill 10:25AM (5/20/2009)
lower and with the lights upside down
MikeofLA 10:23AM (5/20/2009)
This owns the Toyota Vensa... This is just awesome... Buick needs to badge this ASAP.
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Shiftright 1:22PM (5/20/2009)
I love this car, but it doesn't even remotely fit into Buick's brand image. There's nothing sport about thr current Buick brand. They're vying with Lexus (and doing a good job of it) for the top spot of well built, luxurious and cosseting cars. Buick buyers are not interested in 'Ring tines or manual transmissions. That kind of of misguided branding is what got Pontiac killed and GM in the hole of poo it's in now.
Rick 10:23AM (5/20/2009)
Damn that's a sexy interior. Europeans get so much nicer cars compared to us.
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zamafir 10:50AM (5/20/2009)
it's about average for the European marketplace, on par with what the Passats offer (CC and R36), seats, seat controls, cluster are all identical to what VW's been offering for a while (in Europe and the us).
Will 10:25AM (5/20/2009)
I agree that Buick needs this yesterday. All I think of when I hear Buick is "old people." Even more so than Cadillac. Cadillac has broken away from that stereotype more so than Buick has in recent years.
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