Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer breaks cover

Following last month’s reveal of the 325hp (242kW) Opel Insignia OPC comes the wagon or ‘Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer’, which is set to go on sale in Opel and Vauxhall showrooms in UK this coming autumn. The price is not yet announced. In some market, the OPC Sports Tourer is also known as Insignia VXR Sports Tourer.

OPC, which stands for Opel Performance Center, is the name given to models developed by GM’s official in-house tuner in Europe, and in the past has been used for cars like the Astra and compact Corsa hatchbacks. OPC models are rebadged as VXRs when sold under the UK’s Vauxhall brand.

Like its sedan counterpart, the OPC Sports Tourer comes packing the same twin-turbocharged powerplant, sophisticated AWD chassis and a sub-six second 0-60mph time. The only discernable difference between the sedan and Sports Tourer is the extra storage space of the wagon body, which offers 540L of load space with the 40:60 split rear seats up and 1,530L when folded down.

The Insignia OPC is the first model from the performance division to be offered with AWD and is available in sedan, hatch and Sports Tourer wagon bodystyles. Highlights are a ‘HiPerStrut’ (High Performance Strut) front suspension system, an adaptable AWD system with an electronic Limited Slip Differential and a 10mm reduction in ride height over the standard Insignia.

The HiPerStrut system is unique to the OPC model and serves two primary functions: firstly, to reduce torque-steer, but also to maintain negative camber during cornering, thereby improving ultimate grip levels in wet or dry conditions. Drive comes from a 2.8L V6 turbocharged engine rated at 325hp (242kW), which is enough to send the car from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds and an electronically controlled top speed of 155mph.

Complementing these features are standard 19in alloy wheels (20in lightweight forged alloys are available at an extra cost), revised bushing and damper settings on both axles, and Brembo brakes with color-keyed calipers and vented and cross-drilled discs.

People have six option of exterior colours, any of which should sit quite well with the deep bumpers, the front mesh grille and the dual matt chrome exhausts. Inside there are Recaro front seats, a new steering wheel, gearknob and unique moldings, as well as different instrument graphics and sill plates.

The carmaker is confident that people who had previously only bought cars like the Audi S4 Avant and the BMW 335i M Sport Touring would seriously start considering getting into the Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer.

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