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PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE Take the show on the road


REVIEW:VAUXHALL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT BY SUE COOKE


M


y nephew, who is an actor, telephoned and asked me if I had a car on road test which I would like to drive up to Edinburgh to fetch


him from the Festival as he couldn’t get a late night train. I declined the 296 miles journey (one way) but when the Vauxhall Insignia was delivered I really wish I had said yes. From the time I slid behind the wheel of Vauxhall’s


large coupe inspired by the 2013 Monza concept, I was impressed with its showroom luxurious feel. This second generation model is made for long distance driving with an extended wheelbase, slightly longer than a traditional car parking space. Rear passengers have 32mm more room at hip height, 25mm more shoulder and knee room and 8mm more headroom. The roof is 29mm lower than its predecessor and the overall weight is 175kg lighter. The luxurious interior is really spacious and comfort is paramount with ergonomically designed seats that have a combination of side bolster settings, massage, memory, heating and ventilation functions. Its comfort and elegance will certainly impress any dignitaries and the Insignia will draw attention on the office car park. There is huge storage capacity with a useful very


Driver and passenger safety are crucial for both company car drivers and fleet managers alike, which is why the new Insignia gets the Front Camera System and Vauxhall OnStar, as standard. The Front Camera System incorporates features such as lane keep assist, following distance indicator, forward collision alert, low speed collision mitigation braking and active emergency braking Rear Cross Traffic Alert system uses radar sensors in


‘This second generation model is made for long distance driving with an extended wheelbase’


the rear bumper to detect objects coming from up to 20m at 90 degrees from the left or right side behind the vehicle, making reversing out of driveways or parking spaces safer and easier. Parking is easier too with Advanced Park Assist which automatically parks the car without the driver needing to touch the steering wheel. There are six state-of-the-art petrol


and diesel engines ranging from 110PS to 260PS, including an all-new 1.5-litre Turbo petrol unit which is expected to be the best seller. Fuel consumption is reduced by between three and ten per cent compared with the equivalent outgoing models.


I like the six speed manual transmission which fitted into the palm of my hand like a glove.


deep, centre console. Many functions are controlled by the frameless touchscreen but useful buttons like ‘Home’ and ‘Back’ are separate. Instruments face the driver resulting in a position similar to that provided in a competition touring car. Bright digital numbers in the head-up display are a useful reminder of the road speed and the speed the car is travelling at.


There is also an eight speed automatic. The Insignia will be the first Vauxhall with an all-wheel drive with torque vectoring which means exceptional


levels of grip and handling and more precise cornering. Vauxhall offers big savings for company car drivers


and undercuts key competitors with BiK savings of up to £1,983. P11D pricing for the Insignia Grand Sport offers whole life cost savings of up to £5,691 versus other D sector rivals.


MODEL: Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport SRi VXline Nav


PRICE: 23,730otr


ENGINE:2 litre 170PS Turbo D


PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph


CO2 EMISSIONS: 54.3mpg


COMBINED FUEL CONSUMPTION: 136g/km


You can follow Sue Cooke on twitter @cookecars


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 insight 29


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