Vauxhall is testing the prototype of the upcoming second-generation Insignia in Northern Sweden, near the Arctic Circle.
Vauxhall seems to have gone a different route for the second generation of its midsize car, because the body of the prototype looks significantly larger than the current model. The Insignia prototype shown in the photo gallery of this article seems like it has taken a few queues from the Monza Concept shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013, along with some new design features.
Vauxhall will offer two body styles in the second-generation Insignia range. One of them is the five-door hatchback, and the other is the estate/wagon, called the Sports Tourer. The vehicle in the photo gallery of this article is the first of them. Vauxhall decided to ditch the four-door version of the Insignia once the second-generation of the car comes along.
The Insignia’s larger body is estimated to accommodate a wheelbase up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) larger, which will bring much more room for its occupants. This dramatic change in the Insignia lineup should make the German five-door hatchback as roomy as the segment’s most ample model, the Skoda Superb.
Along with the new size, the Insignia will get a new technical platform. The new platform should make the German car significantly lighter than the current generation, just like the Astra K lost a lot of weight when compared to the previous model. Vauxhall will achieve the weight loss through new alloys implemented on the body and the chassis.
Thanks to the reduced weight, the next Insignia will bring better fuel efficiency, improved handling, along with reduced wear on its drivetrain components. Like the smaller models in the Vauxhall range, the upcoming Insignia is set to feature General Motors’ OnStar system, along with a new digital instrument cluster and several improvements to the interior.
Vauxhall is expected to launch the second generation of the Insignia at the 2016 Frankfurt Motor Show, set for this fall.
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