Vauxhall Pulls The Covers Off The Insignia Country Tourer

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

July 3, 2013

Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Vauxhall has revealed the new Insignia Country Tourer.

The Insignia Country Tourer borrows the same recipe used by Subaru and Audi that takes a wagon and raises the ride height, adds an all-wheel drive system, and gives the exterior a more butch appearance.

The Insignia Country Tourer starts with a fair amount of body cladding and increased ground clearance of 0.79 inches. Under the skin is a new all-wheel-drive that utilizes a Haldex clutch and an electronic limited slip differential to maintain grip.

There are two diesel engines available,

• 2.0L CDTi: 163 horsepower and 280 pound-feet
  
• 2.0L BiTurbo CDTi: 192 horsepower and 295 pound-feet.
  

The 2.0L CDTI is available with a six-speed manual or automatic, while the BiTurbo is only available with an automatic.

Now don't expect the Insignia Country Tourer to make the Atlantic crossing to the U.S. However if I was betting man, I think General Motors could make a better case with this than the Insignia Tourer as a Buick for the states.

Source: Vauxhall

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

VAUXHALL’S NEW COUNTRY ESTATE MOVES INSIGNIA UPMARKET

2013-07-03

• Top-of-the-range Sports Tourer with SUV characteristics
  
• Higher ground clearance and distinct protective body elements
  
• Advanced all-wheel drive with variable torque delivery
  
• Two powerful turbo-diesel engines with up to 400Nm torque
  

Luton – Vauxhall is set to add a rugged SUV-inspired all-purpose estate to its New Insignia range later this year.

Known as the Insignia Country Tourer, and based on the Sports Tourer model, but with all-wheel drive, higher ground clearance and tougher styling, the new car will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

DESIGN

With its signature griffin grille, now wider and deeper, the front styling is distinctively Vauxhall. The grille’s horizontal chrome bar carries the central brand emblem and is sculpted in a wing form, with its outer tips turned upwards alongside the headlamps. A protective panel, in a gleaming silver finish, sweeps out from under the engine compartment; a prominent design theme echoed at the rear.

Another feature is the anthracite-coloured protective cladding on the side sills and lower body sections, which gives the wheel-arches a more pronounced, flared look.

A final visual flourish is provided by distinctive front and rear light units. The headlamps, with embedded chrome accents, incorporate wing-style LED daytime running lights. This theme is repeated at the rear, with LED brake and taillights.

POWERTRAINS

State-of-the-art all-wheel drive is combined with two powerful turbo-diesel engines: a 2.0-litre BiTurbo CDTi, producing 195PS and 400Nm of torque, and a 2.0-litre CDTi with 165PS and up to 380Nm torque available. A choice of six-speed manual or a low-friction, six-speed automatic transmission is available on the 2.0-litre (165PS) diesel engine. The 2.0-litre (195PS) BiTurbo diesel engine is available in automatic only.

DRIVETRAIN

The electronically controlled 4x4 drivetrain incorporates a high-quality clutch, operating on Haldex principles, and an electronic limited-slip differential to ensure superb traction on both paved and unpaved surfaces. It constantly adapts to the prevailing road conditions, and can vary torque distribution seamlessly between the front and rear axles, as well as between the rear wheels, even before a wheel begins to slip.

When necessary, the clutch controlling drive distribution immediately sends more torque to the rear axle. The 4x4 system’s sensors constantly feed individual control modules with information on yaw rate, acceleration, steering angle, wheel speed, throttle pedal position, engine speed and torque. The front/rear power distribution is constantly adapted to the driving situation based on this information.

Ultimate stability and higher dynamics are ensured by the electronically-controlled rear-axle Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). The eLSD controls the distribution of torque between the rear wheels, transferring drive torque to the wheel that has the most grip. While offering better traction in slippery conditions, the sophisticated operation of this adaptive 4x4 drive system guarantees the highest levels of driver control and active safety in all situations. The Insignia Country Tourer can even provide propulsion when three wheels are on loose or slippery ground and only one rear wheel has traction.

The adaptive all-wheel system also supports drivers in non-critical situations. To reduce frictional losses and save fuel, the system automatically reverts to front-wheel drive whenever it senses that no adaptive interventions are required.

Off road, the new Insignia Country Tourer also benefits from larger tyres and a raised ride height, in addition to its four-wheel drive traction. Ground clearance is 20mm higher than on a standard model, a major advantage when encountering loose, uneven terrain.

“The Insignia Country Tourer is perfect for a winter holiday, on snowy roads, or simply when the going gets tough,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Head of Carline Brand. “Even on urban roads its robust looks give it strong stand-out appeal.”

Prices and full equipment details will coincide with the vehicle’s world premiere on the 10th September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.