• VAUXHALL INSIGNIA CONCEPT
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GENERAL MOTORS EPSILON II PLATFORM

The Vauxhall Insignia Concept was first seen at the 2003 Frankfurt IAA and showcased a new design language that was also a prelude to the forthcoming series production Vauxhall Insignia models that followed in 2008 and is still in production today with essentially the same body language although it has been revised to ensure competitiveness in its sector of the market. The Insignia Concept was designed as a large luxury Grand Tourer and with its well-balanced proportions and progressive, elegant and dynamic lines, the Insignia showed for the first time how Vauxhall / Opel's new design language translated into a larger sized car. Head of GM Europe Design for Vauxhall / Opel at the time was Martin Smith but the Insignia Concept was a project which was primarily attributed to Malcom Ward and newly recruited Mark Adams who would end up replacing Smith when he left to join Ford (traitor!!!)

The Insignia Concept was based on the Australian RWD GM Zeta Premium Platform used in the Holden VE Commodore. The main dimensions were as follows:

Wheelbase = 114.8 inches

Length = 189.1 inches

Width = 75.4 inches

Height = 55.7 inches

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It featured numerous innovations including extensive use of LED lighting and unique pantograph-action doors and tailgate, press a button built into the door handle and rear doors slide backwards, suspended on an innovative pantograph. The Insignia Concept was powered by the Chevrolet LS1 344bhp aluminium V8 Chevrolet Corvette engine with an electrically controlled maximum speed of 155mph and would accelerate from 0 to 60mph in under 6 seconds. It featured a 7 speed automatic transmission and a unique experimental hydro pneumatic suspension system adapted from a Cadillac system in the US.

The radiator grille on the front facia of the car was much larger than on any Vauxhall production model in recent times and represented pride in the brand in 3D form. The departure from a conservative notchback silhouette was evident in the coupé-style bodylines and design details such as the long bonnet with sweeping A-pillars and the inward-tapering front and rear ends, the wide track stance emphasized the Insignia's dynamics even further.

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The Insignia Concept continued a tradition of innovative interiors for Vauxhall: examples like the Vauxhall Zafira Flex7 system with fully retractable third-row seats or the multiple configurations of the Vauxhall Meriva and Vauxhall Signum FlexSpace concepts. In the Insignia Concept the section of the centre tunnel that separated the 2 individual rear seats could be moved back under the luggage compartment floor to reveal a folded seat that could be raised electrically to make the car into a 5 seater.

At the time the Concept was presented as an actual production proposal, however in 2005 Vauxhall / Opel announced that the car was too large and heavy for realistic production, it did provide some of the inspiration for the later 2007 GTC Concept. The production Insignia was named Car of the Year in 2009.

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THE VAUXHALL INSIGNIA CONCEPT WAS A MAJOR ATTRACTION ON THE VAUXHALL STAND AT THE UK MOTOR SHOW