Though the Frankfurt crowds will understandably be clamouring over Opel's stand to see the
Monza
, spare a thought for another slightly less dramatic debutant; the facelifted Insignia OPC (or VXR as it will be here).
Cascada-esque lights the biggest change here
brutish Australian V8s
dominating the discussion as far as large and fast Vauxhalls are concerned, the Insignia has rather struggled for attention since its 2009 launch. And with its fairly modest sales figures, the mid-life overhaul is modest.
New lights front and rear are the clearest giveaways, plus a few cosmetic upgrades (dials, touchscreen) for the cabin too. But there are some mechanical changes as well, the most significant being a reworking of the rear axle that includes modified software for the FlexRide dampers. Combined with a recalibrated ESP, this reputedly makes the VXR respond better to understeer. It won't have become a 335i Touring overnight, but it will be interesting to see the difference the changes make.
Is that wheel even thicker now?
The flagship Insignia's powertrain is identical, meaning 325hp, 321hp and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. The derestricted
170mph Supersport
looks set to continue in Britain with other markets getting the limited 155mph version.
Given the limited nature of the facelift, prices for the latest Insignia VXR are unlikely to change much from today's £30,020 (hatch) and £31,450 (Sports Tourer estate). And don't forget used examples are available from £15K if you don't fancy the huge initial depreciation hit...
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