2009 Vauxhall Insignia VXR revealed

By George Skentzos | April 16th, 2009

The official details and specifications surrounding the hotly anticipated Vauxhall Insignia VXR have today been released, revealing a rather impressive mid-sized performance sedan.

The potent new flagship for the highly awarded Insignia range boasts some genuinely exciting performance credentials, including a “Nürburgring-proven” chassis with all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged V6 engine with race-bred design features.

Available in hatch, saloon and Sports Tourer body styles, the Insignia VXR will be Vauxhall’s first VXR model to adopt all-wheel-drive technology, joining the Corsa VXR, Astra VXR and Australian-sourced VXR8.

Using a bespoke chassis developed through countless hours of testing at the gruelling Nürburgring circuit in Germany, the adaptive all-wheel-drive system feature an electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) to ensure maximum traction and optimise handling.

This is underlined by a HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) front suspension system which is unique to the VXR, reducing torque steer as well as maintaining negative camber during cornering, thereby improving ultimate grip levels in wet or dry conditions.

‘The Insignia VXR is not just about absolute power, but a combination of usable performance and chassis sophistication which is the match of premium rivals, such as Audi’s new S4,’ said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. ‘In essence, it’s an ultra-fast performance saloon that will appeal to buyers who appreciate subtle yet distinctive styling, but who need to know that there’s real substance below the car’s metal.’

Under the bonnet of the Insignia VXR is Vauxhall’s advanced 2.8-litre V6 twin-scroll turbocharged ECOTEC engine producing 239kW and peak torque of 400Nm channelled through a six-speed manual transmission.

The result is zero to 100km/h performance of less than six seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Vauxhall hasn’t saved money in the wheel and brakes department either, with 19-inch alloy wheels with bespoke tyres and a Brembo brake package with colour-coded callipers and vented and cross-drilled rotors as standard.

Distinguishing the Insignia VXR is a new front bumper design which incorporates twin mesh grilles either side of the main grille, a sublet rear lip spoiler and bespoke rear bumper moulding incorporating dual matt chrome exhausts.

Inside the Insignia VXR features Recaro front seats, a new VXR steering wheel, VXR gear knob and unique mouldings are standard on all cars, along with different instrument graphics, VXR sill plates and a black headlining.

o

PLEASE bring this here
Daniel

AGREED!!

AWD + V6 + Turbo = Awesome!

Bring it out here please!!! Though not sure how it would sell, another Mazda 6 MPS perhaps?

I wonder how much?? Hmmm

It looks so hot
Devil666

Holdens don’t have to be rebadged Daewoos!
Tomas79

Nice, any plans on bringing it to oz?
Tom

It is coming. Will be called Torana.
Tomas79

Sorry Tom, But thats extremely unlikely!!
mvyrmnd

Chassis, eLSD, 4WD system and engine all from Saab Turbo X!

Still, very good looking, and I hope that Holden listen to the crowd… Bring it here!
Wheelnut

I Just want one!
HAL

This would fill a massive gap that exists in the car market in Oz right now – the only slightly performance thing in the mid-sized segment is the 7+ year old Liberty GT, and even that isn’t really smile-invoking performance. Why Mazda don’t make the 6 MPS is beyond me, not everyone wants to buy a hot hatch or massively sized 6 or 8 cylinder cars just to get some herbs. I’m sick of hearing that the last 6 MPS didn’t sell well enough, but the market has changed massively since 2006.

But yes, Holden, you simply have to make GM let you bring this here.
Wheelnut

Tomas79 Says: April 16th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Nice, any plans on bringing it to oz?

Tom Says: April 16th, 2009 at 6:11 am
It is coming. Will be called Torana.

Tomas79 Says: April 16th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Sorry Tom, But thats extremely unlikely!!

What do you believe is extremely unlikely Tomas:
That it will/could come to Australia?
That it will/could be called the Torana?

What about the Rumour that it might even be Built here?

Once again you asked a question; you didn’t like the response and your reply made it sound if you knew better.. If [you think] you knew the answer why ask the question?
eh179driver

HSV have already stated that tey are looking at this car for the HSV range. It will be expensive though and my bet is that unless Insignia makes it here as a mainstream Holden, parts and servicing will be expensive.
Jake02

Yep HSV have stated their interest in this fantastic looking car and the Corsa VXR and for god’s sake BRING THEM HERE! The Astra VXR sells quite well over here (albeit with or without the Opel badges on the steering wheel and wheels, OPC written on the dials, and VXR with no HSV badge on the back; yes I’m serious) as well as the normal Astra range, so maybe it’s time to replace these crappy Korean cars with their Euro cousins?!

People aren’t stupid and heres the proof: the $1500 + more exxy Astra outsells the Viva 3 to 1! People will pay for better quality it seems.
Gav

Love it!!! But it would have to be built here to be cheap enough to sell. Where is it built? UK? Europe?

BTW… Wheelnut PWN Tomas79!! Hahaha!
Reckless1

The Vauxhall does look sweet (except the crappy rear end) and the console looks to have been inspired by Saab as well.

I don’t reckon it will come here though – it would have to sell for circa $50k to succeed but would finish up around $75,000 or more.
GGG

Love the look and specs (wonder how heavy it is though). Being a Mazda MPS6 owner – its hard to find the next car to move onto…this could be it.

MPS6 didnt sell well as Mazda had little marketing and only made manual (more than 2/3′s of Liberty GT’s are in auto).
Dlr1

I quite like the look of the car and hope it does come here, and if it does it would be extremely unlikely that it would be called the Torana. Some badges just belong in the past. Could you imagine Ford rebadging the Mondeo the Cortina? or Mitsubishi brining back the Sigma?
HAL

GGG, how have you found the 6 MPS? I haven’t heard a lot of good about it, but I thought it would have been awesome?
SteveH

Would have to agree this is a great looking car. Also agree with Hal’s first comment that there really isn’t much around similar to this apart from the aging Liberty GT. Car makers have to realise that some people would prefer something like this over a turbo Falcon or V8.

I almost bought a Mazda 6 MPS but was told you couldn’t fit a tow bar, so that ruled it out for me.
Andronicus

Yeah if Holden wants to start reminding people why we all loved them 15 or so years ago then bringing this here would be a good start.

Enough of the daewoos; bring this down here and launch it off the back of the new Astra model from Opel and deliver a nice one two punch that will liven up what is a bit of a beige product line from Holden at the current time.
Frenchie

Agree with you Reckless, it will end up pricing itself out of the market!
topdog

Now this is how a commondore should look i would pic this over a commondore any day
Alex

I don’t think it’ll be coming to Australia, you know why? Because it’ll s**t all over anything HSV themselves make. It’ll be way better and it isn’t even lacking in 0-100 time.
It looks fantastic. I love VXR, they make absolutely mad cars.
I have an idea that some will love and some will hate. Why don’t Holden just admit defeat and admit that their cars are outdated (including the future ones) and shut down. Then, to avoid job losses, bring Vauxhall to Australia! They could build them here – good quality, modern, fantastic looking cars that Holden would never have a chance with. Makes too much sense.
GGG

HAL/STEVEH

I have never truly loved a car before like I have my MPS6 (I have had BMW(base), Mercs (base), Commodores, WRX’s in the past). It really is a wolf in sheeps clothing. 3rd and 4th gear acceleration still brings a smile to my face. Its a great car to take the missus down south in. Powerful, good breaking and sure-fotted handling.

Its cheap to insure and has no ungodly bonnet scoop.

Issues (for some) – no auto, some concerns re: engine & drivetrain issues(I have been fortunate in that regard, it was Mazda’s first MPS).

I really recommend people to test drive one. As much as I wanted a Liberty GT STI, it was far more expensive, had less torque and whilst looks hot, Im pretty happy with the look of my black MPS6 with charcoal Enkei (BBS style) rims.

Future cars: Insignia VXR, Passat R36 or another low km MPS6.
Oh

Is this a bigger version of Daewoo cruze? Look almost identical..
Lukaas

Looks good, but no way it’ll be successful here.

It’ll fetch for $70K…
o

I would say it would come in at around 50k like MPS did.Surely Holden is looking at ideas from this for the next commodore
HAL

The VW R36 is $65K, while the Liberty GT is mid to high $50Ks – surely if it was to come here HSV would be aiming to price it in there somewhere at the most? If they needed to charge $70K Lukaas then yep, they wouldn’t bother.
Jake02

If they bring this here, its sitting right in the middle of all the sporty sedans groups eg

Small sedans – Skoda Octavia RS, VW Jetta TFSI, Ford Mondeo XR5 Turbo

Medium/AWD – Liberty GT, 6 MPS, Passat R36 or 3.2 V6, Volvo S40 T5 AWD

Prestige – Merc C280/C320 CDI, BMW 335i, Audi A4 3.2FSI, Lexus IS250, Honda Legend

Large – HSVs and FPVs, BMW M3, Audi S4, Merc C63, Lexus ISF
etc etc

it matches all these cars in performance/handling, and could be cheaper. Sounds good eh?

HSV doesnt have a problem with the prive though as a different type of person would buy an Insignia compared to a Clubsport R8.

COME ONE HSV, BRING IT HERE!
SteveH

They should offer it in 2 spec levels like they did with the 6 MPS. One model in the mid to high $40′s, while the upper model in the low to mid $50′s. If they price it the same as the Liberty, it won’t sell due to people’s perception of Holden, even if it is really a Vauxhall.
Shak

HOLDEN AND HSV LISTEN UP : THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA ARE ON THEIR KNEES. PLEEEASSSEE BRING THIS HERE !!!!!! STop rebadging Korean stirfry and presenting it as Ausiie beef.
Tomas79

Wheelnut Says:
“What do you believe is extremely unlikely Tomas:
That it will/could come to Australia?
That it will/could be called the Torana?
What about the Rumour that it might even be Built here?”

Obviously I’m referring to the opel it being called a torana, and being built here!!
Wheelnut

EH179Driver.. If HSV can put together a viable business package – that is show that there would be sufficient demand for an enhanced version of the Insignia – then maybe that could help convince Holden to import the insignia [maybe even build it here]

The other car HSV are looking at adding to their range is the Corsa
Wheelnut

Alex in your previous comment you say that you dot’t think that Holden will import the Insignia

You then say they that Holden should close and then bring Vauxhall/Opel to Australia and build the Insignia here to help avoid any job losses.

But how will that improve things given that in effect you will still have the same Holden assembly workers who ATM are building VE Commodores [which [according to you] are inferior and out of date – building a more modern European car..

I ageee Holden should either bring the insignia here or even build it here.
But i don’t think they should/would bring Vauxhall/Opel here entirely as some of their cars aren’t made for or suitable to Australian conditions let alone tastes

]I don’t think it’ll be coming to Australia, you know why? Because it’ll s**t all over anything HSV themselves make….

I have an idea that some will love and some will hate. Why don’t Holden just admit defeat and admit that their cars are outdated (including the future ones) and shut down. Then, to avoid job losses, bring Vauxhall to Australia! They could build them here – good quality, modern, fantastic looking cars that Holden would never have a chance with. Makes too much sense.
Robbie

It’s like a stab to the heart cars like this are not in Oz and we have to deal with EpiCrap.
o

I agree wheelnut but to the press Holden are angels only when the commodore have standard esp that all the magazines started pushing for it. Holden really should build the insignia. the VE is 3 years old and looks terribly out of date
Cupid Stunt

The Insignia platform is a Global platform so there is a chance. I’m starting to see Insignias out and about now and IMO they have a great road presence far exceeding a lowly Vauxhall. Impressed!
The previous VXR was a banshee of a car. Loads of power but no finesse on the bendies.
AND I question why you would want to by the expensive VXR version over the “standard” 2.8V6turbo thing. Can’t reaaly be worth the extra money all those badges.
Car Enthusiast

All i can say is that Is one Awesome looking Car, Nice to see the HSV style rims and Holden style steering wheel.

Holden no matter how shi*ty the economy is bring that thing to Australia, it would be a Briliant car.
gazinwales

Two reasons this car won’t come to Australia.
1. It got a manual gearbox, for some reason they are not popular down under.
2. The engine is way under powered for the aussie market.
3. It’s a Vauxhall
J

I thought the basic Insignia was a great looking car with a lovely interior. But this one in white looks awesome. At the end of the day holden will persist to bring this korean shit at a cost. Obviously to make money, but to do that you have to sell some. Come on Holden, bring the Insignia to Australia in a 2 model option. So then HSV can import the VXR here and have some parts back up.

Listen for once and treat your loyal customer base with some dignity and respect. Same goes for the Corsa/Barina
matt

man thats a nice lookin car! sorta… only sorta reminds me of a chrysler from the back but i still like it, good job opel
Liam

Please bring it!!!! I am looking for exactly that car… The 6 MPS is gone, the new Liberty GT, while OK, is no where near as purdy as that, and every thing else is either too slow (Accord EURO) or available only with an auto (Passat R36).