2008 Opel Insignia (Vectra) spy photos
30 Jan, 2008
17 Comments 
Although Holden stopped importing the Opel Vectra back in 2005, Europeans can’t seem to get enough of them. The all-new model has just been caught by our European photographer undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Scandinavia.
The photos you see here are of the Opel Insignia, which will replace the Vectra in Europe by the end of this year.
Based on the new Epsilon 2 platform, the Insignia is wider and taller, allowing for more interior space. The wider platform has also given Opel the opportunity to release a 4WD variant which will be powered by a 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel.
As far as design goes, the Insignia is looking good, with a bold front end and a radical fastback profile. Our photographer even managed to get an interior shot, showing a much better-quality cabin than the outgoing Vectra.
But here is the most interesting bit, the top of the range Insignias will get a system called Traffic Assist, which has an array of lasers and video cameras that scan the road ahead for warning signs, lane markings and other traffic - meaning the Opel will be the world’s first mass-produced ‘driverless’ car, so to speak.
The system is designed primarily for European roads, but given the technology is good enough to make it past the bean-counters, there is some hope that GM will put it to use around the globe.
So what about us? Will Holden bring back the Vectra in the form of the new Insignia? Given the new leadership at Holden (headed by new managing director Mark L. Reuss), there might just be some room for this car and it would do well against Ford’s mighty Mondeo.
We have asked Holden and will update you once we hear back.
Update: A Holden spokeswoman has told CarAdvice she can’t comment on the Australian future of Insignia at this time.
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January 30th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Difficult to see what’s going on under the camo. The overall shape doesn’t look anything special. Notice the high bonnet line, guess this is for pedestrian crash protection as required by Euro politicians. Interior is a vast improvement over the current Vectra, it’s my biggest hate of the one I have which is cheap looking lacking any style what-so-ever. And a 2.7 diesel, gotta be better than the current crap Isuzu sourced 3.0ltr version here. 4WD . can’t wait
Oh and we can get enough Vectras in Euroland!! Hire/Rep cars all over the place.
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January 30th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Holden will by now have learned a terrible lesson.
They ditched quality European cars for volume that seemed guaranteed by switching sourcing to Korea.
And what happened? No volume.
The European Barina was given the flick to make way for the erstwhile Daewoo Kalos for a price point barely $1,000 cheaper across the range than the Spanish-built car it supplanted. And they sold like hot cakes to people who deserved them until word got out about their 2 star crash safety. Europe’s new Corsa makes our Barina look pre-historic. Barina’s not in the top 20.
The Viva was supposed to give the Corolla a fright but ended up being no greater a nuisance than a loose hair in the nostril. It’s not in the top 20.
The Vectra was not a sales success in absolute terms but had good engines, chassis and interiors in a bank-vaultish GM Europe body that at least had some driveway and street cred. I’ve seen half a dozen Epicas. They are probably the dullest car on the market. Not in the top 20.
Only the Captiva, and particularly the Maxx version, has a shred of cred. It’s not in the top 20.
Holden is well down the model-sharing path with Daewoo, it seems, so a reversal to European sourcing might be easier said than done. If this is the case, new Daewoo sourced cars had better be cracker-jacks, but I doubt they will be.
Don’t lose the Astra, Holden. Stop treating the consumers like dummies and the rewards must follow.
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January 30th, 2008 at 1:38 am
To me the front looks like a barge.. I’m sorry no thats ugly. Please try again.
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January 30th, 2008 at 9:12 am
WHY OH WHY DIDNT HOLDEN STICK WITH EUROPEAN CARS. THEY LOOK WAY MUCH BETTER. ISNT IT A PROVEN FACT THAT PEOPLE WANT QUALITY CARS AND WILLING TO PAY ALITTLE BIT MORE FOR QUALITY AND RELIABLE CARS THAN CHEAP AND NASTY CARS SUCH AS THE KOREA SOURCED CARS….
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January 30th, 2008 at 9:34 am
whenever i see an Epica “very rarely” i think you poor misinformed person …..an overpriced 10 year old Daewoo and it will be worth nothing when you have finished with it because the other 5 people in oz who wanted one have already got theirs
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January 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
There are some undiguised shots of the Insignia at worldcarfans. Back end looks particularly good. Please import this model Holden!
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January 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Looks like a cross between a Hippo and a Zebra ! Agree with Minnow BARGE ……..
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January 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Please oh please get rid of the epica and bring back a decent mid size car… Holden totally compromised it small - mid size range when it droped the european models - they were safer and better looking.
Plus that AWD Turbo diesel sounds nice!!
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January 30th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Looks like a Rover from front on. Still its better than the epica.
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January 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Don’t diss it before the camouflage comes off, guys.
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January 30th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
HOLDEN forget about the epica!……………………this is the true camry competitor!
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January 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
please please
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January 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Mechanically sound but SsangYong must have crept in one night with their crayons..
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January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
HSV are very interested in adding a High Performance [VXR]Vectra to their line-up.. Therefore; the end of the Epica shouldn’t be too far away.
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August 3rd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Insignia, The most beatiful car for this year,New promising generation from opel, a car with a camera to read the speed limits from the signs on the street, Its innovation, V6 engine 260 bhp with 4×4 wheele drive, Awsome, What a car!! , full with thecnology and performance and very good looking. I will buy one for sure, I hope they will bring it to the GCC market, Otherwise i will go to germany and buy one.
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August 24th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Please import the new opel holden.
the design and the sharp lines on this car make it look realy aggresive,sporty and youthful.the interior looks roomy and comfy as well. ofcourse better than all the imported korean cars with cheap interiors.
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August 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
do it holden,get rid of the korean stuff,the insignia looks great.vectra failed in aus coz you never promoted the vehicle.
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