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What is it?

This is the flagship of the Insignia range. Power comes from the same turbocharged V6 that does duty in the Saab 9-3, with the Vauxhall getting 257bhp and 258lb ft of torque, rising to 280lb ft on overboost.

The daddy Insignia also gets four-wheel drive as standard, using a Haldex clutch to divert torque rearwards. It also shares the Saab's 'torque vectoring' differential to shunt drive left to right for maximum traction.

A six-speed automatic is standard...Read the full article

I must say that both exterior and interior design look really good.  Far better looking on both counts than the Mondeo.

As for the thirsty V6, there are some of us who will accept the heavy depreciation and higher fuel costs in exchange for a smooth, torquey V6 that's willing to rev.  Why?  That's because we would rather have a full-blown V8 or V10 but cannot afford it so this is the next best thing. :-)

Otherwise, there are many oil producing nations which this model could probably sell rather well in - Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Russia ........ you get my point.

4 wheel drive, torque super cross converting mega drive technology, transwarp suspension and all that.. blah..blah...

and it only gets off the line to 60 in 0.1 second less than the 2.0t tested earlier??? then this is a seriously, fatally, flawed lemon of a car.

I guess the coach builders will snap them up for modifying into hearses - Vauxhall don't bother with any colour apart from gloss Black eh?

A R Chen:

Otherwise, there are many oil producing nations which this model could probably sell rather well in

Oh sure.  I can see the Sultan of Brunei planning a trip to his local Vauxhall dealer as we speak.

 Unfortunately won't sell in big numbers no matter how good it is, based on its huge depreciation, fuel thirst and huge emissions compared to the 2.0t model (it isn't even that much faster - why only 257 ps from a turbo 2.8litre?)

See also Passat R36

Will make excellent second hand buy though...... (I like V6s also)

...also if it weighs only 1503kg , I'll eat my own left foot.

(think 1600-1700kg at the very least)

 Well, I hope they do an estate version of this. I'll get one of these in about 4 or 5 years when its probably between 5k or 6k with reasonable miles.

 Only thing I can think of to replace the larger MV6 I currently have and love.