Currently reading: Insignia VXR at the 'ring

Four-wheel-drive, hot Insignia VXR takes on the Nurburgring

The new four-wheel-drive Vauxhall Insignia VXR has been setting some extremely swift times at the Nurburgring, according to Vauxhall insiders.

With 300bhp on offer from GM’s familiar 2.7-litre V6 engine, the fastest Insignia’s already beaten the 8mins 35secs benchmark Nurburgring lap time set by its smaller Astra VXR sibling.

This Vectra-replacing model shares a torque-splitting electronic differential with the Saab 9-3 Turbo X, helping it to put power down on the road and dialling out the ragged character of its two-wheel-drive predecessor.

As the hardest Insignia, the VXR will get much beefier looks than the current range-topper – the all-wheel-drive Insignia that’s on display at the London motor show.

Well-placed GM sources reveal that the VXR’s looks will be based around the original GTC concept car. We should expect the high-performance Insignia VXR to reach showrooms late next year.

Will Powell

>> See more pics of the Vauxhall Insignia and Insignia VXR

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