Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport – lighter, bigger and more dynamic than the Insignia

The Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport – heading for a debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show

The Vauxhall/Opel Insignia is being replaced at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show by the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, previewed by this prototype.

Big saloon cars – and big hatchbacks – have seen sales decline in recent years as buyers favour SUVs and Crossovers, and big saloons and hatches from mainstream makers like Ford and Vauxhall have also been hurt by premium car makers hunting in packs lower down the car food chain.

But Ford persevere with the Mondeo, Skoda with the Superb and Vauxhall with the Insignia. But the Insignia is soon to disappear from sale to be replaced by this, the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport (Opel Insignia Grand Sport for Europe) at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Previewed with this camouflaged prototype, the Insignia Grand Sport arrives underpinned by a new platform and growing by 90mm in length – with a big chunk of that in the wheelbase – with a slightly wider track and lower roofline.

Vauxhall say this makes for a more dynamic car – visually and driving – and a drop in weight, despite the increase in size, of up to 175kg, will help make the claim a reality.

Engine choices for the Insignia Grand Sport will be wide, from a 1.5 litre three cylinder turbo petrol to a 250bhp 2.0 litre turbo with 4WD, with diesel options delivering anything from 110bhp to 170bhp.

Rory Harvey, Vauxhall MD, said:

Vauxhall is raising its game even further with the launch of the new Insignia Grand Sport.

It will set new standards for design, efficiency, technology and connectivity when it debuts next year at the Geneva Motor Show.

Expect more details on the Insignia Grand Sport between now and March 2017 when it debuts in Geneva. And by then we should know about the estate version too – will it be the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport Sports Tourer?

We do hope not.