Adding 4x4 to the diesel Insignia makes it a great all-rounder, but dont expect to see many here, predicts PADDY COMYN
It had all looked like things were going to be okay for the future of Opel, but now the German government is set to vote on whether or not to provide the car maker with state aid.
Falling sales and the bankruptcy of GM in the US had damaged GM Europe’s credit rating and the firm will need state guarantees to secure loans for research and development down the line. Now there are fears in Germany that Angela Merkel’s government will reject a proposal from GM for state aid.
A recovery in car sales and Germany’s controversial bail out of Greece is thought to be part of the reason for this hesitancy. However, amid all the company’s financial uncertainty, the development of new technology continues. Whether these new developments will be of much interest to Irish buyers is open to debate.
You would think that after the winter we had this year, that potential buyers would be paying much closer attention to new ways to ensure that the slippery calamity that brought Ireland to a halt won’t affect us as badly this time. You would think so, but this probably won’t happen.
There is no market for winter tyres in Ireland and when it comes to spending extra on our cars, that was fine when times were good, but now we are back to the pre-Celtic Tiger days of scrappage schemes and scraping into the lowest spec model available. So what chance does Opel have of convincing us to pay an extra €2,500 on top of what isn’t one of the cheaper family cars, just so we can have four-wheel drive?
Probably not a whole lot, being honest. Sure, in Germany they not only like estate cars, but when Opel offered the Insignia with four-wheel drive on the 2.0-litre turbo petrol model, there was a 45 per cent uptake and customers were soon clambering for the same choice in a diesel.
So from September, you can have the Insignia 2.0-litre CDTi 160hp diesel with the option of four-wheel drive. It is a clever Haldex system, which not only operates only when it is needed, therefore saving extra fuel consumption, but when it is required, it takes just 80 milliseconds to react.
It can transfer 100 per cent of the power from the front to the rear wheels and it also features an electronically controlled rear limited slip differential (eLSD), which controls the distribution of torque between the left and right rear wheels.
It works well, providing what is already a fine car in terms of handling with palpably more grip. Combined with the right tyres, this car would laugh in the face of most shabby weather conditions and also makes towing infinitely safer, thanks to the clever new trailer stability assist feature that employs ESP to prevent towing mishaps.
Opel didn’t have pricing for the new 4x4 version, which is now available with the 2.0-litre CDTi diesel, the 220hp 2.0-litre turbo, and is standard on the 250hp v6 and 325hp OPC version. However, we would expect prices to start from around €34,000 for the diesel 4x4 model.
FirstDrive
Opel Insignia 2.0-litre CDTi Sports Tourer
Engine:1956cc 4-cylinder diesel putting out 160hp @4,000rpm.
0-100km/h:10.3 Maximum Speed: 210km/h
Fuel Economy:6l/ 100km
CO2 Emissions:159g/km
Motor Tax Band:D Annual
Road Tax:€447
Price:€34,000.