Insignia VXR estate is go - 25th May 2009 8:04pm
Blending V6 power with vast luggage area, Vauxhall unleashes fastest-ever carrier
![[Linked Image]](http://photos.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_616/car_photo_308054_7.jpg)
Get a load of Vauxhall’s fastest-ever estate. The firm has released the first official pictures of its Insignia VXR Sports Tourer.
It joins the hatch and saloon to complete the flagship range, and the deeper bumpers, large mesh front grille, matt-finished chrome exhaust pipes and VXR badges make it easy to identify.
The newcomer also rides 10mm lower than the standard car on 19-inch alloys, features Brembo brakes and gets an adaptive 4WD system and a limited slip differential.
Inside are Recaro race seats, as well as a VXR steering wheel and gearknob. The car delivers on all this promise, too. Under the bonnet is a 2.8-litre turbo V6. This 320bhp unit propels the Insignia from 0-62mph in six seconds, on the way to a top speed of 155mph.
The suspension is stiffer than that of the standard car, while engineers have covered in excess of 6,000 miles during testing at Germany’s gruelling Nürburgring race track to ensure supreme handling ability.
Practicality hasn’t been compromised in the pursuit of performance, though. The 540-litre boot can be expanded to a huge 1,530 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
This blend of flexibility and pace has left bosses confident that the newcomer will tempt buyers of more expensive rivals such as the BMW 335i Touring and Audi S4 Avant. Prices will be announced in the summer, but buyers can expect to pay around £25,000 for the VXR Sports Tourer when it arrives towards the end of the year.
Get a load of Vauxhall’s fastest-ever estate. The firm has released the first official pictures of its Insignia VXR Sports Tourer.
It joins the hatch and saloon to complete the flagship range, and the deeper bumpers, large mesh front grille, matt-finished chrome exhaust pipes and VXR badges make it easy to identify.
The newcomer also rides 10mm lower than the standard car on 19-inch alloys, features Brembo brakes and gets an adaptive 4WD system and a limited slip differential.
Inside are Recaro race seats, as well as a VXR steering wheel and gearknob. The car delivers on all this promise, too. Under the bonnet is a 2.8-litre turbo V6. This 320bhp unit propels the Insignia from 0-62mph in six seconds, on the way to a top speed of 155mph.
The suspension is stiffer than that of the standard car, while engineers have covered in excess of 6,000 miles during testing at Germany’s gruelling Nürburgring race track to ensure supreme handling ability.
Practicality hasn’t been compromised in the pursuit of performance, though. The 540-litre boot can be expanded to a huge 1,530 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
This blend of flexibility and pace has left bosses confident that the newcomer will tempt buyers of more expensive rivals such as the BMW 335i Touring and Audi S4 Avant. Prices will be announced in the summer, but buyers can expect to pay around £25,000 for the VXR Sports Tourer when it arrives towards the end of the year.
