Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer spied testing ahead of its official debut

A new Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer will return to the brand’s line-up two years after the model was axed in 2015.

Completing the new Insignia range, alongside the Grand Sport hatchback and the Sports Tourer estate, the Country Tourer will get an improved four-wheel drive system as standard, as well as the pumped-up styling synonymous with this market.

Insignia Country Tourer revealed 

Camouflage at the front of the development vehicle indicates where black body cladding will appear, although the rear is more comprehensively covered. It’s also higher-riding than the standard Insignia Sports Tourer estate.

The Insignia Country Tourer shares much with the Sports Tourer, meaning it’ll also get the 100 litres of extra boot space over the previous model which the Sports Tourer benefits from, as well as the new 1.6-litre CDTi diesel engine. Like its predecessor, the new Country Tourer will likely be available with both an eight-speed automatic or manual gearbox, although there will be a more limited selection of petrol engines than diesels.

The bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel is the most likely to make it into the car with the automatic gearbox, although this hasn't yet been confirmed. The GKN drivetrain system used elsewhere in the Insignia range will provide power to all four wheels.

Read more: Next-generation Insignia VXR to get Ford Focus RS tech

The previous Country Tourer was snipped from the Vauxhall line-up because the cost of re-engineering the 'Whisper' diesel engine to fit with the four-wheel drive system would have been too high. 

Prices are as yet unannounced, but expect the higher-spec starting point to mean the Country Tourer will be priced considerably higher than the entry-level Insignia Grand Sport; the previous-generation model cost from £25,349.

The Country Tourer is due to be revealed at the end of this year, likely at the Frankfurt motor show.