These are leaked pictures of the all-new Insignia, Vauxhall’s replacement for the Vectra and the car intended to give General Motors a genuine rival to the Ford Mondeo.The Insignia is larger and better-looking than the car it replaces, but it’s also been engineered to offer the sort of quality feel previously unknown to Vauxhall drivers. The car will make its official debut at the London Motor Show in July, with the first cars being delivered to UK customers in October.The leaked pictures show a car which, like the Ford Mondeo, Citroen C5 and Honda Accord, features more individualistic and ‘premium’ styling, intended to help distinguish it from other D-segment rivals. Like other mainstream manufacturers Vauxhall is keen to press the increasingly upmarket credentials of its new family car, while continuing to undercut marques like BMW and Audi.The Insignia is the first production model to use GM’s new Epsilon 2 platform, a much-altered and improved version of the original Epsilon used by the current Vectra. It’s grown substantially, being nearly seven inches longer than the current car. The leaked images show the saloon version, but both hatchback and estate bodystyles will also be offered. The exterior design is striking, boasting a coupé-like profile and a shrink-wrapped, compact look (surprising, considering the car’s Mondeo-beating dimensions). A distinctive scalloped shape runs from the driver’s door down the side of the bodyshell, working with the relatively shallow glasshouse to emphasise the car’s sporty profile.The Insignia’s interior design takes GM’s European models to new level of material quality and sophistication. The architecture and ambience is far more radical than the severe practicality of the Vectra; in fact, it makes most BMWs look austere. Technical details will be released later in the week, and we’ll be the first to bring you the full story and the official pictures.
