Vauxhall Insignia VXR first drive

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Friday, 27 November 2009 18:33

Although Vauxhall and their VXR Racing programme will no longer be part of the British Touring Car Championship, due to budget saving measures, the new Insignia VXR with its turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 petrol engine and race bred design features has only be brought to market after an extensive durability sign-off programme at Germany’s notorious Nurbürgring

Packing 325 horsepower with a sophisticated four-wheel-drive chassis and a sub-six second 0-62mph time and a top speed limited to 155mph, Vauxhall’s new Insignia VXR is well priced from £30,995 up to £33,120.

Based on the successful 2009 European Car of the Year, and available in Hatch, Saloon and Sports Tourer body styles, the high-performance Insignia is Vauxhall’s first VXR model to adopt 4x4 technology.

Technical highlights are a ‘HiPerStrut’ front suspension system, adaptive 4x4 with electronic limited slip differential and a 10 millimetre reduction in ride height over the Insignia SRi.

The HiPerStrut system is unique to the VXR and serves two primary functions: firstly, to reduce torque-steer, but also to maintain negative camber during cornering, thereby improving ultimate grip levels in wet or dry conditions.

Complementing these features are standard 19-inch alloy wheels but 20-inch lightweight forged alloys are an extra cost option and the car rides very well on these. The Insignia VXR also has bespoke tyres, revised bushing and damper settings on both axles, and Brembo brakes with colour-keyed callipers and vented/cross-drilled discs.

At the heart of the Insignia VXR is Vauxhall’s advanced 2.8-litre V6 Turbo ECOTEC engine, with its micro-alloy forged steel crank, classic 60-degree cylinder angle and die-cast alloy oil sump – all features found in many a race engine. Producing 325PS, the engine uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger and variable valve control for quick throttle response.

On the styling front the Insignia VXR has a deeper bumper, incorporating bold, twin mesh grilles either side of the main grille and at the rear all models gain a rear spoiler and a bespoke bumper moulding incorporating dual matt chrome exhausts.

This sporting theme continues in the cabin. Recaro front seats, a new VXR steering wheel, VXR gearknob and unique mouldings are standard on all cars, along with different instrument graphics, VXR sill plates and a black headlining.

Combining all the technical highlights of the VXR Hatch and Saloon with best in class-matching luggage capacity (rear seats up), the VXR Sports Tourer version is not only the fastest estate car Vauxhall has ever produced, but also the first to incorporate the adaptive 4x4 system and an electronic limited slip differential.

A 540-litre load space behind its 60:40 split rear seats increases to 1,530-litres with the seats down. Access to the load area is easy and convenient thanks to the standard fit electronic tailgate, which can be operated from the driver’s key fob, or via a rotary knob on the inside of the driver’s door.

A range of distinctive body colours for the VXRs comprise of Arden Blue, Power Red, Carbon Flash Black, Silver Lake, Olympic White and Technical Grey.

The classy VXR versions of the Insignia moves the Vauxhall brand into the ‘premium’ territory of the upper medium sector and it can easily compete for performance, bold styling, quality and high equipment levels against such models as the new Audi A5 3.2 V6 quattros or S4, the BMW 5-Series GT and Jaguar XF.

I briefly let the Insignia VXR in Hatch form loose on some almost traffic free roads over Salisbury Plain and it was evident that this car is a long legged cruiser, great for fast motoring from A to B and less of a cut and thrust sports machine. The figures say it is fast, and it is – relatively, but the ‘working’ of the chassis and the addition of the 4x4 system means this car could well handle more power.

A 3.0-litre engine with more low down torque would be ideal over the 435Nm the 2.8-litre high revving turbocharged unit produces from 5,250rpm. The gearing is also high for improved fuel economy but it isn’t that economical in its current form and the CO2 emissions at 268g/km put it in the highest road tax band. The Insignia is so well sorted that it doesn’t feel a very fast car but the figures prove it is a rapid GT type rather than punchy bruiser. The official average fuel consumption is 24.7mpg, my test drive at speed plus some town travel returned just 21.5mpg. For that fuel consumption I would have expected a bit more get-up-and-go. Refinement in the VXR styling treatment both inside and out and refinement in performance are the major advantages over pure guts and glory driving thrills. Yes the Sports and VXR buttons sharpen up the light steering, the suspension and throttle response settings but if these functions are used then the suspension becomes harsh and the ride unsettled. The 4x4 system provides first class grip so what the Insignia VXR looses in the way of load down grunt during acceleration is made up for with high cornering speeds.

In summary the car is more of an executive express than a street fighter; it feels as though the Health and Safety watchdogs have sanitised the product. In reality that is the way most company ‘execs’ and private sporting car enthusiasts want it these days so it fits the bill and it is a useful addition to a very good and popular Insignia range.

MILESTONES. Vauxhall Insignia VXR Hatch Nav. Price £31,810 (+options £33,975). Engine/transmission: 2.8-litre, V6 turbocharged petrol, 325PS (321bhp), 435Nm at 5,250rpm, 6-speed manual, adaptive 4x4 drivetrain with an electronic limited slip differential. Performance: 155mph (electronically limited), 0-62mph 5.6 seconds, 24.7mpg (21.5mpg actual), CO2 268g/km, VED £405 (first year rate from next April £950), BIK tax 35%. Insurance group: 18E. For: Sports styling inside and out, high quality fit and finish plus comprehensive equipment, neat handling, lots of cornering grip, comfortable long legged cruiser. Against: Expensive to run and costly in tax, lacks sporting ‘edginess’ to be a bruiser rather than a cruiser. Miles Better News Agency www.girlracer.co.uk