The new 1.6litre ‘Whisper Diesel’ powertrain is to be fitted to the Vauxhall Insignia range, the firm has announced.
The mid-size turbo unit is to replace the current 2.0 litre engines and will deliver low fuel consumption and boost the smoothness of the car’s performance.
The 1.6 CDTi in the Vauxhall Insignia has a power output of 136PS and the ecoFlex version will reach 130mph and sprint from 0 to 60mph in just under 11 seconds.
Crucially for company car drivers who make up a large proportion of buyers, this new engine will produce emissions of 99g/km.
The impressive low CO2 emissions are achieved when the Insignia has 17 inch alloy wheels and low rolling resistance tyres fitted, which is only four models in the line-up, but its economy is an impressive 74mpg on the combined cycle.
Vauxhall Insignia attractiveness for buyers is boosted
Vauxhall has also boosted the attractiveness of the Insignia as an office-on-wheels with its impressive OnStar system which creates a Wi-Fi hotspot which will deal with up to seven connected devices.
There’s also technology to help the vehicle be recovered if it’s stolen and emergency services will be notified automatically if the airbag is deployed.
Drivers of the Vauxhall Insignia also have an impressive personal assistant service available 24/7 when they can contact a call centre and ask questions. For instance, they may ask for help in pinpointing a destination which the assistant can then send exact the co-ordinates to the Insignia’s satnav.
OnStar is fitted as standard on three trim levels and it is a £395 option on others.
The Vauxhall Insignia offers an excellent driving experience with some excellent engines on offer though the firm is also boosting the technology and interactive element within its cars.
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For instance, the new Insignias have the second generation of IntelliLink – the Navi 900 – which brings iPhone connectivity to the vehicle.
Drivers will be able to access music and news apps for entertainment via the car’s eight-inch colour touchscreen.
The same IntelliLink also offers audio streaming and the ability to have incoming text messages read out.
In addition, the voice control is good and when the car is stationary the driver can watch videos and films on the screen.
The voice control is also used for the satnav and the Vauxhall Insignia comes with maps for 30 countries which can be displayed in 3D or 2D, as chosen by the driver.