So while it's not coming to the U.S. now, there's no definitive say on whether the new Opel Insignia will ever show up on American soil. It seems too bad; the car's visual themes are what GM calls "sculptured artistry"--from its BMW-like taillamps, to a front end that smacks of the Volkswagen Jetta and its "coupe-like" profile, the two-word curse that's beginning to afflict even SUVs. The body sports a low, low coefficient of drag of 0.26, and inside, there's a "premium" interior treatment that's much nicer than the current generation of Opel sedans.
The Aura's also missing out on all-wheel drive, which is engineering in the new Insignia, as well as a "FlexRide" chassis that adjusts suspension settings automatically or by driver choice. The Insignia also gets adaptive lighting and a lane-departure warning system on its options list.
As for mechanicals, the Insignia has seven available powertrains: three gas four-cylinders of 2.0 liters or less; a 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6; and three diesels of 2.0 liters. Six-speed automatic and manual transmissions are offered.
The new Insignia goes on sale in December 2008 across the Continent. Hold your breath if you'd like it to appear at a Saturn showroom; our bets are on Saturn shrinking to a three-vehicle brand (Astra, Vue, and Sky) before too long.
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