What's all this about?
At the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, Vauxhall (via German arm, Opel) showed off the new performance version of the impressive Insignia Grand Sport/Sports Tourer. Using an old Vauxhall performance badge of GSi, think of this as a warm version until a new VXR comes along. Hopefully.
Right. But you said this was revealed at Frankfurt. In September. So what is new?
Well, now we know how much the Insignia GSi will cost when it goes on sale in the UK.
Fine, we're getting somewhere. And how much will it be?
The Insignia Grand Sport GSi hatchback will cost from £33,375, while the Sports Tourer estate GSi kicks off at £34,875.
Good. Can you go over the specs again?
Indeed. The GSi is powered by a choice of 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo motors, a single-blower petrol with 260hp/400Nm or a biturbo diesel with 210hp/480Nm. Either engine drives all four wheels, including torque vectoring, via an eight-speed paddle-shift automatic. Other techy bits include mechatronic FlexRide adaptive suspension, Brembo four-piston brakes and 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres. Vauxhall further says the GSi is 160kg lighter than the VXR it replaces, making it 'the fastest Vauxhall to have taken to the iconic Nurburgring'.
What? Didn't the old VXR have comfortably in excess of 300hp?
It did, 325hp and 430Nm from a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 petrol. It also did 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and went on to 170mph, which rather makes a mockery of the GSi's stats. The Grand Sport does 0-60mph (not 62mph, note) in 6.9 seconds and tops out at 155mph. Presumably, Vauxhall means the trimmer GSi can corner harder and brake later, but as it hasn't given us a time for its lap around the Nordschleife, we can't really comment on whether it is faster than the old VXR or not.
Hmm, intriguing. And what equipment do I get?
The GSi Insignias feature chrome air intakes, GSi-specific bumpers front and rear, sporty side sills, a rear spoiler (on the Grand Sport only), IntelliLux LED matrix headlamps, full-leather sports seats in the front, aluminium pedals, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, a Bose sound system and a head-up display, among the more interesting bits of kit.
Matt Robinson - 5 Dec 2017