Opel Insignia Gets Camera System that Reads Signs and Alerts Drivers

The new Opel Insignia that’s set to go on sale in Europe later this year will be offered with an optional dual-function camera that not only reads speed limit and no-overtaking signs and displays them on the instrument panel, but also alerts drivers when they unintentionally veer out of their lane.

Called “Front Camera System”, it utilizes a front mounted high-resolution camera located between the windscreen and the rear-view mirror that can take 30 pictures per second along with two signal processors that filter and read the photos. -Continued

Depending on light conditions, the system’s Traffic Sign Recognition function begins to repeatedly read signs at 100 metres. When a match is found in the car’s software, the sign is displayed in the instrument panel; it will even prioritise a no-overtaking sign over a speed limit warning sign.

When the Lane Departure Warning function is turned on, the system uses a second signal processor and software to read traffic lanes and record a driver’s normal lane-changing behaviour, taking into account steering input and indicator usage. If the system detects any deviation from the road, then an audible and visual warning is sent from the instrument panel in order to prevent preventing any hazardous situations.

First Official Pics of Opel Insignia’s Interior

These are the very first official shots of the soon-to-be-launched Opel Insignia’s interior, or to be precise, the UK market Insignia that bears the Vauxhall logo. While we had the chance to get a glimpse of the mid-size sedan’s interior in a series of leaked (low-res) images back in April, these official pictures from Vauxhall allow us to see the cabin in high-resolution detail.

The Insignia, which could come to the States as a Saturn, features a relatively sporty wrap around interior design that has nothing in common with the Vectra’s ultra conservative cabin. Highlights include chronometer-inspired instruments and a unique instrument cluster lighting which is illuminated white, but on pressing the ‘Sport’ button, the lighting turns red to match the surrounding illumination. -Continued

“This is a paradigm shift for Vauxhall,” says John Puskar, Executive Director of Interior Design at GM Europe. “We wanted to create interior environments for all our future vehicles that are warm, inviting and sporty. The Insignia is the first evidence of this philosophy.”

“Every detail was meticulously thought through,” says Jochen Werner, Insignia’s Assistant Chief Interior Designer. “We even tipped the infotainment centre at a 30 degree angle to allow the centre console to flow and give the car’s cabin a greater feeling of spaciousness.”

Along with the official high-res interior pics, Vauxhall also released new exterior images of the Insignia in a lusty black colour.

Opel Insignia 5door Liftback Scooped

The third confirmed variant of Opel’s new mid-sized Insignia model (the other two are the sedan and station-wagon), the 5door Liftback version, has been scooped by spy photographers without a trace of camouflage. Expected to account for the majority of sales in Europe, the Liftback variant of the Insignia doesn’t look at all different from the 4door sedan, with the only visible change being the more angular rear pillar.

Like the sedan, the 5door Insignia will be offered with four gasoline engines ranging from a 115 hp four-cylinder unit to a 2.8 turbocharged V6 with 260 hp and three new 2.0-liter direct-injection diesels with outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. -One more pic after the jump

Source: AMS , Via: Autoblog.it

Video: 2009 Opel Insignia, and Possibly, the 2010 Saturn Aura

If you liked what you saw from the pictures that were released a couple of days ago, then you’ll be happy to know that Opel’s new mid-size sedan looks even better in this official promo video. The Insignia, that will replace the Vectra in Opel’s range and hopefully, the Aura in Saturn’s line-up, will go on sale in Europe this fall where it will be offered with a choice of seven diesel and gasoline engines. –Video after the jump

Opel Insignia Officially Unveiled!

Following a series of leaks – the latest being a new set of images that we posted earlier today, Opel finally decided to officially take the wraps off the all-new Insignia. Designated to replace the Vectra in Opel’s European line-up, the Insignia will be available in the UK with the Vauxhall badge (see pics after the jump) while it’s quite possible that we will also see it in the States as the successor to the Saturn Aura.

Opel’s new 4.83 meter / 190.1 in. mid-size sedan boasts a sexy silhouette that’s clearly inspired from the 2007 Geneva Show GTC Concept. “With Insignia we are introducing an exciting new sophisticated design vocabulary, which combines sculptural artistry with German precision,” says Mark Adams, Vice President Design, GM Europe. “Our aim was to develop a confident look which compels the world to experience for themselves the superb driving dynamics the Insignia radiates.”

For the first time, and apart from the front-wheel versions, Opel will be offering its mid-size sedan with an all-wheel drive system dubbed “Adaptive 4X4”. Both versions of the Insignia will can be combined with Opel’s FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with Adaptive Stability Technology that helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood.

The Insignia’s initial engine line-up will consist of seven units, four gasoline engines ranging from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp and three new direct-injection diesels featuring a displacement of 2.0 liter and outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. -Continued

“The Opel Insignia sets new standards in technology and innovation -- this will be obvious right from the launch. But we are keeping several cards up our sleeves when it comes to environmental compatibility, excitement and safety, which we will play strategically overtime” says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, GM Europe.

The Insignia notch- and hatchback will make their debut on July 22, 2008 at the London Motor Show with sales set to start in Europe this fall.

2009 Opel Insignia: Image Gallery Update

This will probably be our last “unofficial” post on the 2009 Opel Insignia sedan as the German carmaker is slated to release all official images and data on the Vectra’s successor over the next couple of days. The gallery that we’ve included after the jump consists of eight new pictures of the Insignia that is schedule to arrive in European dealerships this fall (more details here). –Click through for the image gallery

2009 Opel Insignia: Engine Range To Include 1.6 and 2.0 Turbo Units

We still have a few days left before Opel officially unveils the new Insignia, but since a whole set of images were leaked into the net the other day, there’s no point for hiding anymore. Apart from the pictures without watermarks, we also have initial details on the Insignia’s engine range.

Starting off with gasoline models, the Vectra’s successor will be offered with five petrol units: 1.6-liter with 115 Hp; 1.8-liter with 140 Hp; 1.6-liter Turbo with 180 Hp; 2.0-liter Turbo with 200 Hp and 2.8-liter V6 Turbo with 260 Hp. The Insignia’s diesel engine range will include four units: 2.0-liter available with 110, 130 and 160 Hp and a top notch 2.9-liter V6 with 250 Hp.

In 2009 Opel will enhance the Insignia’s range with the addition of an OPC version that will be equipped with a 300 HP 2.8-liter V6 Turbo engine combined with an all-wheel drive system. The Insignia will go on sale in Europe this summer and although this is not official yet, it is expected that it will also come to the States as the successor to the Saturn Aura. –More pics after the jump

2009 Opel Insignia: Prematurely Leaked on the Web

While Opel was busy handing out camouflaged images of the Insignia, the guys at Dutch magazine AutoWeek managed to get there hands on the first official images of Opel’s forthcoming mid-size sedan. As you can see in the pictures, the Insignia, which will most probably be sold in the States as a Saturn (Aura) and in Australia and New Zealand as a Holden, is far more tasty in and out than the outgoing Vectra.

We don’t have the official details on the mechanics yet, but in Europe expect the range to kick off with 1.8-liter petrol (140 Hp) and 1.9-liter turbo-diesel engines. There will also be a top-of-the line Insignia OPC model equipped with GM’s 2.9-liter V6 turbo engine pumping out approximately 300 Hp to all four wheels. –More pics after the jump

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Autoweek

2009 Opel Insignia: New Image Gallery Released

After releasing pictures of the taillight - headlight treatment and an initial set of camouflaged shots (click here), Opel has followed up with a new image gallery of its upcoming Insignia sedan that will replace the Vectra in Europe, and most possibly, the Saturn Aura in the States.

While the Insignia shown in these pictures is once again covered with that annoying black adhesive tape, the new images give us a clearer view of the mid-size sedan’s exterior styling which is heavily inspired from the 2007 GTC Concept. The Insignia which is based on GM’s Epsilon-2 platform, is to be unveiled at the London motor show in 2008 with sales beginning in Europe shortly after.

About a year later, Opel plans to unveil a sporty edition of the Insignia bearing the OPC logo that will be powered by an updated version of the current Vectra OPC’s 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine delivering approximately 300 HP. Unlike the top-notch Vectra however, the Insignia OPC will get a four-wheel-drive system. –15 high res pics after the jump