The latest addition to the all-new Insignia range, Vauxhall’s all-wheel drive Insignia Country Tourer will debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Country Tourer is more spacious and considerably lighter than its predecessor, thanks to an all-new architecture, and comes with a wide range of innovative technologies, says Vauxhall.

It comes with a broad powertrain portfolio, including a brand new top-of-the-range diesel engine. In addition, the newcomer will also be available with the new eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive technology.

Additional ground clearance of 20mm, plus all-wheel drive with torque vectoring and new five-link rear suspension caters for those who want to leave the city and explore the countryside, says the manufacturer.

Instead of a traditional rear differential, the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer has two electrically controlled multi-plate clutches that the manufacturer says enables a more individual and precise transmission of power to each wheel. To stabilise the vehicle and counteract understeer on tight corners taken at higher speeds, the system can send more torque to the outside rear wheel without further driver intervention.

The improved FlexRide chassis provides the basis for changing road conditions and driving behaviour. It adapts the dampers, steering, throttle response and shift points (on automatic models) independently or based on the ‘Standard’, ‘Sport’ or ‘Tour’ modes, which can be selected by the driver.

The new central ‘Drive Mode Control’ software is the heart and soul of the adaptive chassis, and continuously analyses the information provided by the sensors and settings, recognising the individual driving style.

“The Country Tourer takes the Insignia story a step further,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director. “With its all-wheel-drive capability, raised ground clearance and rugged appearance, it adds another important dimension to the New Insignia range.”

Design

From the very start of the development process, the designers – led by Mark Adams – and team of engineers worked on a third distinct Insignia variant, meaning the Country Tourer perfectly complements the Grand Sport and Sports Tourer models.

“We wanted our new Insignia Country Tourer to be robust in every respect, while simultaneously displaying the typical elegant Vauxhall philosophy of sculptural artistry and technical precision,” said Mark Adams, vice president design. “It has the presence of a true flagship, combining a sophisticated athletic shape enhanced by rugged off road detailing.”

The new Insignia Country Tourer, is above all, extremely practical. To make loading as easy as possible, the tailgate can be opened without touching the car. In combination with Keyless Open & Start, a simple kicking motion under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate (a vehicle silhouette projected onto the ground shows the correct area), with another kicking motion required to close it.

To increase loading space to 1,665 litres, 135 litres more than the outgoing version, the new Insignia Country Tourer comes with optional 40/20/40 foldable rear seats, enabling flexible loading space configurations. The standard roof railing not only emphasises the adventurous look, but allows the Insignia Country Tourer to carry roof loads of up to 100kg.

The wheelbase has been increased by 92mm, enabling a more spacious cabin. The new Insignia Country Tourer comes with AGR-certified premium ergonomic front seats and the heated outer rear seats, heated windscreen and the heated steering wheel like its Grand Sport and Sports Tourer siblings.

Connectivity

As with its Grand Sport and Sports Tourer siblings, the Insignia Country Tourer comes with numerous technologies and assistance systems that enable a new level of safety and comfort. One of the highlights is the second generation of Vauxhall’s adaptive IntelliLux LED matrix light.

The Vauxhall LED matrix light now has 16 LED segments integrated into each of the very slim headlamps, and comes with an active curve lighting function and dedicated LED spotlight with a range of up to 400 metres. Further additions include the head up display, adaptive cruise control (ACC) with automatic emergency braking, Lane Keep Assist with automated steering correction and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The latest Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible IntelliLink systems ensure entertainment and connectivity, while smartphones can be charged wirelessly and integrated with the infotainment system.

The personal connectivity and service assistant, Vauxhall OnStar, is also on board and offers an extensive service portfolio ranging from automatic crash response to stolen vehicle assistance. Two updates to the OnStar portfolio are the booking service, and parking search, both of which can request OnStar advisors to book hotel rooms and/or search for suitable carparks. 

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