First official shots of Opel Insignia interior released
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia
The first official look at the Opel Insignia’s interior leaves us with the impression that Opel / Vauxhall’s new sedan is going to be a nice place in which to log some miles. Put simply, the cockpit is identical to the one first shown in the slick-looking Opel GTC concept that debuted last year. Simple, attractive gauges are joined by amber lighting and a nice blend of plastics, brightwork, and other trim to create a driver-focused cockpit meant to be as usable as it is attractive. One of the little elements that’s kind of cool is how the gauge lighting shifts from white to red when the car is put into sport mode. Expect even more info on the Insignia and plenty of closer looks at the cabin when the car debuts in London next month at the British International Motor Show. If you can’t make it to London, just exercise a little patience, cross those fingers, and wait. This car will likely come Stateside as the next Saturn Aura at some point in the future. GM’s official PR is pasted after the jump.
Gallery: Opel / Vauxhall Insignia
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
PREMIUM FEEL AND STUNNING DESIGN DEFINE NEW INSIGNIA’S INTERIOR
- First official shots of new Insignia’s interior
- Chronometer-inspired instruments
- Use of high quality fabrics and materials
These are the very first official shots of the soon-to-be-launched Insignia’s interior, showing the immense attention to detail Vauxhall’s designers have lavished on the car’s cabin. Highlights include chronometer-inspired instruments, use of high-quality fabrics and materials, and a unique instrument lighting system.
First impression is of Insignia’s bold, wrap around interior, dominated by the signature ‘wing’ that flows from the front instrument panel and dives into the door panels. The surfaces from the exterior’s ‘blade’ feature are echoed in the shape of the interior grab handle, where the bright accent material sweeps dramatically into the door armrest.
The cabin’s interior lighting gives Insignia a unique night-time appearance. Vauxhall’s designers have added a warm amber-coloured ambient light to enhance the night driving environment. The instrument cluster is illuminated white, but on pressing the ‘Sport’ button, the lighting turns red to match the surrounding illumination.
“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.”
Cabin practicality will also raise the bar in Insignia’s market sector. The centre console offers flexibility and intelligent design solutions, such as a space-liberating e-brake and separate multi-function control on certain models. Both the steering wheel and front seats have a huge range of adjustability to suit all shapes and sizes, while adjustable armrests, ergonomically placed controls, a multi-use storage box and MP3 connectivity will reinforce Insignia’s appeal to private and business drivers.
“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.”
Many of Insignia’s interior design features will provide the DNA for future Vauxhall designs. Variations on sculptural artistry – the wing, flowing sculptural forms and a sporty dynamic environment – will be used moving forward, as Vauxhall refines and evolves its new-found design language.
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