Chap just round the corner has had one on his drive for a few weeks now and in metallic grey it does look very nice. I suspect he works for the local GM dealer considering the number of 16 plate Corsa's his family drive and the fact he has a new motor every 3 months.

That sounds like the manufacturers' "management" car scheme - in most cases, not just managers but many others get access to cars that way. My B-i-L gets a new JLR car every 4 months with Fords as an extra option.

Chap just round the corner has had one on his drive for a few weeks now and in metallic grey it does look very nice. I suspect he works for the local GM dealer considering the number of 16 plate Corsa's his family drive and the fact he has a new motor every 3 months.

That sounds like the manufacturers' "management" car scheme - in most cases, not just managers but many others get access to cars that way. My B-i-L gets a new JLR car every 4 months with Fords as an extra option.

Indeed - a former school mate's dad was a middle-ranking manager at Vaxuhall and regularly got new models. I recall one being a Carlton auto with a very flashy 'sport' button (around the time of Knight Rider, thus 'boost' button on the gearstick was cool and the car went like a rocket) which impressed all us youths when it was used when taking us to/from school or trips!

The new Insignia looks nice, though the review does say its trim isn't so good quality. Big beast though.

The "Sport" button on Vauxhall automatics was simple electronics - it disabled 4th gear and only used 1/2/3 and the rpm change points were moved upwards - AFAIK the Senator got it when the autobox went from 3-speed to 4-speed (those were the days!) but was rolled out quite quickly across the full range - I switched from Ford to Vauxhall in the '80s and all mine had it - Senator, Carlton, Cavalier and Astra.

GM will be disappointed with reports of "trim isn't so good quality" as they've tried hard to upgrade the quality image.

By all accounts the Insignia Grand Sport does have significantly more internal room than the outgoing Insignia which was cramped compared to the preceeding Vectra-C.

There won't be a VXR version for the UK as Chevrolet had a hand in the platform's development and "forgot" to leave room for the turbo V6 on the RHD version.

Don't rule out a VXR version just yet, everybody is downsizing and remember, the PSA group's 1.6 petrol turbo is available with up to 270bhp. Especially given that, going by what I have read, the new insignia is usefully lighter than the old one.

Yes - I should have qualified that - there won't be a V6 turbo VXR - they'll probally settle for the 2.0 bi-turbo

The 2018 Holden Commodore, aka Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, will get a US-supplied 3.6 V6 non-turbo rather than the UK-supplied 2.8 V6 turbo the outgoing model had.

Trying to sell a 3.6 non-turbo gas guzzler in the UK would be too difficult.

Following the Brexit vote, plans for high performance versions of Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport were scaled back because their justification depended on UK demand which is now expected to be much less.

I don't know if PSA has a turbo V6 that would fit the Insignia GS.

Allegedly, Chevrolet forgot RHD when packaging their turbo versions and the RHD steering column would need to go through the turbo!

Edited by RT on 07/06/2017 at 23:14

With the halo VXR8 ceasing production later this year I can well see 3.6 being imported to take its place. 0-60 is expected to come in at under 6 seconds, transmission 9-speed auto, all paw drive; as a near a replacement to the VXR8 there is likely to be, and those buyers won't have been concerned about fuel consumption. Hope the Bailey tip will be fitted.

That contradicts what I've heard from those involved with Opel - Brexit and changes in the exchange rate caused late cancellation of intended high performance Insignia for Vauxhall - and without the volumes sold in the UK, the business case for Opel in mainland Europe meant the model was cancelled.

The specification of next generation Holden Commodore is dealt with separately and based on the Aus Dollar - Euro exchange rate - in any case GM's US 3.6 V6 is unlikely to meet Euro 6b emissions regulations but Australia is still using Euro 5 so can be sold there.

The VXR8 was/is imported in minute numbers, just 15 this year - easy enough if it's a HSV import going through SVA - but couldn't be replaced with an Opel-built car which needs much higher volume and full Type Approval.

Edited by RT on 10/06/2017 at 20:04