Insignia Country Tourer revealed
* Vauxhall shows VW Passat Alltrack rival * Raised ride height and four-wheel drive * On sale before the end of 2013...
This is the Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer, a more rugged version of the family estate car that's designed to appeal to those who would normally buy an SUV, or Volkswagen's Passat Alltrack.
The Country Tourer is based on the regular Insignia Sports Tourer, but it has been raised by 20mm, and is four-wheel drive. The set-up reverts to front-wheel drive when extra grip isn't required; Vauxhall claims this reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The new model will be offered with a choice of two diesel engines. The regular 2.0-litre 163bhp turbodiesel has 258lb ft of torque and is offered with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic. The more potent 'BiTurbo' diesel option has 192bhp and 295lb ft of torque; it's only available with the auto transmission.
Images of the new car's interior are yet to be revealed, but we'd expect it to stick very closely to the heavily revised cabin that has just been unveiled in all other Insignias. The exterior gets protective cladding at the front, on the side sills and on the lower areas of the flanks. LED daytime running lights and LED tail-lights will come as standard.
The Insignia Country Tourer is due on sale before the end of the year. Vauxhall has yet to announce prices or specs, but we'd expect a premium of around 1500 over comparable Insignia Sports Tourers.
