198bhp, twin-turbo-diesel Insignia

Thumping diesel fans take note. This is the new Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo and it packs the most powerful diesel engine ever seen in the curvy mid-sizer; all 198bhp and 400Nm (torque) of it. Prices start at £27,120 (up to £33,320) and CO2 starts at 129g/km.

The twin-sequential (see diagram below) turbocharged Insignia is on sale now and can be had as either a 5-door Hatch or Sports Tourer (estate) in SRi, SRi Vx-line and Elite trims, depending on how you like your motorway-mile-mega-muncher to look, and how tech-rich you want to be when pulling down houses.

The double-turbo-trouble diesel is based on the existing 1956cc motor already seen in the Insignia, Astra and new Zafira Tourer range, but with that extra turbo, it makes up to 34bhp more power and 50Nm of extra torque; reducing the 0-60mph time by nearly one second to 8.2 seconds, for the Insignia FWD Hatch. However, eco-features such as standard Start/Stop across the range, help keep the frugal-figures in check with the most sippy FWD Hatch seeing a quoted combined 57.6mpg; 2.2mpg better than the single-turbo 2.0 CDTi 160PS model. Sounds like a case of cake and eat it, to me.

The Insignia BiTurbo uses - uniquely in its class - sequential turbocharging, with a smaller, lighter turbo spooling quickly at lower engine speeds to help beat power-lag, providing 350Nm of torque from 1500rpm. In the mid-rev-range, both turbochargers work together, with a bypass valve allowing gases to flow from the small to large turbo. During this phase, maximum torque of 400Nm is produced between 1750-2500rpm. From 3000rpm, all exhaust gases flow directly to the larger turbo, ensuring performance is maintained at higher engine speeds, as the revs approach the redline.

Vauxhall’s impressive FlexRide adaptive damping is standard on all Insignia BiTurbos – usually a £790 optional extra on front-driving Insignias – with the suspension system reacting within milliseconds to driver inputs, “learning” how the car is being driven and adjusting the damper settings accordingly. BiTurbo drivers can also select Sport and Tour buttons on the dash, and sharpen (or relax) the throttle, steering and damper settings, as their mood dictates. Upgrades to four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled rear differential, can also be had to up the grip-anti. 

Vauxhall Insignia Hatch 2.0 CDTi SRi test drive here

Vauxhall Insignia VXR test drive here


www.vauxhall.co.uk



Here’s how the sequential turbos work, for all you diagram fans



This is what 198bhp of diesel power looks like


By Daniel Anslow

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