VAUXHALL has shown the estate version of its upcoming new Insignia Grand Sport - and rather elegant it looks, too.
The Sports Tourer, as it is called, gets a bigger boot than the outgoing Insignia wagon, with the maximum volume up around 100 litres to 1,640 litres.
This is only narrowly ahead of the Astra Sports Tourer's 1,630 litres but passengers in the Insignia Sports Tourer also get more space.
As is the way with new cars, model-for-model, the latest Insignia is up to 200kg lighter than the current car.
The rear seats can be split in a 40/20/40 configuration and can be folded from a button in the boot.
Vauxhall has given the Insignia Sports Tourer access to its latest technology, so lane-keep assist, a head-up display, heated windscreen, heated front and rear seats and a tailgate that can be opened by waggling a foot at the rear bumper are among the available gadgets.
The new Insignia models also get the latest version of Vauxhall's already very impressive 'IntelliLux' LED headlamps. As well as being super-bright, these lamps work with various sensors to allow main beam to be used more of the time without dazzling oncoming drivers or cars in front by carefully focusing the light beams. This sort of 'intelligent' headlamp is one of the best safety devices money can buy today.
Vauxhall's version first appeared with the latest Astra, but the Insignia Grand Sport and Sports Tourer get 32 LEDs - twice as many as the Astra - in even slimmer headlamp units.
Because of the greater number of LEDs, Vauxhall's engineers have been able to programme the lights to shine their beam even more precisely and in a greater number of patterns.
A further enhancement means that in corners, the light intensity at the inner part of the LED 'matrix' rises according to steering angle in order to increase the illumination of the curve.
Another safety feature is the pop-up bonnet, which lifts in milliseconds in the event of an accident to increase the distance between its surface and the engine to offer pedestrians more protection.
Four-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox can also be specified.
Vauxhall has taken to fitting superb seats to its cars, and the Insignia Sports Tourer's items can be had with a massage and ventilation function.
Other technology includes the latest range of 'connectivity' options, with wifi, Apple CarPlay and OnStar, Vauxhall's concierge service.
The new car is due to go on sale in Northern Ireland in the autumn; expect prices to start around £23,000.
