Vauxhall Insignia wins 2009 Car of the Year award!
The new Vauxhall Insignia (UK name, also called the Opel Insignia in Europe and Buick Regal in China) has been voted as the 2009 Car of the Year (Europe)!
The Insignia won by the tiniest 1 point margin – 321 points, beating the first runner up, the Ford Fiesta to the pole. Trailing behind in third place is the new Volkswagen Golf Mark 6 with 223 points. The last time a car won by 1 point was in the 2001 awards where the Alfa 147 beat the Mondeo by one point.
Other finalists included the Alfa Romeo MiTo with 148 points, the Citroen C5 with 198 points, the Skoda Superb with 144 points, and the Renault Megane with 121 points. To quality for the awards, a car must be launched within the past 12 months and must be available in at least five European countries.
There has been much fuss about the new Insignia from the European motoring press and this news should be a slight bit of music to GM’s ears during the difficult times they’re facing now. There is speculation that the Insignia will bring back the Lotus Carlton in spirit form. The old Carlton was also a Vauxhall/Opel, and the top of the line Insignia’s 260 PS 2.8 liter turbocharged V6 would be quite tuner-friendly, making the job easier.
The COTY awards jury is made up of 50 senior motoring journos from 23 countries, and the UK jury includes Steve Cropley of Autocar, Andrew English of the Daily Telegraph, Ray Hutton of the Sunday Times, Paul Horrell of Top Gear UK, John Simister of The Indepedent and Phil McNamara of Car Magazine.
Look after the jump for more photos and a video of the Insignia
PHOTO GALLERY: Vauxhall Insignia
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
VIDEO: Vauxhall Insignia Promotional TVC
November 17, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
1st to comment
November 17, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Very funny, we still in 2008, but this car already voted car of the year 2009 ?? Back to the future ??
November 17, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
layman said,
November 17, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Very funny, we still in 2008, but this car already voted car of the year 2009 ?? Back to the future ??
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hahaha…. yeah rite !!!! still in 08 but already win for 2009 !!!!! far than funny i think !!!!! neway, its not back to the future, itzZ future to the future !!!! Am i rite ?????
November 18, 2008 @ 6:28 am
the car in the flesh does not look as good as the graphic rendition even though there is no difference in both cars
November 18, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Nice car indeed.
What ever happen to Opel/Vauxhall brand in Malaysia? The official distribution is long dead isn’t?
Strangely, the Opel sign is still around , happened to see at the T-Junction before HICOM/Proton.
November 18, 2008 @ 9:13 am
Aiyo! Another copy cat!
The back lights looks like its from our beloved Gen 2!
Actually the whole rear looks like our lovely Persona
How could they do this????
November 18, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Naahh… How come it looks like Proton?
Rear end, looks like something that comes out from America.
November 18, 2008 @ 11:48 am
I brought back Vauxhall Calibra after I finished my study.It served me well and the built quality is really good.The new owner still keep the car now and he is happy with it.I do believe Vauxhall deserved this recognization.Just do not know what will happened if GM fail to survive………………
November 18, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
The tail light looks like the Mazda 6. The 2 door series still resembles the Astra GTC
November 18, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Manufacturers release vehicles FOR the next year.
Its not rare to see manufactuters selling a 2009 model in late 3rd quater 2008.
This is actually the 2nd time GM has tried to break into the European market with a modern global platform, first was the Epsilon platform underpinning the SAAB 93 and old Vectra. This is the evolution of that Epsilon platform.
I like how it looks, fluid and soft yet retains the germanic masculinity and purpose typical of its target competition.
Its a good new directly for GM, hope they do well.
As for a Lotus Carlton successor, I would think not. Its FWD….and even if it was with the available AWD, it just doesn’t jive with Lotus’ philosophy of “add lightness”. The last car Lotus tuned with 4WD is the Isuzu Impluse RS AWD. A little turbo 1.6 coupe with AWD and Lotus Handling. Nice car but never really quite caught on.
November 18, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
i’ve seen this car in the flesh. it actually look very impressive. those photos somehow dont do the car justice.
November 18, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Typo error. The hatch resembles the current 2 door Astra GTC.
November 18, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Hyundai Elantra exterior looks better than this one especially the side and rear. Front got some similarity.
November 19, 2008 @ 10:02 am
Ralliace said,
November 18, 2008 @ 9:13 am
Aiyo! Another copy cat!
The back lights looks like its from our beloved Gen 2!
Actually the whole rear looks like our lovely Persona
How could they do this????
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the gen-2 actually copied from the corsa, astra, plus opel has good proportions, the proton just looks like shit