Vauxhall Insignia, 2014

 

 

 Vauxhall Insignia, 2014

The new Vauxhall Insignia range made its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show before first UK deliveries start in October 2013.
There are four new engines, including: a 99g/km 140PS 2.0 CDTi offering large cost benefits to fleet and high-mileage drivers; an all-new 1.6 SIDI 170PS Turbo petrol; and a new 250PS 2.0 SIDI Turbo petrol. Existing diesel units have also benefited from refinement improvements.

An all-new infotainment system, incorporating Bluetooth-operated internet connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen, and 3D navigation and voice control, has full smartphone compatibility and allows drivers unrivalled communications while on the move. A DMB (Digital Media Broadcast) radio is now standard across the range.

Since its launch in 2008, the Vauxhall Insignia has largely dominated the mid-size sector and launched the eye-catching design philosophy that has permeated through all subsequent new Vauxhalls. The Insignia's classic exterior lines remain for the new range, refreshed styling at the back and front of the car, but inside there are important changes to its instrument cluster and centre console design, as well as improvements to control-functionality.

The Insignia's range has been simplified, too. There are now eight trims (down from 14 in the outgoing line-up), ranging from Design to Elite, with a mixture of new models that will appeal to both retail and fleet buyers. And like all Vauxhalls, the new Insignia range will come with Lifetime Warranty, allowing first owners peace of mind for as long as they own the car, up to 100,000 miles.

Vauxhall is raising its game in the highly competitive D-segment with the launch of the new Vauxhall Insignia. 167,000 Insignias have been sold since launch in the UK illustrating its popularity with both retail and fleet buyers, as well as its appeal to buyers who had only previously considered premium cars in the D-sector.

While the Insignia has increasingly found favour with retail buyers, much of its success has been in the fleet market with 80 per cent of Insignias going to business customers.

Vauxhall's combination of more efficient engines, premium design and state-of-the-art infotainment systems will certainly prove tempting to both company car drivers and fleet decision-makers alike.

The new Vauxhall Insignia's direct competitors include the VW Passat, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis and Peugeot 508. Other potential competitors include the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and Mercedes C-Class.

Design and Aerodynamics
The biggest change existing Insignia customers will see when they sit in the new car is a completely re-designed centre console and instrument cluster. The centre console has been simplified and now has fewer buttons for more intuitive operation of common functions, such as air conditioning and infotainment, while the instrument cluster has new dials and a fresh, high-tech look.

Optional across the range is an 8-inch screen infotainment display (up from 5-inches in the outgoing range) and a new, upgraded instrument cluster with an 8-inch, high-resolution colour display. The cluster incorporates two outer dials showing fuel and revs, while in the centre sits a speedometer that can be displayed in analogue or digital form, or changed to show functions such as smartphone or audio use, or navigation.

The 8-inch infotainment display has touch-screen functionality, allowing drivers to access all functions and sub-menus such as radio stations, song titles, smartphone connection or 3D navigation in an intuitive and safe way. Its illuminated, touch-sensitive surface reacts immediately to finger movements, with even individual letters and numbers being accessible via this method. Up to 60 favourite menus can be stored from all functions and apps, available next year, can also be downloaded via the car's Bluetooth-connected internet.

In addition to button, touchscreen and touchpad operation, Insignia drivers can also control the infotainment system via re-designed controls on the new-look steering wheel. The advanced voice recognition function can also be operated by a single push of a button on the steering wheel.

Stylish new leather and cloth trims are available in the New Insignia range, complemented by upgraded dashboard materials and decors.

With 40 industry awards to its name - including the coveted European Car of the Year in 2009 - the outgoing Vauxhall Insignia has earned respect from media and customers alike. One of the pillars of its success has been its premium design - we called it 'sculptural artistry meets technical precision' at launch - and with the new range this has been enhanced still further.

Starting at the front of the car, the high-gloss chrome grille is wider and lower than before. The logo-bar that cradles the Griffin badge is thinner and includes winglets that link with the re-designed headlamps. On Elite models, these feature bi-xenon lamps with AFL (Advanced Forward Lighting), which is optional on all other models.

Standard headlamps are trimmed in high-gloss black with chrome-embedded accents, with the up-level AFL lights getting a 'wing-signature' daytime running light with energy-saving LEDs.

The lower front fascia inserts are designed to appear slim and wide to emphasise the upper grille size. Fog lamps are combined with wide, black inserts and chrome accents, which grow in width as they near the cabin.

The New Insignia range's Hatch and Saloon models are better defined through their unique tailgates and rear spoilers. The crease line on the C-pillar of the Hatch fades out before it reaches the spoiler's trailing edge, giving it a classic coupe silhouette. On the Saloon, the crease line continues along the edge of the spoiler to emphasise the body's length.

At the rear, the New Insignia range models appear wider and lower. The high-gloss chrome logo bar has been positioned lower on the tailgate. It extends into the tail-lights and incorporates the slim-look reversing lamps. The tail and stop functions of the two-piece tail-lights are illuminated by LEDs throughout the range.

The Sports Tourer's rear styling embodies a similar wider and lower appearance. The main visual enablers are again the stretched chrome brand bar, also framing the reverse functions, and an uninterrupted body-colored division between the tailgate glass and the longer, slimmer light units. The rear bumper moldings for all models also incorporate several black 'cut-out' inserts according to the powertrain choice, with or without visible exhaust tailpipes.

The New Vauxhall Insignia range offers a raft of technology, safety and comfort highlights. These include state-of-the-art radar and camera-based assistance systems (including adaptive cruise control and second-generation park assist), premium seats, and 'Open & Start', the keyless entry and start system, to name just a few.

Aerodynamics
Vauxhall's new Insignia is not only the lowest CO2 emitting car in its sector but now also the most streamlined vehicle in the world in its class.

Thanks to clever changes to the body design of the new Insignia, Vauxhall's engineers have reduced the vehicle's drag coefficient to under 0.25 for the Insignia hatchback and 0.28 for the Sports Tourer. New extended underbody covers, wider front spoiler lips, tail lamp housings designed to enhance airflow separation and an integrated rear deck lid spoiler contribute to the new Vauxhall Insignia's slippery shape.

Insignia 2.0 CDTi eco FLEX (120/140PS) models with Start/Stop also feature an additional, ultra-modern aerodynamic element: an active front air shutter. Air flowing through the front grille to cool the engine usually accounts for up to eight per cent of total vehicle air drag. To reduce this effect, a shutter in the lower front grille automatically closes to prevent air entering and causing turbulence. For cold starts, an additional advantage is a faster engine warm-up, which also helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Whenever the engine needs air for cooling, the shutter opens automatically.

These changes help the new Insignia eco FLEX (120/140PS) achieve class-leading CO2 emissions of 99g/km and 76.3mpg on the combined cycle.

This gives the eco FLEX a range of up to 1175 miles, which means that an average UK driver covering 8,200 miles, would only have to refill with diesel seven times per year. Or put another way, an eco FLEX driver could travel from London to Budapest on one tank of fuel!

ENGINES AND CHASSIS
The new Insignia range's powertrain line-up has been broadened still further with the addition of an all-new petrol engine and new derivatives of the existing 2.0 CDTi unit.

Now available with a choice of three power outputs - 120PS, 140PS and 163PS - the New Insignia range's 2.0 CDTi engine offers drivers ultra-low C02 emissions of 99g/km (76.3mpg combined) for the lower two outputs and 114g/km (65.7mpg combined) for the higher output unit (figures for Hatch models). But performance hasn't been compromised, with even the 120 and 140PS models producing up to 320 and 370Nm of torque respectively, and the 163PS model up to 380Nm.

For company car drivers, the new diesel engines offer an even more compelling argument, with both the 120 and 140PS eco FLEX Hatch versions emitting just 99g/km of C02 and dipping in to the 14 per cent Benefit-in-Kind category for the 2013/14 Tax Year.

Also new to the engine line-up are two direct injection petrol units: the new-generation 1.6-litre SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) producing 170PS/280Nm that recently launched in the 2013 Cascada convertible, and the 2.0-litre SIDI, producing 250PS/400Nm. Both engines provide an exceptional mix of refinement, economy and performance. They can be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission and Start/Stop function, or with a new, low-friction six-speed automatic gearbox.

Chassis
Across the New Vauxhall Insignia range, there have been improvements including dampers, roll-bars and steering, which result in improved noise and vibration behaviour and even higher levels of comfort. Completely new suspension control arms and carrier housings were built into the axle architecture to improve driving comfort. Electronic Power Steering (EPS) is standard in all but the VXR models has been reprogrammed for improved feel. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels have also been reduced for enhanced occupant comfort.

Vauxhall's Flex Ride adaptive damping chassis system, with its real-time driving style recognition, is also used in the new Insignia. This innovative chassis networks all driving dynamics systems and features electronic damper adjustment, as well as speed-dependent power steering. The driver can choose between three driving modes: Standard for driving comfort, Tour for an even softer, more comfortable drive, and Sport for a more direct, sporty driving experience.

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Toyota Corolla, 2014

 

 

 Toyota Corolla, 2014

The all-new 2014 Corolla includes dramatically amplified elements of style, design, quality and craftsmanship, while building upon the stellar Toyota Corolla reputation for reliability, efficiency and function, making Toyota's newest compact the most surprising and capable Corolla yet.

Corolla for the World: 47 years, 154 Countries, Built in 16 Locations, Immeasurable Impact
With nearly 40 million units sold, the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car nameplate on the planet, and this year marks its 47th year on the market. Since the Corolla first appeared in Japan in 1966, it has played a major role in the motorization of Japan, and its global popularity has had a significant impact on transportation throughout the rest of the world. The global scope of Corolla now finds it manufactured in 16 locations and sold in 154 countries. The Toyota Corolla's appeal as a global car is rooted in a product philosophy set forth by Tatsuo Hasegawa, the first Corolla's chief engineer, who sought "to develop a car that brings happiness and well-being to people around the world."

As a result of more than 40 years on the market satisfying consumer needs, this compact car has developed into a pillar supporting Toyota's famed reputation for quality, durability, and reliability. The Corolla, maybe more so than any other Toyota sold globally, has been the answer for consumers in the market for a reliable, efficient, and affordable compact vehicle.

Unexpected Exterior Design is Expressive, Chiseled
The all-new Corolla makes an immediate visual impact with a more expressive, chiseled exterior design that elaborates on the "Iconic Dynamism" theme first seen on the Corolla Furia Concept that debuted at the North American International Auto Show. The new Corolla is distinguished by its tauter, more athletic proportions that ride on a longer wheelbase (+ 3.93 inches/ +100 mm compared to current model). With the wheels pushed out toward the corners, compact overhangs, and more tapered front and rear expression, the new Corolla communicates a more dynamic compact sedan form, even at a standstill. The new sedan is 3.90 inches (99 mm) longer overall and yet presents a more compact appearance than the current model thanks to a basic shape that tapers at the front and rear of the vehicle to help emphasize the wheel arches and wheels-to-the-corner stance.

The new Corolla features an expressive front fascia with sharper, more pronounced details above a large trapezoidal grill that rests beneath a thin intake inlet below the hood.

The front view of the new Corolla reveals a continuation of the design themes seen in recent Toyota sedans such as Camry and Avalon, and it creates a sleeker, more assertive impression of a Toyota compact sedan with its more precisely sculpted surfaces.

Among the challenges presented by the new Corolla's original design concept was the need to execute more deeply rounder corners to achieve the desired sleeker image. The thick structure of conventional headlamps would hinder the appearance of deeply rounded corners. Sleek, compact LED lamp assemblies were adopted to reduce the corner mass and help accentuate the Corolla's tapered, rounded-corner, front- end design theme. In addition, the low heat generated by the LED lamp enabled the use of a lighter weight PES resin lens instead of conventional glass. Corolla is the first compact sedan to offer standard equipped LED headlamps.

Heightening the exterior design's attention to detail, the new Corolla's athletic profile reveals door handles that have been sculpted into the body to align with a character line that spans the length the door surfaces, utilizing a vertically asymmetrical door handle design. The new Corolla's C-pillar features a "faster", longer sloping angle that blends in to the rear deck more athletically. The rear view is highlighted by large, sharply-sculpted rear taillight assemblies. The new Corolla is available with a subtle rear deck-lid spoiler that accentuates the sportier nature of this new compact.

Elevated Interior Experience With a Greater Sense of Craftsmanship in its Design
The new Toyota Corolla's interior continues the "Iconic Dynamism" theme to create a stylish, highly functional, and inviting interior space with a greater sense of craftsmanship in its design, use of materials, and attention to detail. A horizontally oriented dash structure helps enhance the interior's sense of spaciousness while providing a more wide-open, intuitively functional space for interface with vehicle controls. The interior offers a premium aesthetic with its use of piano-black gloss trim highlighted by metallic ornamentation and trim that conveys an upscale yet sportier image.

Depending on interior color theme, blue, black or amber pinstriped accents are used in conjunction with the dash and door panel ornamentation to enhance the premium appeal of the interior. Ornamental stitching along the leading edge of the dash pad adds a sense of craftsmanship to the interior's upscale nature. An available decorative boot with ornamental stitching surrounding the shift lever adds a sporty, premium look.

As a result of the 3.93 inch increase in vehicle wheelbase, the new Corolla's interior package has been dramatically improved in terms of passenger comfort, gaining considerable legroom for the rear seat occupants. Compared to the outgoing model, the rear seat hip point has been moved back 2.95 inches (75 mm), and additional leg-room was gained by adopting a slim front seat back. The rear passenger floor was also made flatter by re-routing exhaust pipes beneath the vehicle to offer better middle position foot room. Rear seat comfort is also enhanced with the use of denser urethane pads and foam inserts within the seats.

The 2014 Corolla elevates the compact car's interior experience by treating occupants to a high level of cabin quietness. Environmental noise, in addition to road and engine sounds entering the cabin, are mitigated by an acoustic glass windscreen, improved floor carpet insulation, an instrument panel seal between the cowl and the windshield, a fender sound insulator, and an inner dash silencer pad.

Corolla's front seats include a longer, more supportive lower cushion and an improved bolster design, while offering a 0.59-inch (15-mm) increase in the seat's range of adjustment to help accommodate a wider range of physiques. The effort required operating the Corolla's front seat slide, reclining, and lift mechanisms has also been greatly reduced.

Corolla's standard gauge cluster offers three dials with sharp image detail and clear blue illumination, surrounded by chrome trimmed rings. Within the speedometer dial is a multi-information display that shows odometer, trip odometer, current fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, cruising distance and average vehicle speed. The S-grade meter cluster offers a high technology feel with a 3.5-inch black and white TFT display that rests between two large dials.

The new Corolla offers an expanded range of interior choices with seat fabrics that create an appealing contrast with the piano black and metallic-accent surfaces. Depending on the Corolla trim level, the seating surfaces are trimmed in premium, detailed fabric or a durable, upscale SofTex material.

Four Distinct Grades; High-level of Standard Equipment
The 2014 Corolla is available in four distinct grades: L, LE, S, and the new LE Eco grade. While each grade offers its own equipment level, all Corollas feature LED lowbeam headlamps with LED daytime running lights, an in-glass AM/FM antenna, color-keyed outside door handles, color-keyed outside mirrors, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, power door locks with automatic locking feature, power windows with driver-side one-touch up/down, air conditioning with pollen filter, standard Bluetooth connectivity and eight airbags.

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