Opel's midsized Insignia sedan and Tourer wagon made their way to Australia last year, but a significant styling makeover is not far away.

Like its smaller Astra stablemate, the four year-old Insignia will benefit from a mild styling refresh ahead of the 2014 model year, giving the award-winning sedan a new lease on life.

These latest spy photos offer the clearest look yet at the Insignia's redesigned lights and, perhaps most important, an overhauled dash design.

At the front, the Insignia's headlights taper to a sharper point, stretching further back along the front quarter panel. An Audi-like step to the bottom edge is also evident.

At the rear, a new garnish extends into the inside edge of the restyled tail-lights, although light camouflage continues to obscure this section.

And in fact, both features can already be seen in production form on the Buick Regal, the Insignia's US-market cousin.

In the cabin, the Insignia's busy dash design has been binned, replaced with a simplified layout again drawn from the Regal.

The new design sees switches spaced out beneath a large new display. The Insignia's existing steering wheel has also been tweaked, with new joypad-like switches and an updated chrome garnish.

The styling update follows a light overhaul announced in mid-2011, which saw GM's Cruze-powering 1.4 litre turbo four-cylinder engine join the range, along with an updated 2.0 litre turbo four.

The 1.4 litre engine replaced the earlier 1.8 litre unit and, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, brought fuel consumption down to 5.9 l/100km.

Top speed for the 1.4 litre models is listed at 205km/h, and the 0-100km/h shuffle is over in 10.9 seconds.

All variants also gained an engine start/stop system, along with a more aerodynamic underbody and low rolling-resistance tyres.

Late in 2011, a bi-turbo CDTI engine joined the range, with the new 2.0 litre four delivering 143kW and 400Nm, compared to 118kW and 350Nm for the mid-range diesel option.

In 2012 and in recent months, Opel has also begun to reveal details of three new engines it will launch this year, including a pair of 1.6 litre petrol and diesel engines.

• Related News & Reviews at TMR ▼

• Insignia | Opel | Spy Photos | Family Cars

Leave a comment:

• 
• 
• 

Or use the form below, without registering.

User: Password: Register

Name: Required

Email: Required

Remember me

Enter comment here.

Notify me (by email) when there are more comments on this article.

Click here to prove you are human.

• reply ” like !

  

  Wheelnut says,
  1 year ago

  2 likes

  The Insignia is what Holden should have replaced the Epica with 3+ years ago; but unfortunately its too late and Holden are now having to put up with the Malibu which I think will get annihilated by the Insignia in the sales charts....oh well.
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    1 year ago

    2 likes

    Why would Holden have bothered with Insignia, given how poorly the Vectra fared in the local market? Holden have had massive sales success in their switch from European to Korean sourced product. Malibu is the last piece of that particular puzzle that is yet to be put in place but given that the medium segment is in almost as bad a way as the large car segment, it is hardly a problem for them, I'm sure.
    • reply ” like !

      

      Biasedandinformed says,
      1 year ago

      1 like

      IMO Holden never bothered with the Insignia because of the retail price of the Vectra, The CDXi for example was $50K, excluding on roads. Buyers looked at this car and decided that they could get a large sedan, a common-dore, and well specced for less than that! So Vectra didnt meet sales targets. The Korean cars however cost less to build and only had to "look" ok to attract buyers, for all that, Korea produces an inferior product to the German built Opels. Which, it should be noted are the "Holden of Germany", but with a much larger market to please, including the UK (Vauxhall), and alot more competition from quality Euro car makers, Opels in general are much better built and Higher Specced vehicles than anything Holden would offer in the Australian market. The CDXi Vectra, released in 03 here, shamed the entire Holden line up at the time, yes it had some electronics and transmission issues, all of which were rectified.
      • reply ” like !

        

        MotorMouth says,
        15 days ago

        Not too many Opels are built in Germany. Corsa comes from Spain and Astra is built in Belgium. I'm not sure where our Insignias come from but it is likely not Germany, either. Only the OPC models would be of German origin, I imagine.
        • reply ” like !

          

          Riwal888 says,
          4 days ago

          You have inaccurate information.
          
          Here is list of Opel current cars:
          Small city car Opel ADAM comes from Germany (Eisenach).
          Opel Corsa comes from Germany (Eisenach) and Spain (Zaragoza).
          Opel Meriva (small MPV) comes from Spain (Zaragoza).
          Opel Mokka (small SUV), Buick Encore, Chevy/Holden Trax comes from GM Korea (Bupyeong).
          Opel Astra comes from Germany (Bochum and Rüsselsheim), from Poland (Gliwice) and from Great Britain (Ellesmere Port).
          Opel Cascada convertible comes from Poland (Gliwice).
          Opel factory in Belgium (Antwerp) is cca. 3 years closed.
          Opel Zafira Tourer (MPV) comes from Germany (Bochum and from 2015 Rüsselsheim).
          Opel Antara (SUV) comes from GM South Korea (Bupyeong).
          Flagship Opel Insignia comes exclusively from Germany (Rüsselsheim).
          Also all OPC variants comes from Germany.
  • reply ” like !

    

    smart us says,
    12 months ago

    Insignia and Malibu are essential the same car...
• reply ” like !

  

  MotorMouth says,
  1 year ago

  Insignia hit European dealerships in October 2008, that 3 and a half years ago, not five, as stated in the article.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Mike Stevens [TMR] says,
    1 year ago

    Right you are, MM. I had 2008 in my head, but obviously maths (or rather, my grasp of maths) failed me on the numbers.
    
    We'll call it four years.
• reply ” like !

  

  Fraserm says,
  1 year ago

  There was a black insignia cruising the streets of adelaide over the weekend too, was a bit of a surprise to see
• reply ” like !

  

  mark says,
  1 year ago

  2 likes

  Lets hope the cost of parts are not as ridiculous as all past holden branded opels are. Also lets hope all the issues are also sorted out because some past holden branded versions where rubbish.
• reply ” like !

  

  Shaun says,
  12 months ago

  I wouldn't touch one if they are anything like the Holden Vectra's of 03+
  
  The build quality of my mum's 2005 CDX Vectra is actually terrible for a European Vehicle... paint fade in random areas, materials inside not lasting and electrical and mechanical problems. All from a car that has been well looked after, driven well and done hardly any kilometres for its age.
  
  The ride is extremely bumpy too (for rough Australian roads anyway).
  
  Lets hope Opel has learnt from the mistakes of Holdens use of their vehicles.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Ray says,
    12 months ago

    Well, Shaun, I don't doubt your experience, but mine (from 3 Opels: a TS Astra in early 1999 then a manual Zafira in mid 2002 then a new Astra in 2005, which we still have, with about 150000km on the odo) is different. The ride and handling combo was/is a winner in all these. No issues with quality control nor price of parts (Mark). We'd look at buying another. One factor against it for us is that the closest dealer is distant from us. But we'll check them out carefully when they arrive.
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    15 days ago

    Yeah, my experience has been very different, too. I had a '94 Calibra, built on the Vectra platform, from 1998 to 2007 and it was fantastic. It still looked great inside and out when I traded it in and the only expense I had in the 7 years I owned it was the water pump at about 90,000km. The clutch was just about gone when I traded it in but by then it had clocked up around 135,000. The Astra I traded it in on was every bit as good and much better than the FSI Golf I test-drove against it. It was nicer inside, more comfortable and sporty (standard leather), just as quick with better handling. I wouldn't hesitate to get another Opel car.
• reply ” like !

  

  car bazzar says,
  12 months ago

  Does anyone know what the Green Vehicle rating for these models will be? Like more and more companies in Australia, mine requires 4* on the official government website and could be the deal breaker for corporate buyers.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Balthazaaaargh says,
    15 days ago

    Dunno about the update, but the current model has 4 stars in Sport Tourer form.
• reply ” like !

  

  Michael says,
  5 months ago

  1 like

  A bit like Mercedes' new light designs.
• reply ” like !

  

  MattJ says,
  5 months ago

  1 like

  No point buying the current one as the new one will be launched soon! OPC for me, but waiting on now the updated one!