Athletic, powerful and elegant is how Mark Adams, vice-president of GM Europe Design, describes the new Vauxhall Sports Tourer. As far as mid-sized wagons go, the Insignia variant is quite a looker and is expected to have credentials to match when released to UK customers in the second quarter of 2009.

Considerable work was put into the Sports Tourer to ensure the overall cohesion of the design while still retaining the appealing look and feel of the existing vehicles.

“This is a stand-alone model and not simply an estate version of the saloon. In fact, all the bodywork aft of the B-pillars is unique to the Sports Tourer. We’ve also ensured that its design combines the sculptural artistry and technical precision found in the saloon and hatch models.”

While length has increased by 80mm, the Sports Tourer sits atop the same 2733mm wheel base as its sedan and lift-back siblings. Specific dimensions and capacities will not be known until this year’s Paris Motor Show. Reports indicate the wagon will feature one of the best cargo volumes in its class.

To complement the current, and plentiful, engine line-up, Vauxhall will release two new engines with the Sports Tourer: a more powerful turbo-diesel unit and a smaller capacity petrol turbo mill - expect specifications at launch. As an added bonus, buyers will have the option of AWD or FWD as well as Vauxhall’s Adaptive Stability Technology - the FlexRide system.

The Sports Tourer completes the Insiginia line-up and will ensure buyer needs are well catered for in the mid-sized market. If Holden makes good on plans to import the Insignia range, these images suggest it may have a winner on its hands.