Opel working on Insignia based SUV for 2015, may come to U.S. as Buick

2010 Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer

Opel has been on a roll revamping their lineup and the latest and greatest Astra and Insignia are both examples that have much potential of reinvigorating the brand’s appeal. Not too long ago, Opel announced that it will be coming out with a new large crossover that will go against the likes of the new Citroen DS5 crossover that was unveiled at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show.

“The Opel [Vauxhall] brand can’t content itself with the Insignia,” said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, head of Vauxhall’s sister brand Opel, “we need a car that has greater global appeal than the current Ford Mondeo rival,” he continued.

These new efforts will revive Opel/Vauxhall’s FLV plans, or Future Large Vehicle, which was terminated in 2008 from the global recession.

The other driving forces for these projects is China’s potential market as successful sales have been proven from the popularity of large cars from mainstream manufacturers in the skyrocketing Asian country. Citroen and Peugeot have both decided to launch a production version of its SxC Concept, which is what caused Vauxhall and Opel to follow.

No other details of the new crossover were released other than it will be based off of the Insignia’s platform, will feature a luxurious and flexible seven-seat cabin, and a raised ride height with either front- or all-wheel drive.

Depending on the success of the model, the new crossover could also find its way into US dealers as a Buick since the Opel Astra, Insignia, and Antara are both sold as such under the names of Verano, Regal, and Enclave.

– By: Chris Chin