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The new Insignia ecoFLEX, debuting at
the Paris Motor Show, offers environmentally friendly driving without
compromise. In contrast to many other competitors, it is not a low-end
model, but rather combines powerful propulsion and driving fun with
highest efficiency. Vauxhall’s newest ecoFLEX model features a powerful
single turbo-diesel with 2.0-litre displacement and output of 160PS.
“We designed the Insignia as a
particularly efficient car from the beginning. By making a multitude of
detailed improvements to the powertrain and to the road and wind
resistance factors of the ecoFLEX model, our engineers are able to
minimise fuel consumption without affecting driving fun,” says Hans
Demant, Vice President of Global Engineering at General Motors Europe.
“Though we are still developing the new Insignia ecoFLEX with the 2.0
CDTi ECOTEC engine, we are confident it will emit CO2 gases
well below 140 g/km.”
Compared to competitors’ cars with
similar fuel consumption, it is clear why the Vauxhall Insignia ecoFLEX
watchwords are economy without compromise. The Insignia ecoFLEX sprints
from zero to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of up to
135mph. Ensuring excellent pulling power even at low rpm, the maximum
torque of 350Nm is available from 1750rpm, and can be temporarily
increased for 15 seconds to 380Nm via an ‘overboost’ function.
The new 2.0-litre common-rail
four-cylinder unit uses the innovative Clean-Tech process to ensure the
lowest possible emissions are precisely maintained over its life span.
This controls combustion via an electronic closed-loop system, adapting
fuel injection to combustion development in real time. Piezo-resistive
cylinder pressure sensors integrated in the glow plugs are used to
measure combustion pressures as high as 180 bar in each individual
cylinder up to one million times per minute, within an accuracy of
ninety-eight percent. The data is sent to the central engine control
system, which adjusts the volume and timing of the fuel injections
accordingly. This closed loop system ensures the engine always operates
with optimum efficiency and minimal exhaust emissions. Over the entire
lifecycle of the Insignia, it compensates for wear factors such as
inaccuracies in the fuel metering, component tolerances, varying fuel
qualities and operating conditions.
Other factors contributing to the low
consumption and emission figures include the 10 mm lower body to reduce
the car’s frontal area, and the fitting of low-resistance Primacy HP
tyres from Michelin. Like all Insignia models, the new ecoFLEX variant
is Euro 5 certified and will be available as a hatchback and saloon in
the second half of 2009 with prices announced closer to the launch.
Further improved aerodynamics
Thanks to their streamlined design,
sporty roofline and finely-tuned details, the regular Insignia variants
feature an exemplary drag factor of 0.27. The Insignia ecoFLEX undercuts
this figure still further. Its drag co-efficient of CD 0.26 makes it one
of the most aerodynamic production saloons in the world and in this
respect, the best Vauxhall saloon ever. As such, it requires less engine
power to overcome air resistance than considerably smaller cars. This is
key, because when doubling speed the engine power necessary to overcome
aerodynamic drag increases by a factor of eight. So if 13PS are
necessary to overcome aerodynamic drag at 50mph, 107PS are needed at
100mph.
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