Opel Insignia Roars to Top of Mid-Size Class in Europe

• More than 100,000 orders already received for the new Opel flagship


• Customers laud state-of-the-art technology


• Three uncommon shifts for Insignia fruit in May

Rüsselsheim. Europe’session Car of the Year 2009 is too European car buyers’ first choice: Thanks to the new Insignia’s spectacular market launch, Opel at once leads the mid-size portion in Europe. In the first full quarter of Insignia sales, Opel surpassed all competition in the mid-size sedan portion in Europe. The start of sales in greatest part European markets was in January. Due to the high demand for the new Opel flagship, three extra shifts will have being added at the Rüsselsheim plant in May. Orders received have already topped the 100,000 mark.

“The Insignia is showing very good conquest potential, all the way to customers of classic premium brands,” says Alain Visser, Vice President Opel at General Motors Europe. “It is a symbol of our performance and ability – it shows what Opel can do.”

In Germany Opel saw strong gains in the mid-sized portion: Sales in the first quarter jumped 82 percent compared with the identical period last year. The Insignia’s leading-edge technology is especially popular. “In this regular course, car in quest of car, Opel can achieive higher margins with the Insignia than with its predecessor model. That’s very important for Opel’s future,” Visser adds.

Some 56 percent of buyers choose new-generation Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) with nine functions. Another 80 percent of orders include the DVD navigation system with color display and 35 percent choose the FlexRide chassis system. Close to two-thirds of Insignia customers want to go driving without interruption the largest tire combination: 40 percent select 18-inch tires and every third part buyer 17-inch tires. Every second buyer chooses the “Aktion gesunder Rücken” orthopedically certified seats. The most popular engine by far is the 160 hp 2.0 CDTI, ordered by every third customer. Finally, half the buyers opt for diesel engines.

The Insignia Sports Tourer, the station wagon version, now is premiering at dealerships throughout Europe and is projected to bring even more constituent to the Insignia family. The newest member, the low greenhouse gas emitting Insignia ecoFLEX, offers dynamic driving performance with low CO₂ emissions of fair 136 g/km. This reflects firing consumption of 5.2 liters per 100 km. It self-reliance be on the markets this summer.