Meet the new ‘Sportwagon’
General Motors has revealed the wagon version of its nextgeneration Insignia – the car that will be sold in New Zealand and Australia as the Holden Commodore Sportwagon.
As with the current Australiandesigned and built Sportwagon, the new model is as much as about high style as load-carrying ability. It picks up the ‘blade’ styling cues of the liftback, while a steeply raked windowline and silver roof rails give the impression of a long, low body shape.
The new wagon can carry up to 1640 litres with the rear seats folded: generous by class standards but not up to the the 2000 litres offered by the outgoing Aussie Commodore’s load bay.
But the new model has plenty of technology to enhance its practicality.
For example, the tailgate can be opened with a ‘kick’, without touching the car.
In combination with ‘keyless open’ tech, a kicking motion under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate (a vehicle silhouette projected onto the ground shows the correct area). A further kicking motion under the bumper will close the tailgate. The system can detect any obstruction and stops the mechanism in case of emergency.
The height of the opening can also be programmed, in case the car is in a garage. Or the tailgate can still be opened by a switch on the driver’s side of the car, a button at the rear or via the remote control.
It’s also available with optional 40/20/40-split rear seats. The rear seatback can be folded down by pushing a button located in the luggage compartment.
Other technology to be offered on the NG Commodore includes IntelliLux LED matrix headlights, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. The drivetrain line-up will mirror NG Commodore’s with four-cylinder petrol and diesel options, alongside the flagship V6 model with 230kW and 370Nm, the so-called Twinster all-wheel drive system with dual rear-axle clutches and a nine-speed transmission.
The new wagon will celebrate its world premiere in Opel guise at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7, and will go on sale in NZ in 2018.
What hasn’t yet been confirmed, but would seem obligatory, is a new version of the current Insignia Cross Country wagon, featuring SUV-like styling detail and raised ride height. While conventional wagons are falling out of favour in NZ, anything with a crossover/SUV flavour is embraced with enthusiasm. Watch this space.