Vauxhall Insignia

By Chris Thorp

21st July 2008

It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of the 2008 British Motor Show – and it has made a spectacular touch down on UK soil!

As part of an elaborate publicity stunt, the new Vauxhall Insignia was hidden in a futuristic capsule, which was left lodged in the ground next to London’s Tower Bridge all weekend.

Intended to look like an unidentified flying object that had crash landed from outer space, the capsule was then hoisted out of the ground by a huge crane. The new Insignia then dropped down to the ground in dramatic style as the world’s media looked on. Both four and five-door versions were then revealed.

The world premier took place a day before the first press day of the British Motor Show, where the Vectra-replacing model will soon go under the scrutiny of the public. The first buyers will take delivery at the end of the year.

And it’s no coincidence that the Insignia’s dramatic unveiling took place in the same city that the Corsa was flown into under a helicopter two years ago. The firm explained, “everything we launch here turns to gold.”

Whether the new family car will be as successful as its supermini sibling remains to be seen. It will depend largely on how much the Insignia will cost to buy – prices will be revealed on the show stand.

Plus, click here for an exclusive video of the Insignia's spectacular crash-landing.

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