The new Opel Insignia debuts an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring

The Opel Insignia began its journey in 2008. Since then it has become a sales success for the German brand, with more than 900,000 units sold, and it also won the title of “Car of The Year 2009”. Now it will completely change its design, becoming more elegant and adopting coupé-like shapes, and we will not have to wait long to see it in public, at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

We have already told you about its details and equipment, which will put it even more on a par with its main rivals in terms of equipment. We will see whether this affects its so far competitive value for money too much. Among its options, the current generation already offers the possibility of fitting all-wheel drive, and the next generation will incorporate an evolution of this system.

The new Opel Insignia Grand Sport, fitted with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, will be available with an evolution of the all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring. It is an evolution of the current torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive systems that reduces the added weight and increases performance, all thanks to the introduction of a Twister system, which fits a module on the rear axle with a dual-clutch system and no differential.

With this new solution, and regardless of the road surface, the new Opel Insignia can apply engine torque to one or both rear wheels independently, so engine torque is distributed by vectoring across the whole performance range. This torque vectoring also gives the driver greater safety, since the distribution of engine torque also varies according to steering wheel angle, accelerator position and road conditions, thus damping the so-called rotational effect.

But so that driving does not become too boring or too radical in the new Opel Insignia Grand Sport, the driver can change the amount of rotational damping depending on the driving being done. For a strong damping effect, and therefore a calmer drive, you can select Tour mode, while if you want less effect and a sportier behaviour you should choose Sport mode.

Source | Opel