Irmscher Vauxhall Insignia

Vauxhall's replacement for the aging Vectra, the Insignia, debuted last year. Built on GM's Epsilon II platform, the Insignia has been extremely well-reviewed by the press, even managing to grab the prestigious European Car Of The Year award in 2008.

It's a big step up from the old, slightly dull (if competent) Vectra, but the standard styling leaves a little to be desired.  Enter Irmscher, a German tuning firm that has been working on Opels and Vauxhalls for going on 40 years now.  They have a few bits and pieces for the new Insignia, to increase it's curb appeal.

The body modifications are blessedly tasteful.  Well-formed side skirts, a sporty front valence, a rear spoiler and a rear valance housing quad exhaust tips give the Insignia a more aggressive stance, for the sporting sales rep.  Irmscher also has released a set of alloy wheels for the Insignia, an attractive "turbine-vane" styled wheel available in 18" or 20" sizes, and silver or dark grey powdercoated finish.

The suspension has also been lowered a bit to provide the proper stance, and the aforementioned prototype quad exhaust is fitted to boost power a bit.

The overall effect is tasteful, and really seems to accentuate the Insignia's lines while giving it a more menacing look.  Keep an eye out for Irmscher performance modifications for the Insignia (both Opel and Vauxhall versions) in the near future.  ECU remaps for the 2.0L gas turbo as well as the Saab-sourced 2.8L V6 twin-scroll turbo are likely, as are aftermarket bits for the diesel versions.

Irmscher's parts for the Insignia can be found on their website, along with pricing in Euros.  The wheels run €1380 for a set, the front valence is €301, the rear spoiler is €302, and more prices for Insignia parts will be forthcoming.

At least they don't need to mess around with the interior!  The Insignia's really nice looking inside.  What do you think?