Vauxhall Has Brought Back The Famous GSi Badge And It's Not Just A Styling Exercise

If you were going to get a MkII or MkIII Astra, it had to be a GSi, but 12 years after last being seen on a Vauxhall the badge has been given a new playground on a 256bhp Insignia
Vauxhall Has Brought Back The Famous GSi Badge And It's Not Just A Styling Exercise

GSi is back! Vauxhall has relaunched the badge everyone wanted a piece of during the 1990s and 2000s with a new Insignia GSi… although things aren’t quite as all-new as they seem.

The GSi will sit near the top of the range as a long-legged, sporty family car that takes things further than the aesthetics-only SRi trim grade. Think of it as a halfway house between SRi and full-bananas VXR.

Vauxhall Has Brought Back The Famous GSi Badge And It's Not Just A Styling Exercise

It’s a rebirth of a label that always denoted something a cut above the average, and will come with upgraded suspension, four-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and torque vectoring. Unlike brake-based systems, the Insignia will actually accelerate the outside wheel to give better turn-in and a more rear-biased handling feel. Nice.

If those specs sound familiar, though, it’s because there’s already a range-topping Insignia Grand Sport that has four-wheel drive, an eight-speed slushbox and the exact same 256bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot that’s slated for the GSi. The GSi will ride 10mm lower, though, adding special shock absorbers and Brembo brakes. A boot lip spoiler is actually functional, too, neutralising an as-yet unspecified amount of high-speed lift.

There will be adjustable driving modes that even allow the driver to customise the gear shift points in Standard and Sport modes. Fuel economy is 32.8mpg, which is the same as the existing 256bhp Insignia Grand Sport.

Vauxhall Has Brought Back The Famous GSi Badge And It's Not Just A Styling Exercise

The GSi’s sports seats will be bespoke to that car, and there will be GSi badges here and there inside the cabin to remind you you’re in something a little warmer than ordinary. Grip is taken care of by Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres on wheels ranging from 18 to 20 inches.

Vauxhall has used the GSi tag since the early 1990s on the Astra and Vectra, when OTT styling met OTT engines like, in the final Vectra GSi’s case, a heavy 3.2-litre V6 with 208bhp and a thirst for unleaded. Launched in 2002, the car lasted until 2005 before being canned. The Insignia GSi marks the first time the much-loved old badge has reappeared since then.

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Comments

5:19.55

So we need to wait 12 years to see the evo back…

07/20/2017 - 08:52 |
49 | 1

As an SUV…

07/20/2017 - 09:13 |
36 | 0
Tomislav Celić

In reply to by 5:19.55

No we need to wait until Mitsu is bought by Peugeot

07/20/2017 - 10:54 |
6 | 1
Poke

When will the Astra GSi be out because it could be good from what we see here with the Insignia

07/20/2017 - 09:23 |
1 | 0
LittleFun

In reply to by Poke

Heres a short render i made of the Astra K GSi, the original post is on my acc :)

07/20/2017 - 20:10 |
0 | 0
racerjack44

Rip commodore :(

07/20/2017 - 10:21 |
12 | 0

Yep, sad for sure. But, I’m sure these will be awesome in their own right. Even if there is no mental V8s.

07/21/2017 - 07:40 |
0 | 0
Tomislav Celić

LittleFun HYPEEEEEEEE

07/20/2017 - 10:54 |
3 | 0
LittleFun

Well… lets take a short trip to a hospital and sell stuff

07/20/2017 - 10:57 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

That’s the new Buick here in the USA!

07/20/2017 - 16:51 |
3 | 1
LittleFun

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Doubt yall will get the GSi, you will get the OPC version as always (dont know how do you call the top of the range Regal)

07/20/2017 - 20:11 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

07/21/2017 - 04:52 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

07/21/2017 - 04:52 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

07/21/2017 - 04:52 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I saw one of these on the road I swear. I knew it was that brand.

07/21/2017 - 01:52 |
0 | 0
Advanced Handling Flags

But it’s still a freakin’ Vauxhall.

07/21/2017 - 19:40 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Mk1 and 2 astras were gte mk3 and 4 were gsi

07/22/2017 - 09:08 |
0 | 0
Dominik Maslyk (Euro & JDM Addict) (Autistic boi)

OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL OPEL

Just kill the Vauxhall brand, no one wants it.

01/04/2018 - 16:10 |
0 | 0