Introducing the Opel design of the future

• Video

Behind the walls of the General Motors European Center (GM has 11 similar design studios around the world) with over 400 employees, it's too much of a secret to share with the outside world, especially the media.

Opel says the Insignia is a sculptural work of art paired with German precision. Apparently, they can only be attached, because the new sedan (although it may not make such an impression on fake photos) is really what the Germans say about it: sporty and elegant at the same time.

A brand new chrome mask with the new Opel logo shines on the sharply cropped nose, which Opel intends to prove itself with pedestrian safety in test accidents, and on the hips, wide tracks and muscular shoulder line convince the sporty orientation behind. The (bulging) rear fenders merge into a boring limousine-shaped rear.

On the side, also because of the low roofline (there is less room in the back, but Opols say customers don't buy such a car because of the back seat) and a chrome window frame that drops optically lower. In the image, the Insignia looks like a four-door coupe.

Malcolm Ward's team behind the Insignia's exterior has scattered a bunch of blade-like elements (like lines on the sides, behind the wings) and wings (light intensity) that will be important. item on other (future) Opel models.

In addition to improving the level of quality, the common reference for everyone who created the new Opel was also the harmony of exterior and interior design, so the close cooperation of both design teams was a matter of course. And what did harmony bring? Full of decorative elements in the form of a canvas (door handles inside, around the gear lever, on the steering wheel ...) and a wing-shaped dashboard.

In Rüsselsheim, they say you fall in love with the exterior and live with the interior of the car, which is why the Insignia tried its best. The wing-shaped dashboard (a design element Opel will carry over to other new products, including the upcoming Astro) hugs the front passenger and is filled with interesting (some) details: for example, completely new sensors, the design of which did not match. Rely on the look of the bike, as you'd expect, but the team of GME chief interior designer John Puskar copied the look of the chronographs.

A closer look at the speedometer and speedometer markings tells a lot about this. Are you missing the yellow color in the photo inside? You will still miss it as Opel has taken a plunge forward; yellow is buried in the dustbin of history and dedicated himself to the white and red combination.

Again, the gauges: in the normal program, they glow white, but when the driver presses the sport button (which otherwise provides more engine responsiveness, suspension stiffness, in anticipation of a more dynamic ride - the rest of the technique) and turns completely red. Temperament!

In the passenger compartment, the emphasis is immediately placed on the quality of materials (how much more expensive the Insignia will be than the less prestigious and smaller Vectra, we will find out in the fall), and the two-tone interior immediately catches the eye. eye. When the Insignia goes on sale, presumably at the end of the New Year, the interior will be available in several color combinations to suit fans of (Scandinavian) elegance, classic and dark sportiness. Materials are used that give the impression of cold and warm metal, wood and black piano.

However, the design department employs not only designers, but also engineers. They form a majority stake in Peter Hasselbach's Football Eleven, which cares about design quality.

A team of engineers with a sense of form and a passion for excellence constantly monitors the development of the car's design, and the pursuit of excellence also leads them to the right designers: if the designer's idea is not feasible (or there are no suitable materials) or functionality) they must also change or refine some either form.

A very interesting group, founded just four years ago, is also researching new materials, new technologies and collaborating with suppliers. He checks their samples and makes sure that quality products arrive at the factory. Together with the suppliers, they develop a template that is a standard that all details must comply with.

For quality control, they use a special device that simulates different lighting conditions (twilight, outside light, inside light...) and checks that all details are (let's say) well painted. “One rotten apple can ruin an entire crate,” says Peter, who has tested as many as 800 with the team inside Insignia.

The Insignia is currently Opel's most important model, especially in terms of future strategy. They seem to have a good foundation that brings in more passionate and better-engineered cars.

Confidential room

GM's European Design Center has a dedicated conference room, similar to a movie theater, where they can display a 3D image of the model on large screens. At first glance, a real car can rotate XNUMX degrees, look (zoom in, zoom out, rotate ...) all its parts, including the interior, and check how the car looks in different colors, with different rims. ... The hall is also linked to the rest of GM's design studios around the world.

Mitya Reven, photo :? freight