A new name, a new car, a new ambition. Opel is now eyeing the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series with the Insignia.

The styling of the new 4.83 metre five-seater is part of Opel's strategy to make advanced technology and attractive design affordable.

The Insignia boasts a flowing silhouette with a coupé-like roofline. The body's sculpted shape is accented by a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem. Unmistakable design elements include a sweeping front and rear light "wing" signature and a "blade" side contour that begins directly behind the front wheel and glides through the entire side of the body— for a "muscular but graceful" allure.

"With Insignia we are introducing an exciting new sophisticated design vocabulary, which combines sculptural artistry with German precision," reckons Mark Adams, Vice President Design, GM Europe. "Our aim was to develop a confident look which compels the world to experience for themselves the superb driving dynamics the Insignia radiates."

Echoing the exterior, the interior shapes and surfaces are crafted with high quality materials. The dashboard wraps around from the instrument panel to the door to create the feeling it embraces the occupants. This wing theme will be echoed across all Opels. Red ambient lighting, which also will be featured in future Opel models, are intended to create a warm, luxurious aura.

Opel's expertise in lighting technology continues in the Insignia with the latest generation AFL Adaptive Forward Lighting system: nine different light beam settings automatically adjust themselves to cater to various driving conditions, enhancing safety and driving excitement. Another new element on the AFL system is the LED daytime running lights, which consume considerably less energy than a conventional system featuring halogen lamps, thereby lowering CO2 emissions from 6g/km to "nearly zero".

"As each feature demonstrates, the Insignia is the result of our quest to develop a car that combines striking design, excellent driving dynamics and innovative technology," says Hans H. Demant, Managing Director, Adam Opel.

The Insignia is offered from the start with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The "Adaptive 4X4" system's proactive, instantaneous torque distribution improves traction and enhances driving stability and dynamic handling performance. In the all-wheel drive Insignia, the FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with its Adaptive Stability Technology helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood. FlexRide is also available in the front-wheel version.

In Europe the Insignia will launch with a broad range of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with either manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. The four petrol engines range from a four-cylinder 85kW unit to a V6 with 194kW. The three new direct-injection diesels feature a displacement of 2.0 litre and outputs spanning from 82kW to 119kW. Subsequently the Insignia engine line-up will be expanded with an EcoFLEX version offering very low CO2 emissions in addition to other, more powerful variants.

The Insignia notch- and hatchback will debut on 22 July 2008 at the London Motor Show and hit European showrooms starting in November.