German Car Scene

INSIGNIA PLUS TRAILER – THE PERFECT MATCH FOR VACATION TIME

Posted 4th June, 2009 in Opel | Leave a comment

Rüsselsheim. Whether it is an active holiday in the mountains or a family vacation on the beach: the most memorable weeks of the year are drawing near. The preferred means of transportation: The Car. For anyone who wants to reach that dream spot in sporty elegance yet still needs enough space for luggage and equipment, Opel presents an especially attractive car line-up: The Insignia. However, the Car of the Year 2009 not only impresses customers with its roominess and design, but also its modern technology. The Insignia is the perfect car for towing.

Modern technology also ensures that the Insignia is indeed the perfect holiday partner. One of the technological highlights is the trailer stability program, which helps protect against pendulum swings and ensures safe driving.

As soon as the plug on the trailer hitch is activated, the sensor on the ESPplus system recognizes the movements of the trailer. The stability program is automatically activated so that during the drive, data is continuously transmitted and compared with pre-set limits. If the trailer begins to lurch and a particular limit is reached, within milliseconds the car begins to react: Gas is limited and selected braking begins to retard movement until the car and trailer are stable and safe again. After a third large pendulum swing, the car begins to brake powerfully and definitively until the trailer is calmed down.

This so-called brake-hitting, the first lesson of any training for trailer drivers, is automatic. Yet any sudden movement – like an avoidance maneuver – by the driver is not overridden by the stability program.

Elegant appearance thanks to the invisible trailer hitch

Once the destination spot – or back home – has been reached, the trailer hitch simply can be folded away. A warning sound rings if it has not been correctly latched in place. The coupling disappears under the vehicle floor and the elegant design of the Insignia is not disturbed. Even the plug for the electronic connection has been integrated so that after it has been folded, it, too, cannot be seen.

The retractable trailer hitch, which automatically includes the stability program, is available on the Sports Tourer as well as both sedan variants and costs 825 euros. Depending on the size of the motor, the Insignia can haul up to 2,000 kilograms – be it a recreation vehicle, a motorcycle trailer or a boat trailer.

Insignia Seats with AGR Certification – Perfect for the long holiday drive

The Insignia is packed with further plus points to make it the ideal vacation vehicle. Drivers can take advantage of an ergonomic, adjustable seat, which has received exclusive certification by Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR), a German non-profit organization of orthopedic specialists.

The Insignia Sports Tourer is especially roomy with storage space ranging from 540 liters to 1,530 liters. When the back seat has been flipped down, up to 1.90 meters of holiday equipment can be stored in the hatch. The roof can carry an extra burden of 100 kilograms, including perhaps bicycles. The Opel Insignia offers a choice of nine gasoline and diesel motors, spanning from 85 kW/115 hp to 191 kW/260 hp.

Practice Makes Perfect: The Pitfalls of driving a trailer

In spite of all electronic safety measures, drivers should not wait for a big vacation trip to familiarize themselves with driving with a trailer. A longer vehicle needs not only more space for turns, but aligning and driving backwards can also bring headaches. First-time trailer drivers can be unaware that, for example, a trailer can roll in the opposite direction than the steering wheel is pointed. It is recommended not only for the beginner to align a trailer calmly. Often a trailer can react rather sluggishly, then suddenly the angle between the vehicle and trailer can change. In that case, the only helpful solution is to pull ahead slowly – something that even the experienced driver has to do from time to time. The better alternative on flat ground can be simply to uncouple the trailer and push it back into position by hand.

[Source: Opel]