Vauxhall has released the first images of the all-new Insignia Sports Tourer, which will receive its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next month.

Following on from the previous generation, which won the European Car of the Year in 2009, the Insignia Sports Tourer is based on a completely new vehicle architecture. Its revised proportions result in more luggage capacity that has increased to 1,640 litres, over 100 litres more than the old model. The length of the boot has grown by 97mm to 2005mm versus the previous car and 40/20/40 foldable seats are available.

The new model is up to 200 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, thanks to the use of lightweight materials and efficient packaging.

A series of new technologies are designed to make driving the Insignia Sports Tourer safer, more relaxing and more comfortable than before. Next generation IntelliLux LED matrix lighting, Lane Keep Assist, Head-up Display and unique AGR-certified premium seats, front- and rear-seat heating and a heated windscreen are just some examples.

Infotainment and connectivity are also on board thanks to the latest generation IntelliLink systems and Vauxhall OnStar, which with the launch of the Insignia Sports Tourer, will offer increased functionality for customers.

It is also the first Vauxhall with an active aluminium bonnet for improved pedestrian protection.

“Vauxhall’s best-ever product portfolio will get even better with the launch of the new Insignia Sports Tourer,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. ““It has all of the elegance of its Insignia Grand Sport sibling but with even more practicality, including a boot that is more spacious than its predecessor. The Insignia Sports Tourer will set new standards for design, efficiency, technology and connectivity when it debuts next month at the Geneva Motor Show.”

The length of the Insignia Sports Tourer has grown slightly to 4,986 millimetres with an extended wheelbase of 2,829 millimetres, and a front overhang that has been reduced by 30 millimetres. The silver roof rails are intended to make it look lower.

The next generation Insignia Sports Tourer has a reduced overhang between bumper and boot, thanks to the neatly designed rear end, making loading easier. Thanks to the increased width between the wheel arches it is now easier to pack bulky items. The luggage capacity has increased further too, reaching 1,638 litres when the rear seats are folded down – over 100 litres more than the outgoing model.

In combination with Keyless Entry, a simple small kicking motion under the rear bumper is now enough to open or close the tailgate. To further increase loading space, the new Insignia Sports Tourer comes with optional 40/20/40 foldable rear seats, enabling more flexible luggage space configurations. The rear seats can be folded down simply at the push of a button located in the luggage compartment.

Headroom has increased by 31mm, shoulder-room by 25mm and space for the hips by 27mm. There is an optional panoramic sunroof stretching back over the heads of rear-seat passengers to give a greater feeling of space and increased levels of natural light.

The windscreen can be defrosted at the push of a button by a fine wire heating element. The heated windscreen also prevents fogging in humid conditions, improving visibility and safety. The heating switches off automatically and can be reactivated if necessary at the push of a button.

Heated seats are available not only for the driver and front passenger, but for the occupants of the outer rear seats too. The heating in the front is adjustable and can be controlled through the personalisation menu in the information display, while the optional 18-way adjustable heated driver’s seat also features massage and ventilation functions.

The driver of the new Insignia Sports Tourer sits lower in the car and is surrounded by the ergonomically-designed instruments and centre console. As well as via a touchscreen, the controls can be operated by three rows of buttons. The top row is reserved for the infotainment system, the middle for controlling the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and the bottom for driver assistance systems.

Smartphones can be seamlessly integrated into the vehicle’s infotainment software, with the latest Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible IntelliLink systems, and wireless phone charging now available. Vauxhall’s connectivity and service assistant, OnStar, is also on board, offering services ranging from Automatic Crash Response to Stolen Vehicle Assistance. A new Personal Assistant service will be launched with the Insignia, enabling the driver or passengers to ask OnStar advisors to book a hotel in the car when it is safe to do so. OnStar also provides a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven devices to keep all occupants connected while on the go.

Among the driver assistance systems available are: Head-up-Display, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The new model is also the first Vauxhall to feature an active bonnet. In the case of a collision, the bonnet lifts in milliseconds, increasing the distance to the engine and offering pedestrians improved protection.

The Insignia Sports Tourer will be available with a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines along with a choice of transmissions, including the new eight-speed automatic gearbox, a first for the Vauxhall passenger car range.