Opel Launches Insignia LPG ecoFLEX

The Opel Insignia is now also available with a 1.4 turbocharged LPG ecoFLEX engine designed to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The LPG option is been included to the all three Opel Insignia body styles - the sedan, hatchback and Sports Tourer station wagon.

The new Insignia LPG ecoFLEX variant achieves an output of 103 kW/140 hp, only uses 7.6 liters on 100 km (124 g/km CO2 emissions) and starts at 28,150 euro (rrp. in Germany for four-door sedan including VAT). Compared to the 1.4 l turbocharged gasoline sedan (5.7 l/100 km), the four-door LPG variant is almost 40 percent cheaper to be filled up at the gas station (based on an average price for high octane gasoline of € 1.53 euro vs. € 0.70 for LPG).

For the LPG variant, Opel engineers strengthened the engine valves and valve seat-inserts and optimized the engine control unit. All body styles with LPG have a six-speed manual transmission. The LPG tank which has a usable filling volume of 42 liters is perfectly integrated in the spare-wheel housing, ensuring that the whole trunk space of the Insignia is freely accessible. In that way the Insignia’s high level of flexibility is maintained. With a single tank of fuel, the Insignia achieves a maximum range of up to 500 kilometers; if the gasoline tank is used in addition a range of up to 1,700 kilometers can even be reached (applicable to notchback/hatchback). The fuel cap for the LPG tank is right next to the cap for the gasoline tank. Opel gives its customers access to fuel nozzle adaptors to enable trouble-free re-fueling throughout Europe.

The driver can easily alternate between the LPG and gasoline propulsion mode with a switch in the instrument panel. An LED display is illuminated when the car operates with LPG; as soon as the vehicle is in the gasoline mode the light is off. The fuel tank gauge is particularly user-friendly: both LPG and gasoline reserves are displayed in the same gauge.

So far Opel customers have been able to choose from several different models that can run on LPG. They include the Corsa (three and five door), the Meriva and Astra (five-door and Sports Tourer).

The LPG system installation ex works has major advantages compared to other retrofit solutions. Safety was a top priority during development of these models. For example, the Opel safety checklist includes specific crash tests for the gas tank and other components which are housed in collision-proof areas and are perfectly integrated into the safety structure of the vehicle.

Insignia’s gas tank is integrated in the spare-wheel housing (LPG). This ensures that the load compartment is spacious and not restricted. Switches and displays are well integrated in the instrument panel. In summary: customers can be sure that their LPG vehicle is equipped with state-of-the art technology ex works which is of the high quality customers can expect from the Opel brand. All this comes complete with durability, manufacturer warranty and maximum safety. Like all the other Opel LPG models, the Insignia LPG is assembled at the Opel Special Vehicles GmbH (OSV), an Opel subsidiary with expertise in special vehicle lines and modifications based in Rüsselsheim.

LPG propulsion is gaining in popularity in Germany and Europe. This is hardly surprising as the LPG price at the pumps is around half of the gasoline price. Until the year 2018, the German authorities are granting a fixed tax break for LPG fuel. However, not only does the car owner see the  financial rewards but there are also environmental benefits as LPG vehicles emit up to 15 percent less carbon-dioxide than cars with a conventional powertrain. In Germany, this fuel is available at around 6,500 or 45 percent of all gas stations. Europe-wide there are more 35,000 in total.