Opel Details FlexRide Chassis Functions, Selectable Drive Modes for 2017 Insignia Grand Sport
Opel continues to tease out the release of the next-generation Insignia by detailing its various advances, including announcing that it will feature next-gen IntelliLux LED lighting and that the Insignia Grand Sport will be longer, wider, and lighter. Now, Opel is detailing a bit of the Insignia Grand Sport’s development, including test drives around the famed Nürburgring that test out its retuned FlexRide chassis and three selectable drive modes.
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“You can feel that the Insignia has been developed from a white sheet of paper as soon as you get into the car. The integration of the driver is outstanding and this provides a much better feel for the car. The Insignia has become much more agile, even with the same engine,” said Insignia chief engineer Andreas Zipser.
The Insignia Grand Sport’s FlexRide chassis uses dampers that read the road 500 times per second to assess the driving conditions. The dampers are also adaptable based on the selection of one of three available drive modes.
“Standard” drive mode allows the performance of the Insignia Grand Sport to be tuned based on second-by-second information collection. “Tour” mode is geared toward longer drives, utilizing a more “comfortable” chassis setup and drive settings that are intended to minimize fuel consumption. “Sport” mode stiffens the dampers and changes the characteristics of steering and shifting for a more spirited drive.
What’s more, if the Insignia Grand Sport’s sensors determine that a driving situation demands a more sporty approach, it will automatically switch from “Standard” to “Sport” mode.
“The new central ‘Drive Mode Control’ software is the heart and soul of the adaptive chassis. It continuously analyzes the information provided by the sensors and setting and recognizes the individual driving style. The individual systems are then optimized for the best traction and road position,” said Zipser.
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Gallery: 2017 Opel Insignia Grand Sport
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