David says: “THAT car looks b****y lovely.” The opinion of one of my printing colleagues, who had been casting his eye over Vauxhall’s new Insignia in the office car park, was succinct, but heartfelt.

The fact that his assessment was delivered in pitch darkness made it all the more telling. There are few cars whose design can pierce the murk of a miserably cold winter’s night.

The sheer quality that this sleek car exudes is breathtaking, considering this is the replacement for the capable, competent, but fundamentally conservative Vectra.

The German-built Insignia is elegant, sculpted, muscular yet rakish, with sweeping front and rear light designs fronted by a bold radiator grille. The overall feel of the exterior design is Germanically BMW and Audi. That assured Teutonic look translates into the ride and handling, which is both solid and taut, delivering excellent feedback, while maintaining superb levels of comfort.

Inside, the interior exudes quality and a high-tech air, reminiscent of the latest cutting edge dashboard design being used by Honda. That high-technology is a reality in the Insignia with the option of Vauxhall’s front camera system. It uses a small camera, positioned inside the car’s windscreen to read and memorise both speed warning and no-overtaking signs, the details of which are relayed back to the driver from the instrument panel. The system also incorporates a lane departure warning, alerting you if you unintentionally leave your lane.

Even the headlights use an advanced system, in which the car’s headlamp beam automatically adjusts to prevailing road and weather conditions.

In addition, a FlexRide system, available on selected models, allows you to personalise the suspension set-up at the press of a button, or if left alone it will automatically adapt to different driving styles Things have been far from great for manufaturer General Motors over the past few months, and the Insignia has been billed by some as the car that could save the company. It is the finest car I have driven bearing the Griffin badge, so it might just help.

Marie says: ONE of Mr D’s constant nags when I am chauffeuring him around at night is that I don’t use main beam on the headlights enough.

“Let’s see where we are going,” is the constant chivvying coming from the passenger seat, every time the road clears of traffic for a few milliseconds.

So I was delighted to find that one little piece of technology packed inside Vauxhall’s new awfully clever Insignia is an automatic headlamp system.

I don’t just mean they turn themselves on at night. No, somehow as soon as the road ahead is clear and there is no other traffic about, on goes the dazzlingly bright main beam. If another car appears, they dip – all automatically, all without you having to do a thing. It’s a bit disconcerting at first, but it works.

But hey, that’s not all. Vauxhall says the headlights use no fewer than nine computer-controlled systems to spray light around in different ways depending on where you are.

So if you are creeping around town at 20mph there’s ‘pedestrian area light’; if you are going a little quicker there’s ‘town light’; faster still there’s ‘country road light’ and if you are travelling at full tilt there’s motorway light, not to mention adverse weather light, dynamic curve light and static cornering light.

In other words, no matter where you are at night, you will have a clear view of where you are going.

Vauxhall clearly saw where it needed to go with this car, which is much smarter and better built than anything I have seen with a Vauxhall badge on the bonnet.

My instant reaction to the Insignia was how big it was. Make no mistake this is one chunky car.

There is plenty of space inside for both passengers and for luggage. For the rear passengers there is access to a pull down tray and cup holders between the rear seats, and for your luggage there is a boot with an impressive amount of space, and is probably one of the biggest I’ve seen.

The interior is beautifully trimmed, with enormous comfortable seats.

Another of the insignia’s surprises is that it handles so beautifully. Although it is a big car and feels very solid, it doesn’t feel at all heavy or cumbersome to drive. Even the parking brake is electrically-operated, using a small switch.

Whatever you think of the new Insignia, it’s packed with bright ideas.

Auto facts Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi Elite

  • Price: £22,256 Insurance group: 11
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 48.7mpg
  • Top speed: 135mph
  • Length: 190.1in/483cm
  • Width: 73in/185.6cm
  • Luggage capacity: 18.4cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 15.4 gallons/70 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 179g/km
  • Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles