Some car trivia for the weekend was required as we get down to the business of Christmas cheer, and in this gallery we take a look at all the Car of the Year models from 1964 to today. This year, the humble Volkswagen Polo took out the title, marking the 47th since the award was incepted. The Car of the Year award is judged by seven European car magazine titles: Autocar in the UK, Stern in Germany, Vi Bilägare in Sweden, Autovisie in the Netherlands, L’Automobile Magazine in France, Auto in Italy, and Autopista in Spain.

The first Car of the Year back in 1964 was the Rover 2000, and things have come a long way since then. The Car of the Year must be a new vehicle that is available to at least five European markets in the year in question. Criteria such as design, comfort, performance, safety, practicality, ecology and economy, price and overall driveability are considered.

Perhaps surprisingly, the brand that has received the most awards in the history of the Car of the Year is Fiat, with a total of nine models, and that’s not including other Fiat Group brands such as Alfa Romeo or Lancia. Following Fiat, the company with the most success has been Renault, winning six times. The Volkswagen Polo for 2010 marks only the second time that Volkswagen has won the prize. After the jump is the full list of Car of the Year models from 1964 to 2010.

Car of the Year 1964 to 2010

Continue reading: Pics: Car of the Year 1964 to 2010

According to the 2009 Internet Auto Award from AutoScout24, Europe’s favourite car is the Opel Insignia. We perhaps would have placed our bets on the Opel Astra, but clearly a sedan is still more popular than a hatchback.

The trophy is known as the ‘Carolina’ and was accepted by the company at an awards ceremony in Munich. Carl-Peter Forster, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Adam Opel GmbH, said: “This new award for the Insignia proves that our blend is right: sporty, elegant design combined with innovative technology. The new Opel philosophy also resonates with the customer.”

Opel has already sold more than 150,000 Insignia in Europe, and the Astra is also a big-selling model for the company, taking up a third of its sales volume. It begs the question as to why General Motors really wants to sell the brand, and whether the sales success with this model design will continue with new owners. Opel Insignia OPC in the pics.

Continue reading: Opel Insignia Europe's favourite car

This is a lovely looking reconstruction of the future Saab 9-5 from the Swedish, showing off the elegant and well designed style that could herald success in a time of need for Saab.

The new 9-5 will share the Opel Insignia platform, but will have a slightly longer wheel base, though keeping the all-wheel drive. According to Autocar, plans for the Sport Combi project are also already underway.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: Saab 9-5 rendering

Opel/Vauxhall has released these images of the Insignia Sports Tourer OPC. It’s an important period for the company as it considers new owners after a long history with General Motors, but this looks to be a model with guaranteed success before its released to the market.

The Sports Tourer has the same mechanical platform as the sedan, with a V6 turbo twin-scroll, 2.8 litre engine. It has 400 Nm and an eLSD rear differential. The sports style is elegant enough to mask some of its agressive performance figures: six seconds to reach 100 km/hr and a top speed of 250 km. The Insignia Sports Tourer OPC will be on sale from autumn.

Continue reading: Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer OPC pics

The new Opel Insignia looks particularly challenging for the Audi S4 and we wonder if it’s coincidence or not. These first Insignia pics show an almost coupe-like slant to the car, equipped with a V6 2.8 litre twin turbo at 325 hp and 400 Nm. The new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia will have all wheel drive, though we’re less convinced by the front air intakes.

The first Opel Performance Centre has Haldex all-wheel drive and eLSD multi-disc rear differential, already in use on the Saab 9-3 Turbo X. FlexRide suspension is also available, with Normal, Sport and OPC settings. No performance figures are available yet.

Continue reading: Opel Insignia OPC pics

Here are some of the first shots of the Opel Insignia sedan version. The model, dressed in blue Opel Performance livery, has been doing the rounds of the Nurburgring for some testing of the new Insignia handling.

It’s unlikely we’ll see this model before summer, though no official news is available as to its release date. The Opel Insignia will be equipped with a V6 twin turbo engine at more than 300 hp.

Source | evo

Continue reading: Opel Insignia OPC spy shots

Appearances can be deceiving is certainly true in this case as the spy shot you see here is not an Opel Insignia, but its Swedish cousin, the Saab 9-3. It appears that the next generation Saab, so as not to be recognised, has taken on the look of Opel’s sedan.

As with the parent vehicle, this next Saab will share the Opel platform from the same category - in fact, the 9-3 will be developed on GM’s Epsilon base, as per the previous Opel Vectra.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to glean much detail from this photo about the design of this new Saab 9-3. The renewed design is said to be one of the key elements that will distinguish this car from the rest of the competition in the large sector of medium sedans.

Source | Jalopnik

Continue reading: Saab 9-3: spy shots reveal Insignia similarity

In occasion of the European launch of the Opel Insignia, predicted for the end of November, the Irmscher accessory range will be available in dealerships. Irmscher has a 40 year history with the brand, and while the options are limited, they’re very attractive. A new front air intake is available, with front and rear spoilers, and skirting to accommodate the new four outlet exhaust system.

20-inch wheels are also on offer, in various styles and colours. While no information is available on mechanical modifications, it’s likely a lowered base is among the package offered.

Source | Worldcarfans

Continue reading: Irmscher Opel Insignia

Among the many novelties brought to the Paris Motor Show by General Motors, one of the most important is the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer, the family version of the German sedan.

The external dimensions are impressive at first glance, though we find the rear a little imposing. Next to this, Opel’s ecoFLEX range debuted, including the Insignia with a 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine at 160hp, capable of less than 140g/km of CO2 emissions.

In the course of the conference, GM management outlined its plans in the face of the current world economic situation, and announced French pricing for the insignia, starting at 21,600 euros for the sedan and 22,700 euros for the Sports Tourer.

Continue reading: Opel Insignia Sports Tourer at Paris Motor Show

Opel will present at London’s show the four and five door versions of the Insignia - the new top of the range model from the Russelsheim brand. Both will be 4,830mm long, with a wheel base of 2,737mm and a Cx of just 0.27. The two models are only slightly different from each other in the rear.

Opel has maintained that both models will equally split the market and wanted to launch them both to meet the tastes and needs of the various international markets. Germany and Spain, for example, prefer the four door, while Great Britain and France opt for the five door.

Seven engine types, all Euro 5, will be available. The four petrol versions range from 115hp to 250 hp, while the diesel has three, two-litre versions from 110hp to 160hp. In addition to the new FlexRide system to manage the absorbers, the all-wheel Adaptive 4×4 system will also debut, which can control the power of each single wheel. We will also see the adoption of the Front Camera System, able to interpret road signs and advise the driver of possible dangers.

Continue reading: Opel Insignia: four and five door versions debut

The London show is coming up and the lovely Opel Insignia, heir to the Vectra, continues its striptease: General Motors has released new official photos of the Vauxhall (which will be commercialised in the US as the Saturn Aura), including the first shots of the interior.

It seems that all the first positive impressions we had of the clean lines of the bodywork are confirmed: the interior seems tidy and welcoming, and also well made. In particular the console and intruments are lovely, with the latter changing colour from white to red when passing to ‘Sport Mode”.

Shortly we should also see a rich photo gallery for the Opel model.

Opel Insignia

Continue reading: Opel/Vauxhall Insignia: first official interior shots

There’s still some time before July 2 when - at London’s exhibition hall - Opel will present its new Insignia: sedan that will substitute the Vectra and which will revolutionize style, including dynamic design in its vein, exemplified by the Meriva Concept seen at Geneva.

The Rüsselsheim company has branched off with some new teasers that will concentrate on the car’s lights, an element playing an important part in the complex line. The rear lights (the first teaser of the rear light we had already published in November), will be based on the AFL adaptive technology that manages the stream of light modifying it according to conditions.

The AFL (adaptive-front light) headlights will incorporate an LED battery that will function as a day beam, guaranteeing sensible saving on energy, and therefore fuel, compared to traditional lamps.

Opel Insignia Teasers

Continue reading: Opel Insignia: new teasers and details on the lights