2009 Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer

The wraps officially came off the 2009 Vauxhall Insignia four- and five-door models at last month's British MotAUTO SHOWS: or Show in London, but GM's saved this - the 2009 Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer - for October's Paris motor show.

These first official shots show the smooth, dynamic forms of the original Insignia, itself inspired from the muscular GTC concept of 2005, carry over into the wagon form quite nicely. We do, however, see a touch of Audi's Q7 in the tailgate form, and we can't quite put our collective finger on where we've seen those tail lamps before - from a Renault Laguna, perhaps?

GM claims two new engines - one gas-powered, the other a diesel - will debut along with the Sports Tourer. Exact details are still unknown, but we're told engines offered in the four- and five-door versions (including the 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 and the 2.8-liter V-6) will carry over, as will the choice of front- or all-wheel-drive.

Like all of today's Vauxhall range, the Sports Tourer will also be sold throughout Europe wearing an Opel badge. We won't, however, hold out hopes that the Sports Tourer will arrive stateside: although the Insignia is being tweaked to become the next Saturn Aura, America's disposition towards wagons may not warrant the Sports Tourer's importation.