What's the news?
Opel's going to provide a clever, lighter version of a torque-vectoring system - called Twinster - on the all-wheel drive versions of the new Insignia Grand Sport.
Torque vectoring with AWD is useful at giving cars excellent grip in all conditions but the associated hardware does come with some weight penalties. Thus, Opel's Twinster has a rear-drive module that employs a twin-clutch system but without a differential.
This can then apply torque to one or both of the rear wheels independently, allowing torque vectoring across the Opel's full performance range. The German company says higher torque is sent to the outside rear wheel during cornering, inducing yaw and forcing the car to turn-in quicker than it would otherwise do without AWD.
Opel also adds that drivers of the Insignia will be able to choose the level of yaw damping they want to suit their personal driving style, with modes going from high damping in 'Tour' to low damping in 'Sport'.
Anything else?
"The new-generation Opel Insignia sets new benchmarks for midsize automobiles," said William F. Bertagni, vice-president for Vehicle Engineering Europe, Opel. "Torque vectoring represents the state-of-the-art in transmitting power to the road. The new Insignia with torque vectoring all-wheel drive matches the best in the industry when it comes to 'fun-to-drive' manners."