Climb aboard and see...

Climb aboard and see what itò€™s going to be like sitting in Vauxhallò€™s replacement for the Vectra ò€“ the new Insignia.

These first official pictures of the carò€™s interior show that the design team has pulled out all the stops in an attempt to leapfrog Fordò€™s family favourite, the Mondeo. And the newcomer is pitched at premium rivals, the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.

Not only does the Insignia signal a shift upmarket, it also sets the design template for a new generation of Vauxhall models. The Insigniaò€™s cabin is the firmò€™s most driver-focused yet. And from behind the wheel, the high-set dashboard, tall waistline and raised central tunnel give the Insignia a low-slung, sporty coupé-like feel. The front grab handles mimic the exterior curve seen on the doors, as does the steering wheel facia, gearlever surround and centre console.

The fresh interior also has a ò€˜wingò€™ motif, with a near-circular curve to the upper dashboard, extending from one B-pillar to the other. But Vauxhall isnò€™t majoring on sportiness alone with the Insignia. It will offer three distinct trim variants: Elegance, Cosmo and Sport. Each will combine a unique set of colours and materials to alter cabin ambience and express a different theme. Elegance ò€“ effectively the entry-level model ò€“ swaps the drab grey colours of base-spec Vectras for dark and light colours with brushed steel trim.

The range-topping Cosmo follows a similar two-tone dash colour scheme, but adds wood veneer inserts and leather seats.

Specify Sport trim, and glossy piano-black inserts break up an entirely dark cockpit. However, this colour scheme serves to highlight Vauxhallò€™s new interior lighting better than the other trims.

Vauxhall is keen to cast off all references to the Vectra, so the orange backlighting of the old model has been ditched in favour of two new shades. The Insigniaò€™s centre console glows warm red, while the dials are illuminated in brilliant white. However, press the ò€˜Sportò€™ button on the dash and the dials all turn aggressive red.

Vauxhall is being coy about the Insigniaò€™s technology, but an optional multimedia interface will be available, which is controlled using a small rotary dial positioned just behind the gearlever.

Ease of use was a key goal in developing the system, so many of the most frequently used functions can be instantly accessed using dash-mounted buttons. And unlike BMWò€™s iDrive system, specifying this option doesnò€™t involve a radical redesign of the control layout.

ò€˜Germanic precisionò€™ was the Insigniaò€™s interior design brief, and the styling team certainly seems to have moved the game forward. The upper dash comprises plenty of high-quality, soft touch plastic, and the switchgear feels positive and well engineered.

The Insignia is set to debut at the British Motor Show in July, although Auto Express will be bringing you plenty more exclusive details on Vauxhallò€™s newcomer before then.