Vauxhall has revealed the new Insignia Country Tourer – a rugged-looking estate version of the company car staple set to rival the Skoda Octavia Scout later this year.

This range-topping Insignia receives pseudo off-road design tweaks, all-wheel drive, greater ground clearance and premium qualities, such as the brand’s new IntelliLux LED matrix headlights and the OnStar personal assistant system.

Moulded black protective cladding and silver front and rear skid plates lend the car a tougher off-road exterior than the standard Insignia, while the dual exhaust bezels reinforce the car’s lower, wider impression.

Commenting on the car’s rugged look, Vauxhall’s vice president of design Mark Adams said: “We wanted our new Insignia Country Tourer to be robust in every respect, while simultaneously displaying the typical elegant Vauxhall philosophy of sculptural artistry and technical precision.

“It has the presence of a true flagship, combining a sophisticated athletic shape enhanced by rugged off road detailing.”

An additional 20mm of ground clearance and torque vectoring will come in handy for any drivers who want to take their Insignia Country Tourer into more rural areas. The improved FlexRide chassis reacts to changing road conditions by adapting the dampers, steering, throttle response and shift points.

Inside, the Country Tourer is roomier than your average Insignia and significantly lighter too, thanks to an all-new architecture. That lower kerb weight will benefit fuel economy, especially with the introduction of a new top-of-the-range diesel engine that is linked to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Being an estate, you’d expect ample boot space and it certainly satisfies in that respect with up to 1,665 litres of loading space, 135 more than the car’s predecessor. On top of that, the interior is made more spacious thanks to a 92mm extension to the wheelbase.

The car won’t be revealed until September’s Frankfurt Motor Show so any more details than that are either still being worked out or held back.

Ben Robb, brand manager at The Fuelcard People, adds: “The Insignia is a big favourite amongst company car drivers and this new tougher-looking version can only add to its appeal.”