Spotted: Unusual feature of an Insignia Estate

[Welly]

Just seen someone closing the rear 'hatch' door? of one of these and assaulting my senses were a pair of tail lights INSIDE the boot

WTAF? he closed the boot and they were gone

[KozmoNaut]

Typical German over-engineering solution to a basic problem.

Looking an Insignia estate with the hatch closed, there is absolutely no reason why most of the lights couldn't be on the body instead of on the hatch. But someone insisted on having a hatch that looks like bow of a car ferry when open, so they had to come up with a stupid solution.

It's the same problem with the BMW MINI Countryman, but at least they just solved that by punching holes in the rear doors.

[steve_earwig]

That looks slightly, umm, evil (?) to me, like someone opening their mouth to reveal another couple of eyes tucked inside.

I presume it's so the car still has tail lights with the boot open (same as the UK RAV with it's poxy only-opens-half-way check strap so the boot lid doesn't obscure the lights). So the actual boot opening is something like 18-20 inches smaller than the boot lid. Form over function, or rather vanity over sanity.

[Welly]

That looks slightly, umm, evil (?) to me, like someone opening their mouth to reveal another couple of eyes tucked inside.

That's what made me look, I did a double take as I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The internet says it's to satisfy the Americans and their road safety laws [read: to find ways to sue each other over petty details] and yes it's because when the tailgate is up there's no lights awww........

[DaiRees]

The internet says it's to satisfy the Americans and their road safety laws [read: to find ways to sue each other over petty details] and yes it's because when the tailgate is up there's no lights awww........

It's all a bit silly isn't it? I notice my tail lights come on when I open the boot but most of my lights are on the body. I suppose if someone ploughs into your parked car it's no issue but if the tailgate is open there's likely to be someone standing there. Knowing the A Merry Cans this is born of case law!

[jasper5]

I have a brake job on an Insignia this afternoon

[Welly]

I have a brake job on an Insignia this afternoon

Tell the customer his rear lights are out

[Doggy]

Reasons for refusal of a Test Certificate

001 Nearside rear lights obscured by bodywork [7.2.2]

002 Offside rear lights obscured by bodywork [7.2.2]

[jonsowman]

Reasons for refusal of a Test Certificate

001 Nearside rear lights obscured by bodywork [7.2.2]

002 Offside rear lights obscured by bodywork [7.2.2]