New Vauxhall Meriva
January 5th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
VAUXHALL has stunned the motoring world with first official pictures of this year’s all-new Meriva MPV.
The distinctively styled car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March – and features sector-unique rear-hinged rear doors!
These rear doors are similar to those on the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and are called ‘FlexDoors’ by Vauxhall. They open nearly 90 degrees and transform the mini-MPV’s practicality credentials.
Vauxhall says the innovation, which has never before seen in this sector, means Vauxhall dealers will have no end of showroom tricks to demonstrate when the car goes on sale later this year.
They enable ‘walk in’ access to the rear. Unlike the Rolls-Royce, they can be opened independently of the front doors. With both front and rear open, Vauxhall says a safe parent-friendly zone is created.
Flex the Space
No small people carrier offers such flexibility, it claims, particularly as the interior carries further seating and stowage innovations. FlexRail rear seat adjustments, and FlexSpace cubbies ‘bring new levels of cabin versatility to the class’.
It’s higher quality and more comfortable than the current Meriva, too. There are 5 seats inside – of which the front ones are nicked from the Insignia large saloon, and the rears have a whole raft of folding options.
Carrying the ‘blade’ side feature line of all new Vauxhalls, the new Meriva will use a range of engines that use 15 percent less fuel. This means CO2 emissions will be around 25g/km lower, for cheaper tax bills.
More details of the new car will be announced in March. For now, though, we predict very stiff competition for the Citroen C3 Picasso and Nissan Note is on the way.
What are your first reactions to the surprise new Meriva people carrier from Vauxhall?
Tags: Add new tag, flexspace, geneva 2010, meriva, MPV, Vauxhall
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