These are the best spy pictures yet of the new Vauxhall Meriva, showing its innovative rear-hinged rear doors.
The new five-seat Vauxhall Meriva compact MPV is an all-new design, and these pictures, taken in southern Europe, show the car takes styling cues from both the Insignia and new Astra.
See the Vauxhall Meriva spy picture gallery
These pictures clearly show the wide-opening rear-hinged back doors. The car's flexibility is also reported to have been improved by a redesigned monorail system for the rear seats that allows them to be folded away entirely, or mounted further back for better leg room.
Designers have also worked hard to eliminate the Meriva’s often-criticised blind spot at the base of the windscreen pillar, and have included a ‘kink’ in the rear window sill to allow children a better view.
The new Meriva has a longer wheelbase and wider tracks than its predecessor, as well as a longer front overhang for better crash protection.
It will be available with the Astra’s new engines, including the new 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol with 147lb ft of torque.
The other petrol units are a 1.4 and two 1.6s, one of which is turbocharged. Three diesel engines will be available – a 1.3, a 1.7 and a 2.0-litre – and all feature common-rail fuel injection.
The Vauxhall Meriva is expected to be launched at next March's Geneva motor show, before going on sale in the UK in the summer.
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Re: New Vauxhall Meriva spied
Saw 3 of these coming out of Dover on the M20 yesterday morning, different colours and all covered in tape.
Probably on their way up to Millbrook.
Re: New Vauxhall Meriva spied
I saw one driving down Birdlip hill in Gloucestershire today. Saw it covered in tape etc, a red one ... left hand drive and german plates. It had a plate over the rear handles with some fake ones glued on at a much higher level than the front handles.
It clearly looked like the new Vauxhall Young Mum done in the new Vauxhall / Opel styling direction. How the new Magna ownership will change it I am not sure, perhaps large cuts all over it??
Re: New Vauxhall Meriva spied
The report says that the new Meriva's rear seats fold flat and slide back but the current Meriva does that so surely there's more to it than reported?
My wife has a Meriva and it really is a good family car; it's got plenty of room, it's got usefull seating adjustment (as opposed the the Jazz's flip up seats, I have bever bought a large house plant and can't think of another use for them) and it is surpisingly comfortable and refined on a long journey.
It is also tediously dull to the point where I hate driving it. MPV's are rarely interesting but at least the new one looks like somebody has thought about the design. I also hope that as reported the dangerous A-pillars are sorted out.