| New Vauxhall Meriva | ||
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(Wed 06 Jan 10) Vauxhall has given some details about its new Meriva compact MPV, which will make its world debut at the Geneva Show in March.
The new Meriva is larger than the model it replaces, which among other things should help with the ride and handling, and its six petrol and diesel engines (all turbocharged) are claimed to produce an average improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 15%. Vauxhall also says that the rear seats are easier to move and fold than previously, and there is a new system called FlexRail which allows occupants to choose their own layout of storage areas in what would in most cars be a fixed, take-it-or-leave-it centre console. But the most intriguing feature of the Meriva is what Vauxhall calls the FlexDoors system. Basically this means that the rear doors are hinged at the back rather than the front, and while this is not new in itself there are some clever tricks. For a start, the central B pillar has been retained, which not only preserves the structural rigidity of the bodyshell which would have been badly compromised if the pillar had been removed, but also means that all four doors can be opened and closed independently (though the rear doors lock automatically when the car starts to move).
All four doors also open out at an angle of nearly 90 degrees, and in combination with the back-hingeing this should make getting in and out (and making sure that young children are securely fastened in the rear) a simple matter. Details of UK pricing and equipment levels will be made clear at Geneva, though we do already know that a high-economy low-CO2 ecoFLEX model will definitely be in the line-up. Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter. |
