Autoblog

Because GM has said that Opel and Saturn will be virtually indistinguishable by 2014, every new Opel piques our curiosity. And guess what? Thanks to Hans Lehmann Photo, we have a spy pic of a new Opel. The vehicle is a heavily disguised prototype of the new Opel Agila. As with the current Agila, the model is being co-developed with Suzuki. WorldCarFans is predicting that this microvan will again use a choice of transversely mounted engines ranging from 60 to 80 hp. A 70 hp 1.3 litre turbodiesel might be another option. The finished vehicle or a concept version should be making its debut in Frankfurt this fall.

The current Agila is a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R built in Poland. One of the few 5-doors in the small city car class, it has been successful because of its unique combination of a small but relatively powerful and refined Opel engine, good standard equipment levels, low MSRP, and equally low operating costs. It has the typical small footprint of European city cars, but is as tall as some MPVs, allowing a lot of interior room. Where the current Wagon R and Agila have a slab-sided micro commercial van look, this new version appears to have a bit more style a lá the Suzuki SX4.

[Source: World Car Fans]

click above image for high-resolution gallery

That fine Euro MPV, the Citroen C4 Picasso, will be shrinking in March of this year. According to Autoblog Spanish, visitors to the Geneva Motor Show will see a whole new vehicle rather than the 7-seat microvan they have come to know. In its place there will be a new C4 that is a bit smaller and capable of hauling only 5 people. The familiar 7 passenger version will still be around, and is rumored to be renamed the Grand Picasso. Besides losing two seats and a few inches of length, the new shorter C4 gets revised front and rear fascias that are a bit cleaner, as well as a smoother roofline. The interior and engine options should stay the same, however.

You can view more angles of the Picasso in this high-resolution gallery.

[Source: AB Spanish]