Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Meriva concept.

We finally wound our way over to Opel's booth to check out the newest take on the compact MPV concept. The Meriva's small footprint would lend itself well to the urban confines Opel expects the majority of buyers to be based out of, and the FlexDoors, a modern take on the suicide doors of yore, should make ingress and egress easier for the kiddies and anyone else banished to the back of the mini-bus. Opel wanted to maintain the stylistic edge of a high belt-line, which normally impedes rearward visibility, but the slopping rear windows and D-pillar might make blind spots a bit more bearable when some version of the Meriva makes it to production around the turn of the decade.

You can read up on all the details about the Opel Meriva concept in the press release after the jump.

Click above for more high-res images of the Opel Meriva Concept

The current Opel Meriva on sale to Europeans is a rather ho-hum affair, which is why there's actual anticipation for the Meriva Concept that will debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show. Images of the Meriva Concept have already leaked out, but Opel has made the concept's existence official by releasing the good, high-res stuff and an accompanying press release. This four-door hatch concept that's guaranteed a spot on the production line is cloaked in Opel's new design language, which means clean lines and a simple face with the brand's new grille.

There are two elements of the Meriva Concept that we find interesting enough to mention again (the rest you can read in the press release after the jump), which include its rear FlexDoors and the kink in its window line. Rear suicide doors are a common feature on concept cars because they allows designers to eliminate the B-pillar, giving photographers a better view of the interior from behind the velvet ropes. The Meriva Concept, however, retains its B-pillars, suggesting the rear suicide doors have a definite shot at making it to the final production car. We also like the downward kink in the rear window line because it's more than just an aesthetic flick of the designer's pen. Belt lines on cars have been rising for decades, and all too often this means outward visibility is compromised for rear seat passengers. By adding this small kink, Opel has given a little bit of the greenhouse back to rear seat riders. We'll finally meet this car in person next week at the Geneva Motor Show, but we don't expect it to make the return trip badged as a Saturn like so many other Opel models.


[Source: Opel]

GM's European divisions are preparing to unveil their latest show car at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept is Opel and Vauxhall's study for what form the next Euro minivan could take.

The Meriva Concept, as previewed by the concept sketch above, draws on the previous GTC Coupe and Flextreme concepts and applies the theme to a monocab form, a segment in which Opel and Vauxhall account for one fifth of continental sales between the Zafira, Meriva and Agila MPVs. Expect the Meriva Concept to preview the direction that GM's European tall wagons will take in the near future, which could end up finding its way into a Saturn model or two on our side of the Atlantic. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Vauxhall]

Think you've seen a lot of tie-ins involving Disney/Pixar's Cars this summer? Well, here's one more, in which the stars of the Opel lineup get a Pixar-style rfacelift.

Click here and you'll be brought to an Opel/Cars minisite that shows the characters from Pixar's latest tour de force interacting with the Opel Astra (above), Opel Meriva, and Opel Zafira. In addition to the intro movie that plays automatically when you enter the site, you can click on a link to watch a Euro-market TV commercial that shows the three GM cars auditioning for the part of Mater.

The spot is well done, and it's pretty neat seeing how the Pixar folks gave life to the Opels. Each car has it's own personality: Astra is very sporty and aggressive, Zafira is slick and stylish, and Meriva ... well Meriva's a little more shy. If you saw Cars and liked it, you'll get a kick out of it.

Desktop wallpapers, a screensaver, behind-the-scenes podcasts, and a PDF coloring book are also available for download.

Addendum: Thanks to reader/commenter Scott K for finding the direct link to the minisite!

(Additional images after the jump)

[Source: Opel]