Manic Meriva

Newswheel staff :: 19 November 2005 :: Filed under Mini MPV / People carrier, Vauxhall, Vauxhall Meriva, Europe & UK, US

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180bhp mini-MPV Vauxhall madness

Offering performance versions of mass-market hatchbacks and saloons in an effort to add a little sex appeal to the rest of the range makes plenty of sense. After all, the corporate drones who drive such mundane machinery probably hanker after something a little racier. With the turbo-charged Zafira mid-sized MPV, however, Vauxhall successfully stretched that theory to new limits. But you’ve gotta wonder, has it gone a step too far with the new 180bhp Meriva mini-MPV?

The Meriva VXR is part of the refreshed Meriva range that includes Vauxhall’s bolder front grille treatment, a few extra dashes of chrome inside and out and re-profiled front and rear bumpers. Call us a bunch of miserable old gits, but we reckon the original Meriva looks neater, cleaner and a sight less fussy. Well, that’s what happens when you graft a new corporate design ethic onto an existing car. Two new engines have also been added, a Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre, 74bhp turbo diesel and the new Twinport 1.6-litre, 104bhp petrol engine from the Astra.

The Meriva VXR 1.6-litre turbo comes complete with the usual spring and damper upgrades, as well as 17-inch alloys, and goes on sale in spring 2006. Vauxhall has yet to release pricing information.

Top, the original Meriva, below the new. Crisp and confident makes way for fussy and fusty (apologies for the poor photo quality).

Linkage:
Vauxhall