The new Vauxhall Meriva has hit the road! Our spies caught the supermini-MPV winter testing. And despite the eye-boggling disguise, it’s clear that the prototype is almost identical to the concept version that starred at the Geneva Motor Show. Engineers have tried hard to cover up the car’s side profile and back end, and focused much of the camouflage on the newcomer’s rear-hinged FlexDoors. Also hidden is the distinctive kink that appears along the window line.Elsewhere, the influence of the car displayed on the stands is clear to see. It shares the same steeply raked front end, short overhangs and upright tail. The high roofline and wheel-at-each-corner stance allow for a spacious interior that will easily seat five adults.Deep under the disguise lies a stretched version of the Corsa platform. The latest supermini is also the source of all the Meriva’s mechanicals, enabling Vauxhall to offer a wide range of engines. These include the smooth and punchy 1.3 and 1.7-litre CDTI diesels, as well as a fire-breathing 189bhp 1.6-litre petrol turbo for the range-topping VXR model. And all variants will be equipped with fuel-saving stop-start technology.The Meriva is scheduled to go on sale in UK showrooms early in 2009.
