New Vauxhall Meriva Details

• New-look Meriva joins Vauxhall line-up

• Sophisticated and economical 1.3 CDTi and 1.6 Twinport engines join the range

• New turbocharged flagship VXR

There’s a new look, new technology and a hot new addition to the family as Vauxhall continues to move its stylish and dynamic model range forward with a revised version of its smallest MPV.

On sale now, New Meriva gets a freshened front end, with a reprofiled bumper and more prominent V-grille, which brings the mini-MPV into line with the latest Vauxhall family look. At the rear the Meriva gains dark rear lamp lenses and a classy chrome strip across the tailgate. New paint schemes and wheels combine with a revised cabin, featuring extra chrome detailing and fresh fabrics, to complete the stylish new look.

Two new engines are available, and both offer exceptional economy. The high-tech 1.3-litre CDTi diesel, as used in Corsa and Tigra, appears in Meriva for the first time, delivering an impressive combined fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg allied to a lively top speed of 98mph. The award-winning 75PS unit features common-rail injection and four-valves per cylinder to ensure excellent economy and smooth responses.

The second new addition is to the petrol engine line-up, in the form of the 1.6-litre 105PS Twinport engine used in Astra and Zafira. With 5PS more than the outgoing Meriva 1.6, the newcomer is livelier yet more economical, having a top speed of 112mph and a combined economy figure of 42.2 mpg – a six percent improvement over the outgoing car.

New Meriva is also the next model to join Vauxhall’s VXR performance line-up, with a 180PS turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and distinctive styling.

All versions of New Meriva will feature several technical innovations which are unique in its class, including a halogen version of Vauxhall’s innovative Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL). More affordable than the Xenon lighting used in existing versions of AFL, the Halogen set-up includes curve lights that adjust beam angles subject to speed and steering angles. The system offers far greater night time visibility over standard Halogen lighting without the cost of a full Xenon system.

Other New Meriva features include a power release tailgate and interior lighting that can be activated by remote control, leading the way to the car in the dark – fitted as standard in all models. Follow-me-home headlights are also standard on all models, while optional mobile phone installation with Bluetooth interface is also appearing on the options list for the first time.

Thanks to its FlexSpace concept, New Meriva will continue to offer the same versatility and flexibility that its predecessor has offered since 2003. Despite its compact 4.05 metres length, Meriva offers generous storage and plenty of comfortable seating, and can be quickly and easily transformed from a five-seater into a four, three or two-seater in just a matter of seconds.

New Meriva will be the first of several new products to join the Vauxhall line-up in 2006, with prices starting at just £9,995.

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New Vauxhall Meriva Details

Design and Dynamics

New Meriva continues Vauxhall’s theme of offering the very best in stylish design and driving dynamics.

The neat lines are instantly identifiable, with new classy touches such as dark-tinted rear lamp lenses and a smart chrome strip that runs across the base of the tailgate.

Up front, there’s a new grille and bumper, while new round fog lamps adorn higher-range models. The dimensions are the same as before, but the look is bolder and more confident, in keeping with the image of what has become the European market leader in its class.

But the smart looks aren’t all, for New Meriva has been designed to offer the best in dynamic ability and comfort. The ‘Dynamic Safety Chassis’ has excellent levels of grip and neutral handling characteristics, meaning it is ideally set-up to deal with the majority of real-life situations from motorway cruising to avoiding emergencies.

The ABS system is highly advanced, with discs all-round and standard electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). ESP and Traction Control are on the options list, and further bolster New Meriva’s dynamic package.

On models fitted with Easytronic automated manual transmission, Hill Start Assist is also standard. This maintains pressure in the braking system for 1.5 seconds after the foot brake is released, giving the driver enough time to select a gear and apply the accelerator without rolling back. As soon as the car starts to move, braking pressure is released.

Meriva VXR dynamics

Meriva VXR features an exclusive Sport Chassis, which is even more dynamic that the standard car to react quicker to driver input.

Tested at GM’s high-speed test centre at Pferdsfeld, Germany, as well as the legendary Nurburgring, the Meriva VXR’s chassis is 10mm lower at the front and 15mm lower at the rear than the standard car. Higher spring rates and stiffer dampers (up to 50 per cent) significantly reduce body roll, while 60 per cent stiffer bushes all round further sharpen the driving experience.

VXR models come with 17-inch alloys as standard, shod with 205/45 ZR 17 88W tyres. Ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid discs at the rear help keep things in check, while the Electronic Power Steering has a quicker 16.7:1 ratio than the standard car, delivering exceptional precision and responsiveness.

The standard ESP system is set to interact later than on standard cars, allowing the driver to set the car up more flexibly under hard driving.

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New Vauxhall Meriva Details

Inside Story

• Award-winning FlexSpace layout

• ‘Lead me to car’ interior lighting as standard

• Upgraded interior and trim

The package might be compact, but there’s nothing small about the inside of New Meriva, with its innovative seating layout and unrivalled versatility.

The clever FlexSpace seating is carried over from the previous model, allowing the standard five-seat cabin to be transferred into a more spacious four-seater, or even a two-seater with van-like practicality in seconds.

Depending on the arrangement of the rear seats, Meriva has the capacity to carry between 330 and 560-litres of luggage, while with the seats dropped fully this increases to over 1,410-litres. Storage spaces are ample, too, with a wide range of compartments, luggage nets and bag hooks, plus a secret compartment under the boot floor that’s specially designed to conceal a standard-sized briefcase or laptop computer.

The multi-function Travel Assistant, pioneered on the previous Meriva, is also available, clipping into the rear seat centre and offering an extra five-litres of concealed storage and fold-out cup holders.

But it’s not only practicality that marks New Meriva out from the crowd. The cabin has been revitalised with a range of new, high quality trim materials. The fabrics feature clean, modern graphics, while the ergonomic standards of the cabin are improved significantly to include higher grade plastics and neat touches, such as chrome detailing on the gear lever, door handles and dashboard dials.

New Meriva also features an innovation in interior lighting, never before seen on a car in this class. Using a remote control, the car’s headlights and interior lights can be turned on for up to 30 seconds, helping guide your way to the car in the dark and increasing the safety and security of owners at night. Although a feature that some makers might charge extra for in premium models, it’s fitted as standard even to entry-level Merivas.

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