Vauxhall Junior spied

A new MINI rival from Vauxhall is edging ever closer. A concept which previews the luxury model will debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show, giving a taste of how the production car will look when it goes on sale in 2013.

Codenamed ‘Junior’, the premium three-door supermini will be based on the front-wheel-drive platform from the next Corsa, although it’ll be slightly smaller. Disguised prototypes have already been caught by our spy photographers.

As well as a sporty shape, the Junior will stand out from its MINI, Fiat 500 and Citroen DS3 rivals by going all-out on personalisation, with a reported 10,000 variations of paint and interior trim schemes. “You won’t see two alike on the road,” an insider told us.

Further emphasising its premium status, the Junior will be sold in a separate part of Vauxhall showrooms. Power will come from a range of small petrol and diesel turbos from the Corsa line-up, as well as a new three-cylinder engine.

Set to become a sub-brand, the newcomer will also be available as a VXR hot hatch, a cabrio and an electric car. Currently it has no proper name, though. Junior can’t be used on a production Vauxhall as Alfa Romeo owns the rights.

The insider told us: “We have no heritage in this area, as BMW had with MINI, but the new name will certainly match the car, which will be fun to drive and stylish.” It will cost from around £10,000.

Early next year, Vauxhall will launch the Ampera range extender and Astra GTC hatch. A Qashqai-rivalling SUV is due in autumn.