Turbo Meriva VXR Warms Up

The prototype pictured in this week's mag is fitted with large-diameter alloy wheels and a sports exhaust, but insiders have suggested the final production version will wear far more striking bodywork. Expect wider wheelarches and low side skirts, plus an imposing roof spoiler - all of which will transform the Meriva's unassuming shape into something that will appeal to performance car fans.

Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the diminutive people carrier will produce more than 170bhp and provide pace to rival the quickest supermini-based hot hatches. At present, the most expensive Meriva is the 1.7-litre diesel Energy, at ΂£14,950. The good news is that the VXR is tipped to cost only a bit more, at around ΂£15,500.

Despite early speculation, there are currently no plans for a similar performance variant of the current Corsa. With an all-new version of the popular supermini due in showrooms in 2006, it's too late in the product lifecycle of the existing car to justify the development costs of a range-topping VXR model.