Vauxhall Meriva

Vauxhall’s ‘clever little thing’ getting smarter! Our spies have snapped these exclusive first images of the new Vauxhall Meriva mini-MPV undergoing testing in a secure facility in France.

A number of test mules have been spotted over the last couple of months, but these shots offer the best glimpse yet of how the new car will look when it hits UK showrooms in 2010.

Despite the pair of mules we spied sporting some typically heavy cladding, both give away one key fact on closer inspection of the rear doors – they’re rear hinged.

Vauxhall engineers have even attached fake handles in a bid to confuse onlookers, but they can’t detract from the unusual bulging contours running down the flanks – designed to conceal the real handles near the B-pillars.

The decision to include ‘suicide doors’ will add even more practicality to the versatile hatchback, which will also have a far more rakish, sporty look than the car it replaces. And there’ll be a hot VXR version too, powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing up to 200bhp. Clever indeed.