Vauxhall Meriva

Our spies have captured these shots of Vauxhall's most practical Meriva yet! With rear-hinged doors for easy access and a versatile 'FlexSpace' interior the new car is sure to be an MPV hit.

These pictures also reveal that the upright, boxy design of the original Meriva has been replaced by a sleeker, more appealing exterior that should make it a real competitor to the desirable MINI Clubman.

Many of the newcomers design cues are lifted from the Flextreme Concept which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. At the front, the model has the same pronounced grille, faired-in headlights and raised bonnet edges.

Power will likely come from a range of engines that mirror those available in the new Astra. This means we can expect to see a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre engine as well as a turbo-charged 1.4-litre which produces 140hp.

As for the oil burners there will be four engines on offer, ranging from 95 to 160hp. All units will have stop-start technology to help to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions.

The new Meriva will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year.