The Meriva has kept most of the concept version’s (presented at Geneva Auto Show 2008) features, following the current Opel design trend set by the Insignia and continued by the Astra. Thumbs up!
A really unexpected feature borrowed form the concept is the doors' suicide layout, a design delicacy only used by a few sports or luxury cars nowadays.
The engine range will include turbocharged gasoline and diesel units with outputs varying from 75HP to 140 HP, with an EcoFlex model expected.
We’re really looking forward to an OPC (Opel Performance Center) version. The current generation Meriva OPC is powered by a slightly detuned version of the 1.6 turbocharged petrol engine from the Corsa OPC, producing 180 HP. We’re not expecting to see the new OPC at Geneva this year, when the normal version(s) of the car is presented, but we just hope it will eventually hit the market and that we won’t have to wait to long to drive it.
One might say that we’re missing the point here by talking about the OPC version, because the Meriva is a Multi Purpose Vehicle, but we disagree. For many reasons. One of them would be the following: please take a good look at that impressive panoramic glass roof. Now imagine it installed on the OPC version. Leaving the eye candy aside, that would make the car very attractive for its passengers - unlike most performance orientated vehicles which only focus on the driver’s pleasure: Just imagine how the clouds in the sky would look at speeds over 200 km/h or while Scandinavian flicking during a track day!
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