Thursday 17th November 2005

Vauxhall launches sporty MPV

Well, it's got a high-performance badge...

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Meriva VXR. Why?

Just when the motoring world thought there were no niches left, Vauxhall claims to have found one – but who on earth will want to buy the result?

Having abandoned the only true performance cars that made the VXR badge mean anything, the Monaro and VXR220, GM's UK arm has slapped the logo on a people carrier.

The company described the vehicle as "the world’s first performance mini-MPV". To earn that epithet, it sports a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with -- wait for it -- 178bhp delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed close ratio gearbox. The resulting performance is 0-60 mph in a sluggish eight seconds. External tweaks include the inevitably deeper front and rear bumpers plus 17-inch alloys.

Inside, it looks like a people carrier, apart from the smattering of VXR logos in strategic places and the Recaro seats. No prices yet but it goes on sale in February 2006.

Be still my beating heart.

[r988]

article said:

The company described the vehicle as "the world’s first performance mini-MPV"

Completely ignoring the fact that not only has there been many performance MPVs before, both large and small, which means they are one of the last to try to cash in on this idea, but it isn't even remotely sporty or performance orientated anyway.

[wab172uk]

Just the car the world needs................... not

[plfrench]

How on earth did they make something that small be so slow with nearly 180bhp? You'd expect it to be a second quicker to 60 than that... pointless in the extreme!!

Paul.

[pcwilson]

r988 said:

article said: The company described the vehicle as "the world’s first performance mini-MPV" Completely ignoring the fact that not only has there been many performance MPVs before, both large and small, which means they are one of the last to try to cash in on this idea, but it isn't even remotely sporty or performance orientated anyway.

Didn't Vx invent the whole "performance MPV" concept with the Zafira GSi? But I agree, a "warm" Meriva is taking the whole thing a bit too far.

[Hendry]

pcwilson said:

r988 said: article said: The company described the vehicle as "the world’s first performance mini-MPV" Completely ignoring the fact that not only has there been many performance MPVs before, both large and small, which means they are one of the last to try to cash in on this idea, but it isn't even remotely sporty or performance orientated anyway. Didn't Vx invent the whole "performance MPV" concept with the Zafira GSi? But I agree, a "warm" Meriva is taking the whole thing a bit too far.

Read the wording - this is the first performance *MINI*-MPV. Which of course means the first of Vauxhall, Fiat and a few others to put some spoiliers and ali pedals in such a car. If you ignore the Daihatsu YRV of course.

The World needs this like it needed an MG ZR van. Just what you would expect from the World's least successful pensions company.

[jas16]

what jokers, honestly, who would want to buy that!!

[pasthim]

An answer to a question no-one asked. The VXR brand is doing great things on VX220s, Astras, Vectras, Monaros and was taking the brand in the right direction. But people carriers? What's sporty about them. I drove a Zafira GSi recently and while it was a cool looking MPV it was as sporty/high performance as a transit! Both people carriers are good in their own right but this branding is a mistake. Although bear in mind Ford with it's ST brand and BMW with its 'M' brand both make estate versions! Might even see an 'M' 4x4 from them, so I suppose it's not just Vauxhall cocking it up!

[paulothegangsta]

I think its more a case of "This badge will help sell the car" rather than "this car is so good it deserves the vxr badge". Same reason BMW are doing another M5 estate and doing that M-sport niche. Basically every car manufacturer seems to be diluting the qualities that made them so good in the first place. Hence, the Lamborghini 4x4, Maserati 4x4, Ferrari are doing 4x4 drivetrains soon. We already have the BMW x5 and Porsche Cayenne for those who want to bling up the school run. Why can't all the former stick to doing great sports cars and Vauxhall could leave the vxr badge off the Meriva and suprise customers with the performance instead of getting their hopes up with a load of badges?

[JonRB]

Autocar (or perhaps evo as I subscribe to both) recently described it as "a VXR too far", saying it could only devalue the VXR brand. I agree - it's a cynical marketing ploy attempting to cash in on the small and hard-won cachet the VXR badge now has.