confirma-se o andamento do projecto:
Next Corsa heads for hills
Flared wheelarches and raised ride height give SUV muscular look.
It looks as if the Yeti could soon have company! As Skoda’s new SUV made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show, our spies were on the trail of this top-secret new model from Vauxhall.
Our spy shots show a new small 4x4 from the Luton firm on test in the Arctic Circle. Under the Meriva body there’s a new chassis and a four-wheel-drive powertrain. The SUV will share suspension components with the Corsa – but it’s also likely to get a raised ride height and tough, practical bodywork.
The five-stud hubs holding the wheels suggest there will be plenty of power on offer from the range’s flagship models.
According to one source, both front and four-wheel-drive versions will be available. The former will appeal to customers who seek the look and flexibility of an SUV, and the latter to those wanting some off-road ability.
Entering a totally new market for Vauxhall, the Corsa 4x4 will be powered by a wide range of small-capacity turbocharged petrol and diesel engines.
Styling will be influenced by the next-generation Corsa and Meriva, although the newcomer gets muscular wheelarches, roof rails and protective bumpers. While the new supermini will go on sale in early 2010, the SUV version is still some way off – don’t expect a debut until 2011.
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