Unlike the current model, the new concept is built on a derivative of two of GM's global small-vehicle architectures, which means this time ‘round it could be sold outside of Europe. According to Automotive News, GM officials are assessing whether a business case can be made to bring a small European model to North America and one of these cars could be the next-gen Meriva.
One of the main reasons the car could cross the Atlantic is because of new CAFE regulations forcing carmakers to lift fleet-average mileage figures to 35mpg by 2020. GM, like most other carmakers in the U.S., is desperate for smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles in its lineup and one of the easiest ways to fill the gap is to import current models from Europe.
However, Jon Lauckner, GM's vice president of global program management, told reporters that "these vehicles have a role in the European market because there is not a big crossover segment there. In the U.S., it's a different story."
Opel Meriva Concept
Reader Comments
Thu Mar 6 2008 9:07 AM
Dasupersprint says
At this point, they should kill Saturn and bring Opel in america, since there is no ''unique'' Saturn.
Thu Mar 6 2008 8:56 PM
NaBUru38 says
The Meriva isn't a compact MPV, it's a mini MPV . The former are bigger, let's say 4.20-4.60 meters (Picasso, C-Max, Zafira, Scénic, Touran), while the latter stay under 4.10 meters (Idea, Note, A-Class, Modus).
If GM must kill a brand, it shouldn't be a small car brand (if there's such a thing in the US). Not all Saturn customers would swap their cars for a Chevy or Pontiac if it disappears, many would go for an Asian brand. And that would destroy their efforts to reduce their average fleet fuel consumption.
Fri Mar 7 2008 5:58 PM
Dasupersprint says
Read my comment properly, I said kill Saturn and BRING OPEL in america. Saturn is now turned into the exact mirror of the european Opel lineup
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