Opel’s aging Vectra sedan is well overdue for a major overhaul, but a replacement vehicle isn’t due until the second half of next year. Several prototypes, such as this one, have been spotted by spy photographers that reveal the new Vectra will have a wider and taller body than the current generation. The larger body is seen as a key strategy towards positioning the new Vectra up-market, putting it on a better standing against cars like Volkswagen’s Passat and the Alfa Romeo 159.

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These images, courtesy of our friends at Autogespot, show that designers have remained true to the style previewed by Opel’s Gran Turismo Coupe Concept that was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show. This is especially true for the new Vectra’s dash layout, which looks very similar to the design used for the concept car.

Other prominent features that carry over from the concept car are the large grille, angular headlights and a pronounced boot line. The wraps should come off at next year’s Geneva Motor Show before the car officially starts sales towards the end of the year as a 2009 model. The car will also replace the current Saturn Aura sedan in the US towards the end of the decade. Before that, another concept car is rumored to be revealed at this year’s Frankfurt Show in September that’s said to be much closer to the production version.