General Motors is currently deciding whether to build a family of small crossovers based on a single global small-car platform. The new vehicles would be smaller than the recently introduced Saturn Vue and be limited to a maximum of five passengers, but the flexibility of the design would allow GM to sell the same basic vehicle all over the world.

For example, in the US it could be marketed under the GMC label, while in Europe it could be sold wearing Opel badges. According to AutoWeek, GM might even sell some versions in emerging markets such as Russia, India and China. "Variants could be configured with different exteriors for Opel, GMC and Chevrolet," said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz at the recent Geneva Motor Show.

Different versions could be produced at a single facility, with the most likely location being a new low-cost site in Thailand, India or Mexico. If given approval, up to 200,000 units per year could be produced by early as 2010. GM already has a similar range of mid-sized crossovers based on its Theta architecture that’s used for the Saturn Vue, Pontiac Torrent, Opel Antara and Chevrolet Equinox and Captiva line of cars.