2010 Opel Meriva MPV First Photographs - Snapped Completely Undisguised!

Just last week, we brought you a set of photos showing the new Opel Meriva small MPV with its rear-hinged back doors wide open. Now this time, our man with the long lens has really outdone himself snagging a 2010 Meriva test car without a single trace of camouflage! These new pictures give us our best look at the five-seater minivan that's clearly inspired by the 2008 Meriva concept while sharing many styling cues with both the Insignia and the new Astra hatchback.

Aside from suicide rear doors with the front-mounted handles that are said to open to a 90-degree angle to the body, another distinguishing feature of the new Meriva is its unusual glasshouse design that incorporates a downward kink at the back doors just behind the B-pillar.

Although we don't have any photos of the Meriva's front end, previous spy shots suggest a similar treatment to the latest Astra with wing-shaped headlights and Opel's family grille.

In other aspects, the new Meriva will be slightly longer than the current model while engine choices at launch will include 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter naturally aspirated gasoline units with outputs of 100HP and 115HP respectively as well as GM's new 140HP 1.4-liter turbo. The diesel lineup will most likely comprise of 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CDTIs.

Designed to compete against small MPVs like the Citroen C3 Picasso and Kia Venga, the Opel / Vauxhall Meriva is expected to make its world premiere at next March's Geneva Salon with European sales following shortly after.