The Opel Meriva concept was unveiled Tuesday at Geneva and will replace the current top-selling Meriva in Europe. While parent GM released no official word of the four-seat hatchback joining the Saturn line-up in North America, insiders say the car is under consideration.
Executives familiar with Saturn’s product plan told Automotive News the Meriva is being assessed for America. But GM first must assess whether a business case can be made to bring a hatchback to the United States, where hatchbacks typically have not been big seller
GM’s vice president of global program management, Jon Lauckner, says Europe’s crossover market, compared to the one in the U.S., isn’t very populated, which is why the hatchback has a role in Europe.
The front-wheel drive hatchback features rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors for the back seat passengers Opel is calling flex doors. GM says this rare feature, shared only with the Rolls Royce Phantom, will be a welcomed feature by families, as it should make getting in and out easier. Jean-Phillipe Kempf, a GM spokesman, promises the doors will see production.
Historically, hatchbacks haven’t sold well in North America, but GM seems to be ignoring that trend, as it recently added the Saturn Astra to North America. The re-branded Opel only comes in either a 3- or 5-door body style.
03/06, 10:58 AM
posted by:
atourya
even more, this will not sell well.
GM originally had a great idea with the Opel/Holden importing… but they don’t seem to be doing much market testing on these cars. Aside from in big cities, I don’t see this car flying off of the lots.
03/06, 10:59 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Problem is it will be Saturn and they cling to that BS one-price-fits-all policy, which makes their vehicles somewhat overpriced.
03/06, 11:49 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Agreed RHeah: I wouldn’t be likely to buy a Saturn just because of the one price deal. If I haven’t gotten to the point where the sales manager or even the owner’s involved in the negotiation then I haven’t done my job as a customer. It’s my money, after all. And it’s fun.
03/06, 12:12 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Neat looking, so is this going to compete with the Kia Rondo and the like?
03/06, 1:31 PM
posted by:
SoLoveLA
Awesome styling
03/06, 5:09 PM
posted by:
inline6
This LLN snippet sucks.
For one, the current Meriva doesn’t come in 3 and 5-door varieties. That’s because it is a small MPV, like the Renault Scenic.
If GM were concerned about bringing the Meriva over because it’s a “hatchback”, and hatchbacks aren’t popular, why’d they releast the Astra here, which IS a hatchback in 3-and 5-door varieties? And since the Meriva is really just a small minivan, can LLN name me one minivan on the market today that isn’t, technically, a “hatchback”?
03/06, 5:13 PM
posted by:
SoLoveLA
Hatchbacks are very popular if you live on the sophisticated coasts of America
03/06, 11:00 PM
posted by:
autonut
Ricardo and Johnny, one price policy is actually fallacy with Saturn. If car is not selling you can dicker about price and it will be sold for less (dealer has to pay taxes and interest for cars he does not own). When car is selling, dealer wants more. Regardless of policy how much discount you would get on Honda or Toyota?
Usually Saturn dealers throw in options at no extra cost, like A/C or auto or sunroof. It is not strictly one price. However, I expect Opels to command premium and public will pay if quality will be on par.
03/07, 9:16 AM
posted by:
Borger
Saturn is Opel in the USA!
03/07, 11:44 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
The one price fits all like Scion has been doing?
03/07, 11:45 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
They need to bring the Corsa over, that thing would sell like hotcakes! I test drove a 1.8 Astra its not bad but its rather slow.
03/07, 11:48 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
http://www.opel-opc.com/
03/08, 12:26 AM
posted by:
zoomzoomr
The car companies really need to wake up and stop spewing that “hatchbacks don’t sell in the US” BS! The reason being that very few of the limited number of hatchback models offered are anything more than a bobbed sedan! Functional, intelligently designed hatches sell quite well here (the Mazda3 and Honda Fit spring immediately to mind).
03/08, 1:30 AM
posted by:
zoomzoomr
I almost forgot the Mini Cooper/Clubman!
03/22, 1:57 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
zoomzoomr: You’re right