Vauxhall Meriva VXR

***MikeWarner*** · 19-11-2005, 19:11

Just when the motoring world thought there were no niches left, Vauxhall have found one – and it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of anyone who likes their cars fast, fun and more than a little cheeky.

The Meriva has been given the VXR treatment to create the world’s first performance mini-MPV – and one of the most-talked about cars of the year. As enthusiasts have come to expect from the VXR brand, the Meriva hasn’t just been given a few tweaks and a tuned engine – Vauxhall has gone the whole hog to make sure that the smallest VXR will be able to hold its own against any modern hot hatchback, and might even be able to give a few supercar drivers a shock.

Under the bonnet is an all-new 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine which produces an impressive 180PS, making it easily the most powerful car in the class. Driving the front wheels through a six-speed close ratio gearbox, it’s enough to take the Meriva from 0-60 mph in around eight seconds and on to a top speed of nearly 140mph.

To cope with the extra power, the chassis has been thoroughly reworked to give the driving dynamics expected of a car carrying the VXR badge on its boot. The exterior styling has been upgraded with reprofiled front and rear bumpers which clearly link the newest VXR to style started with the Meriva’s big brothers - the VXR Astra, Zafira and Vectra models. The Meriva’s smart 17-inch alloy wheels are in the now-familiar six-spoke VXR design too.

Inside, the Meriva VXR retains all the practicality of the acclaimed FlexSpace seating system, but there is a twist which has never been seen before in a mini-MPV. Special Recaro seats hold the occupants, and VXR logos adorn the gearlever, instruments and steering wheel.

The high-performance version of the versatile five-seater will make its debut at the Essen Motor Show later this month (25 November) and will go on sale in the UK alongside other facelifted Meriva models in February 2006. Prices will be announced nearer the on-sale date.

World’s first hot mini-MPV to debut at Essen Motor Show
Powered by new 180PS turbo 1.6-litre engine with six-speed gearbox
FlexSpace interior, 138mph top speed, 0-60 in around 8.0 seconds

Ste_nova · 19-11-2005, 19:25

6 speed box..... small block engine... this could get intresting

Ian S · 19-11-2005, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWarner

Powered by new 180PS turbo 1.6-litre engine with six-speed gearbox
FlexSpace interior, 138mph top speed, 0-60 in around 8.0 seconds

what a joke, not even deserving of a gsi badge, let alone vxr

***Tom Williams*** · 19-11-2005, 19:45

Ian

If the Meriva is not deserving of the VXR or GSi badge then surely the Nova GSi with the 1.6 8v engine is not deserving of the GSi badge compared to the Astra and Cavalier GSi with the bigger engine?

**MarkW** · 19-11-2005, 19:55

Looks to be a cracking little car.

Be nice to see one in the flesh, looking forward to some essen motor show pics in the press.

I had a Meriva as a loan car once, I liked that, driving position and road view was great, like a baby zafira!

AndyB192 · 19-11-2005, 21:02

Quote:

the smallest VXR will be able to hold its own against any modern hot hatchback, and might even be able to give a few supercar drivers a shock.

I doubt that.

Quote:

0-60 in around 8.0 seconds

IIRC that's no faster than the current Corsa C 1.8 SRi.

***MikeWarner*** · 19-11-2005, 21:04

The figures sound conservative to me - typical of Vauxhall, trying to reduce insurance costs. 180bhp in that should go much quicker than 0-60 in 8s, more like 7s.

**pudsey** · 19-11-2005, 21:24

aye!

i really like it! Should be interesting with a few mods, intercooler, remap etc!

I like the whole compromise thing where you can have a quick car yet family practicality, same with the zaffy.

***Tom Williams*** · 19-11-2005, 21:27

yup, i think the comprimise is a good thing, you can buy a ford focus c max for eample with some decent quick deisel engines for those that want a family car,with economy and something like a 130 or 150 ps oil burner

mystery machine · 19-11-2005, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwcav

Be nice to see one

http://cars.msn.co.uk/carnews/carnews18nov05/

this is the best i can do atm. be quick as they change quite often.

***MikeWarner*** · 19-11-2005, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystery machine

http://cars.msn.co.uk/carnews/carnews18nov05/

this is the best i can do atm. be quick as they change quite often.

THere are 2 photos above.

mystery machine · 19-11-2005, 22:24

i only got the top half of the thread. *note to self read whole thread b4 posting*

adamSRi · 20-11-2005, 18:19

the planned Agila VXR looks very interesting though..

/\STR/\ · 20-11-2005, 23:34

looks like a great little motor!

Vauxhall seem to be getting things right at the moment in my opinion

Pengoo · 22-11-2005, 18:34

Really like it ,my old man has a 1.8 meriva and it does go well ,(when i am driving it .) but may have the prob of wheel spinning as it is just as bad in the standard motor now ,even as he has added a full S/S system and cone filter ,but think a re map is point less on his .but look forward to trying one of these out ..

MSG · 19-12-2005, 12:03

pardon me for my misinformation, what does VXR stand for any one who knows please no guesses.

caspy · 19-12-2005, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSG

pardon me for my misinformation, what does VXR stand for any one who knows please no guesses.

VX Racing

MSG · 20-12-2005, 10:36

Thanks Caspy for enlightening me.

Mark T · 20-12-2005, 10:42

a Z20LET would have been a better choice.

The Meriva is not light (about the same as AstraG)

htimsllib · 20-12-2005, 22:33

if this is correct i WILL buy one for my misses as long as it's under £14k.

Johnny A · 29-12-2005, 20:38

when do these go into production? I take it the 1.6 16v is just a modified 16XE?

Ideas

Knocturnal · 16-02-2006, 20:44

This actually looks like a really decent motor, its about time vx produced and released a small block turbo engine, think of all those tuning capabilities!!!! Although im suprised this engine has never been produced in the corsa YET, im sure this was ""planned"" for production on the corsa c 2000 - 2001! Thats 5-6 years and ive seen various concepts in the past but no dates

can any administators tell me why this has not been produced????

also had/has it been released across the water as an opel opc????

any differences????

regards

AndyB192 · 16-02-2006, 21:58

That Corsa OPC was just a concept. It has never been released in the UK or anywhere else. IIRC that's because it would have been faster than the more expensive Astra OPC and so would steal sales.

vader · 18-02-2006, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsaGSI OOP

This actually looks like a really decent motor, its about time vx produced and released a small block turbo engine, think of all those tuning capabilities!!!! Although im suprised this engine has never been produced in the corsa YET, im sure this was ""planned"" for production on the corsa c 2000 - 2001! Thats 5-6 years and ive seen various concepts in the past but no dates

can any administators tell me why this has not been produced????

also had/has it been released across the water as an opel opc????

any differences????

regards

ChrisWood · 19-02-2006, 10:05

Dont see the point too a Vxr Meriva.
This may sound silly as i have a Zafira Gsi, the reason i have a zafira is i have 3 kids and need a big boot for push chairs and stuff and it`s nice too have the option too carry 7 although with no boot space..
Meriva is very cramped in the back for 3.
If i only had 2 kids i would rather buy the 4 door astra sri 200bhp with the exterior pack and 18" alloys for same sort of money as the meriva Vxr.