Spy shots: 2010 Opel Meriva MPV

The 2010 Opel Meriva MPV has been spotted undergoing testing on Germany's famous Nurburgring. Though fully covered, the spy photos also revealed a streamlined body bearing styling elements shared with its Insignia and Astra stablemates.

Engine options will likely mirror that of those offered on the new Astra. This means we can expect the Meriva will feature a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter engine as well as a turbocharged 1.4-liter with 140PS. On the diesel side, the Mervia will likely offer up to four different Euro5 compliant engines with outputs ranging from 95PS to 160PS.

Based on the Meriva concept revealed at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the production version of the 2010 Opel Meriva looks as though it will share the unique kink featured in the rear passenger window of the concept. The front door’s handle and the general construction of the doors and rubber strips indicate the rear-opening rear doors of the concept are gone. The suicide door configuration makes for better display in a car show booth, but is both inconvenient and hard to get past the legal department in the real world.

The simple and attractive front fascia, minimalist outlines, and overall configuration remain very close to the concept’s design, however. Small detail differences include the addition of a tailpipe (hidden on the concept) and the removal of the rear roof spoiler and addition of an antenna in its place.

The treatment of the rear windows and rear hatch area seem to indicate both the angular upsweep before the C-pillar and the hourglass-shaped rear hatch will carry over into production. The tail lights, though heavily camouflaged, carry a hint of the outline of the concept’s large and stylistic units as well.

The 2010 Opel Meriva will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. And sales are set to begin in European markets before the end of the year.