Spy Photos: Opel Agila

[1931Chevy]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/21/s...os-opel-agila/


Because GM has said that Opel and Saturn will be virtually indistinguishable by 2014, every new Opel piques our curiosity. And guess what? Thanks to Hans Lehmann Photo, we have a spy pic of a new Opel. The vehicle is a heavily disguised prototype of the new Opel Agila. As with the current Agila, the model is being co-developed with Suzuki. WorldCarFans is predicting that this microvan will again use a choice of transversely mounted engines ranging from 60 to 80 hp. A 70 hp 1.3 litre turbodiesel might be another option. The finished vehicle or a concept version should be making its debut in Frankfurt this fall.

The current Agila is a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R built in Poland. One of the few 5-doors in the small city car class, it has been successful because of its unique combination of a small but relatively powerful and refined Opel engine, good standard equipment levels, low MSRP, and equally low operating costs. It has the typical small footprint of European city cars, but is as tall as some MPVs, allowing a lot of interior room. Where the current Wagon R and Agila have a slab-sided micro commercial van look, this new version appears to have a bit more style a lá the Suzuki SX4.

[t-rex]

Isn't that the same spy shot for the supposed Vibe replacement??

[GotAWD]

Originally Posted by t-rex

Isn't that the same spy shot for the supposed Vibe replacement??

i was thinking the same only you could see more of the car instead of camo for the vibe if i recall. even then this car looks too small for it. and whats with only one shot of the car? i cant seem to find anything else.

[t-rex]

That can't be an Agila-sized car. If it is, it'll have the tiniest steering wheel (and test driver) in the industry. If the test driver is a normal-size adult (i.e. way bigger than I am), that's surely a much bigger car than the Agila.

[paul8488]

Click on the photo in the link and you'll see other shots... it's a pretty small car. I really like this... I hope they don't do huge rear lights like the rendering suggests; I'd rather see blacked-out of body coloured surround with the protruding bullet lights the covered prototype suggests. This class of car is just dorky enough to be cool. An AWD version would be fun.

[redimpss5]

At least he has 5 fingers in that pic, instead of just one. (hehehe)

[t-rex]

You're right, paul8488. The full pic shows the car, and driver, in proper proportion. The way the rear wheels protrude rearward remind me of the PSA-Toyota triplets.

[kenman923]

The headlights look different from traditonal Opels. They look like they were borrowed from Porsche, although it's clearly a disguise.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by t-rex

You're right, paul8488.

Could I trouble you to add this as your signature? Thanks. It's pretty well a blanket statement, and one I'd like to see more often.

[Caleb02]

if saturn is going to be rebadbed Opels then why not rename saturn opal? Since an Opel by any other name is still an Opel.

[GM lover]

I do not think Saturn should bring the Agila to the U.S. because I do not think the U.S. is ready for a super subcompact car. However, if Saturn was to bring the Agila here they would be the only company to offer a vehicle like this.

[Slideways]

No offense Europe, but you can keep it. That is NOT what Saturn needs to change its image. A few of those 70hp wonders plugging up freeway onramps and the Sky and Aura will take a backseat to jokes about the new Saturn Slug.

[K-1]

Originally Posted by Caleb02

if saturn is going to be rebadbed Opels then why not rename saturn opal? Since an Opel by any other name is still an Opel.

Ask a random person on the street what an Opel is. The answer of "A what??" is why.

[stevecmh]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

At least he has 5 fingers in that pic, instead of just one. (hehehe)

haha nice

[HEVguy]

From all that camo, the car looks kinda crappy and dinky. However, looking at the rendering of the un-camo'd concept. It looks like a pretty sweet little econo-ride! I wonder if they'll bring that to the US!? I guess Honda and Nissan are bringing some smaller cars here, so as long as they can profitably sell it here, there seems to be a (small?) market.