Opel/Vauxhall Zafira and Meriva to become SUVs in 2016

4497 Views 29 Replies 15 Participants Last post by GTC, Nov 2, 2014

Toto

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2014

28 Oct, 2014 10:00am James Batchelor

Vauxhall will replace its Meriva and Zafira people carriers with SUV-styled MPVs within the next two years, as well as introducing a luxurious flagship SUV. Our exclusive images show the look of the new trio, which will give Vauxhall direct rivals to Nissan’s highly successful Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail ranges.

Thanks to a partnership with the PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group, the GM brands are forging ahead with plans to replace the Meriva and ageing Zafira MPVs with cars that, they say, are better suited to current market demands.

As our images show, the Meriva and Zafira will ditch their MPV bodies in favour of a high-riding, SUV-style look. Our sources have confirmed that both cars could arrive as soon as 2016.

Source and more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/

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For me it is also very strange strategy to use all those platforms for their portfolio.
Karl, Adam, Corsa and Meriva could easily use same platform, and second one for Mokka, Astra, Zafira and even Insignia.
Only 2 platforms for Opel could be great. Maybe, to have 3- one for suvs- new Insignia suv, and Antara.... and thats it.
This looks too mesy, especialy when u think of all different tools they need, workers to learn how to work on different parts, ask supliers for not so big quantities of parts... its just too silly.
All Volkswagen grou prides on one single platform- MQB, and it works for them, so i see no reason why shouldnt that work for Opel :/

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sfbreh

· #22 · Nov 1, 2014

Idea... could these be the reason for the Lansing plant expansion?

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Ruperts Trooper

· #23 · Nov 1, 2014

GTC said:
For me it is also very strange strategy to use all those platforms for their portfolio.
Karl, Adam, Corsa and Meriva could easily use same platform, and second one for Mokka, Astra, Zafira and even Insignia.
Only 2 platforms for Opel could be great. Maybe, to have 3- one for suvs- new Insignia suv, and Antara.... and thats it.
This looks too mesy, especialy when u think of all different tools they need, workers to learn how to work on different parts, ask supliers for not so big quantities of parts... its just too silly.
All Volkswagen grou prides on one single platform- MQB, and it works for them, so i see no reason why shouldnt that work for Opel :/

You can only use a plaform for all sizes if it's designed from the outset to be completely modular and to cope with all sizes - as far as existing platforms go, Epsilon II would be too expensive for Karl, Adam, Corsa, Gamma II would be too crude for Insignia and Delta II couldn't be shrunk, stretched and add 4wd, not all together.

Since Opel/Vauxhall ONLY needs transverse engined models, FWD and AWD, it's quite possible to design an all-new GMEU modular platform but that would mean cash, committment and continuity - three qualities not seen in GM for a very long time.

I do agree, though, that GM should fund such a development - as well as underpinning all Opel/Vauxhall models for the next couple of decades, it could also underpin all those Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac models built on FWD platforms - a single global modular longitudinal-engined RWD/AWD platform could be used for all other models using RWD platforms - plus of course a frame for the BOF trucks.

So GM has just 3 global modular architectures - I must be dreaming, I'll wake up soon.

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GTC

· #24 · Nov 1, 2014

I know that current platforms cannot be used for something like that, but one platform could be developed to inherit Delta and Epsilon - 4wd capable, and for engines 1-2L. It could be used for all models from Mokka to Insignia size, maybe only to develope some separated, but similar platform for suv models- Antara and next Insignia suv.
And other one would be for all small vehicles from Karl to Meriva - only FWD and engines 1.0-1.4L.
It would be to weird to use same architecture for Karl and Insignia, so i think it would be good to develope 2 architectures. Also this way they could put on smaller one Watt link, and bigger one Multilink, and thats it.
I think that way it would be more efficient.

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Ruperts Trooper

· #25 · Nov 1, 2014

I agree mainly, the way forward may be to evolve Gamma for sub-compact FWD, essentially what it does now - and create a new flexible FWD/AWD to replace Delta and Epsilon, essentially what Epsilon does now but scaleable down to the compact sector.

For Europe, the SUVs should be built off the regular saloon/hatch/estate Epsilon platform - not use different platform.

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GTC

· #26 · Nov 1, 2014

Yeah, i also think more on some derivate of that bigger (delta-epsilon) platform, because for some SUV to compete with x6 and new GLE coupe (or ML coupe) i think they would need some different platform than platform used in Astra.
Mercedes announced they will switch to only 4 platforms- 1.FWD (A and B class), 2.RWD (C,E and S class), 3. SUV platform (ML, GL,...) and 4. Sports cars...
Since Opel has smaller portfolio they dont need sports car platform, and that rwd could be opels fwd/awd.

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Ruperts Trooper

· #27 · Nov 2, 2014

Opel/Vauxhall's needs are different to Mercedes-Benz - they need 1-FWD (A & B sector up to 1.5 I4 transverse), 2-FWD/AWD (C & D sector saloon/hatch/estate and SUV up to 2.0 I4 & 3.0 V6 transversely mounted).

Opel/Vauxhall don't need RWD or sports cars - but if they ever expanded back into those sectors, they should use US platforms which would need to be LHD/RHD capable.

Technically, Opel/Vauxhall already have what they need Gamma II and Epsilon II but they do need upgrading - which doesn't solve the issue about what to build Delta-platform models on in future.

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GTC

· #28 · Nov 2, 2014

Yeah, they need to develope new Gamma sized platform which will be much lighter that the current gamma2 (main reason why we have corsa e, that is just a big redesign of d model because of gamma2 would be too heavy for corsa and it is developed by gm korea, so they used old corsa sccs.), and second one to be delta/epsilon succesor. Also lighter and more modular. Also i think Opel dont need any v6 engines, because astra opc will now go to 1.6l from 2l, so insignia can go from 2.8v6 to 2.0t... it could be tuned upto 350hp, and that will be enough. Also for that new insignia suv it would be enough to go with power upto 250hp. Noone will ask for more power in opel to be honest

mercedes ML diesel is about 240hp in most powerfull diesel option, so for opel it would also be more than enough, and 2.0 diesel can be tuned to that power.

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Ruperts Trooper

· #29 · Nov 2, 2014

Depends whether Opel/Vauxhall gets the chance to get out of it's mainstream straightjacket - if it doesn't, you're right it won't need diesels or petrols any bigger than turbo 2.0 I4 - but if Opel/Vauxhall, or any other GM brand wants to play with the big boys in Europe, they'll need a 3.0 V6 turbo diesel for sure.

The Mercedes-Benz ML-class diesels go from 204 (2.1 I4) to 258 (3.0 V6), the lowest power range of all the premium brands in Europe - BMW X5 starts at 218 (2.0 I4) and goes up to 381 bhp (3.0 I6) - JLR's Discovery, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover start at 258 (3.0 V6) and go up to 339 (4.4 V8)

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GTC

· #30 · Nov 2, 2014

Yes, but as i said, i think that people who wants 380hp from their suv wont choose opel xD All big engine cars in europe looses their value very very fast, so for opel that could be disaster. It would be bad for costumers to pay for some opel suv 80 000e, and after 1 year that they could get for it no more than 30000e, that would be a bad thing for brand image. They need to stick with more resonable prices and smaller cars so they keep good retail value. For me that is the first step in good direction. Reliable cars with good image, that is the best way to keep costumers in house. Design, low fuel consumption, materials... all that is important. but you don't need a beautiful car that sits at your local dealers service. You need a car that u drive every single day with no problems so there will not be a reason to change manufacturer when you decide to change your old car

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