km : Automotive News

We aren't joking when we say that the new Opel Meriva is all about "Flex." Every part of the car seemingly has a clever name with flex in it somewhere. Even one of the engine choices is called the "EcoFLEX," and we really do hope it runs on FlexFuel.

The most obvious flex component is the new FlexDoors, a pair of rear passenger entry points that are hinged at the rear, Rolls-Royce style. Other than those half-doors on cars like the Mini Clubman or the Mazda RX-8, this is breaking new ground for mass-produced passenger cars, and is meant to make loading of things like child seats much easier. Plus, as the photo gallery will show you, it also allows you to have your door opened luxuriously by a door man or lets front and rear passengers leave the car holding hands. Sticking with the theme, the window line of the door even has a bit of flex to it.

There's flex on the inside, too. FlexSpace is a carryover from the first Meriva, and denotes a rear seating package that's quite versatile in the way it can shift around or even fold out of the way completely. A FlexRail console system allows storage units to be reconfigured from front to rear, and it should upset some people over at Mini who hope to debut a similar idea with their upcoming crossover model. Finally, there's FlexFix, the clever bike rack system that folds up and tucks away below the car, leaving very little evidence behind.

In Europe, the Meriva slots between the shorter Astra and the bigger, seven-passenger Zafira. It's our understanding that the Astra platform will spawn a small Buick sedan, while the Zafira may also make it to the US in some form. Whether that leaves some space for the Meriva somewhere is to be determined, but we don't see its wild exterior styling fitting into the Chevy, Buick, or GMC lineups over here. It goes on sale in summer with a choice of six engines randing between 75 and 140 hp, and will be built in Zaragoza, Spain.

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