10.3.2003
GME at Geneva: Meriva celebrates Swiss premiere

For the first time in Switzerland, the Meriva attracts visitors at the Geneva Motor Show. This five-seat minivan once again sets a new benchmark in Opel interior versatility.

Its FlexSpace concept allows a wide choice of freedom in configuring the Meriva's interior quickly and without removing any seats - for maximum passenger comfort or for ample storage space.

Thanks to FlexSpace, the 4.04 meter long and 1.62 meter high, five-seat Meriva (wheelbase: 2.63 meters) can be quickly converted into a spacious four, three, or two-seater. Moreover, the Meriva can be ordered with an optional fold down front passenger seat. Other optional highlights available for the Meriva include: a Twin Audio stereo system which lets rear-seat passengers enjoy different music than the driver, a fully integrated DVD system with a seven-inch color monitor installed in the ceiling, a multifunctional Travel Assistant, electronic climate control, navigation system, xenon headlamps and Park Pilot.

Customers can order the Opel Meriva right now in the "Essentia", "Enjoy" or "Cosmo" equipment lines. For lively and economical performance customers can immediately choose between three gasoline engines: 1.6 (64 kW/87 hp), 1.6 ECOTEC (74 kW/100 hp) and the powerful 1.8 ECOTEC with (92 kW/125 hp). Starting in the fall, two economical ECOTEC diesel units will be available: the 1.7 DTI (55 kW/75 hp) and the completely new 1.7 CDTI (74 kW/100 hp) with common rail technology, which already meets the Euro 4 emission standards.

The Easytronic automated manual transmission, with a clutch controlled by an electronic actuator motor, is another special feature in the Meriva program. The Easytronic transmission allows the driver to either shift manually or leave the shifting to the electronic system. The Easytronic transmission is initially available with the 1.6 ECOTEC gasoline engine (74 kW/100 hp) and in the fall of 2003 with the 1.8 ECOTEC engine (92 kW/125 hp).