The 2010 Meriva MPV will have its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March

The GM’s UK arm Vauxhall, and Opel in continental Europe, has unveiled the all-new Meriva mini-MPV. The new Opel Meriva mini-MPV is the first Opel to feature GM’s FlexDoor technology, showcased on the 2008 Meriva concept model.

And by FlexDoors we mean the rear-hinged back doors that swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degree. Even though the Meriva still uses a central B-pillar, the company said that the Flexdoors “vastly improve the ease with which occupants enter and leave the cabin”.

The interesting fact that, unlike other suicide-door cars like a Mazda RX-8 and Rolls Royce Phantom and Ghost, the Meriva’s front and rear doors can open independently.

Opel did not release any pictures of the interior, but hi said that the cabin will be heavily influenced by the Insignia and Astra both in terms of styling and perceived quality of the materials.

The Meriva’s interior versatility will be boosted by the improved FlexSpace system that allows easier fold-down of the three individual rear seats that can also be mounted back independently to create more boot, leg or shoulder room.

A new feature for the 2010 Meriva is the FlexRail system that incorporates a dual-rail base on the lower center console allowing owners to attach a variety of modular storage bins.

The second-generation model of Opel’s mini-MPV rides on a new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks, thus promising to improve the car’s ride and handling qualities.

2010 Opel Meriva will get a lineup of six turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines with outputs ranging from 75 to 140PS.

The new 2010 Meriva, which will compete against other mini-MPVs like the Citroen C3 Picasso, the Kia Venga as well as the Honda Jazz (Fit in the States), will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

The 2011 Opel Meriva’s test mule has been spied on the roads. The new Meriva will go on sale in 2010.

A closer look reveals that aside from the jacked-up ride height, the prototype also features wider track. Expect to see the Meriva being offered in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive forms. As for the engine range, the ’soft-roader’ will be offered with the same variety of diesel and gasoline units as the standard Meriva including a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol unit with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 HP.

The new Opel Meriva will most likely feature a beefed-up look with raised height and the traditional ‘off-road’ styling cues like muscular wheelarches, heavy body cladding, larger roof rails and unique bumpers that will help to differentiate it from the standard car.