Geneva Motor Show 2004 - Vauxhall

Vauxhall displayed the new Tigra coupe cabriolet and innovative Trixx city car concept on its Geneva show stand.

The two-seater Tigra drop-top goes on sale in September to rival the Peugeot 206 CC and Ford Streetka.

Like the Peugeot, the Tigra has an electric folding steel roof, but only has two seats. That should mean more space in the cabin for occupants than in the 2+2 Peugeot.

Power comes from a choice of two petrol engines – a 90bhp 1.4 or 125bhp 1.8 – both with a five-speed manual gearbox. A diesel engine is under consideration, but won’t be available at launch.

The Tigra is based on the Corsa supermini but gets new wraparound lights, chrome mouldings in the bumper and chrome-ringed dials on the dash. Standard kit will include two-tone bucket seats and aluminium roll-over hoops. Exact prices and specifications have yet to be announced, but we expect the car to cost from £14,000 to £16,000.

Also on the Vauxhall stand was the new Trixx concept car, which gives clues to how its replacement for the Agila city car could look when it arrives in 2008.

It is just half a metre longer than the two-seater Smart Fortwo at 3022mm, but should provide space for up to three adults and one child.

The Trixx has an air-filled rear couch which can be deflated at the touch of a button, and a child seat that folds down behind the driver. Adult passengers can either sit beside the driver or enjoy more legroom by folding the front seat away and using the couch. The front seats can also be folded flat if longer loads need to be carried.

With all seats stowed, the Trixx can accommodate a fully assembled mountain bike, while taller loads can be carried upright through a roof hatch. The concept car also has a pull-out rack at the rear to hold extra luggage.

Three electrically operated sliding doors, two on the passenger side and one on the driver’s side, provide access to the cabin. The rear window also slides down and the sunroof moves forward electrically to turn the car into a miniature pick-up.

The sliding side doors are more likely to appear on future models than the inflating rear seat.