Vauxhall plans Mini rival
* GM needs a 'more aspirational vehicle' * Likely to be electric powered * On sale 'in a few years'...
Vauxhall could launch a new, upmarket small car within the next few years to rival vehicles such as the Mini and Citroen's newly-launched DS3.
Speaking to What Car? at the Geneva motor show, new GM Europe president, Nick Reilly, said: 'The small car segment will be growing in the next few years and we need a more aspirational vehicle. We're looking into that segment.'
Reilly also confirmed that GM Europe would go it alone on the project and not partner with another car maker.
A GM insider told What Car? that if the car gets built, it would more than likely run on electric power, either using straight plug-in technology or range extending plug-in technology such as that found in next year's Vauxhall Ampera.
It's also likely that the new car would be similar in size and approach to the Trixx concept car shown at the Geneva motor show back in 2004.
At this stage it's far too early to say when we might see an upmarket small car wearing a Vauxhall badge, but we're told it could be as soon as 'within the next few years'.
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