Due to hit the UK early...
Due to hit the UK early next year, the Antara"s design borrows heavily from the concept car which wowed crowds at last year"s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Although the production version is based on Chevrolet"s Captiva and rolls down the same assembly line in Korea, Vauxhall has given the Antara a look all of its own, thanks to headlights that cut into the bumpers and deep Jaguar XK-style vents behind the front wheels.
Inside, the newcomer differs from its Chevy cousin by offering five seats instead of seven. It features a bespoke cabin that follows design trends started on the Astra and latest Zafira, with high-quality materials, an integrated info-tainment system and sat-nav display.
There"s also a sporty three-spoke steering wheel, with a metal-effect lower half. Plenty of interior trim and equipment options will be offered when specs are announced closer to the launch.
But there won"t be much choice when it comes to engines. The car will hit the UK with only one unit - an all-new 150bhp four-cylinder turbodiesel jointly developed between GM and Italian diesel specialist VM Motori. The 16-valve powerplant, which will also appear in the Captiva and forthcoming Epica saloon, generates a thumping 310Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.
Petrol fans won"t be ignored, though. A Holden-sourced 2.4-litre unit producing 142bhp will join the range by the end of 2007. Both will be available with five-speed automatic gearbox options.
Unlike the Frontera, the Antara"s drivetrain uses an advanced electro-hydraulic four-wheel-drive system that only diverts power to the rear axle when the front wheels lose grip. The set-up helps to boost fuel economy to around 37mpg for the 2.0-litre diesel.
Opel versions go on sale in Europe from October, but British fans will have to wait until March. The 2.4-litre petrol is set to cost around ÷£18,500, with the diesel carrying a ÷£1,000 premium.