The new radically altered Agila Supermini from Vauxhall and Suzuki is set to reach dealerships and showrooms next year, widening their small car sales base in the process.
The car is designed and built by Suzuki, as with the outgoing model, but differences are vast as the new model marks a big departure from the boxy, functional Japanese city car shape of the existing model .
Vauxhall has even claimed the Agila could be considered as a 'fashion accessory .'
Its replacement retains the outgoing Agila's short overhangs but features rounded styling, which potentially has a greater appeal.
Indicating the change of direction by the car manufacturers, the Suzuki versions of the model, set to arrive in March 2008, will replace the WagonR name of its predecessor with the new Splash title.
A spokesman for Suzuki said the Splash was not considered as a direct replacement for the car .
In terms of specifications and prices, both Vauxhall and Suzuki versions of the five door model will be closely matched, with an expanded range of engines and transmissions .
The Agila will come equipped with a 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol engine –expected to be most popular choice- and a 1.2 litre four-cylinder engine, which will be available for the first time with an automatic transmission .
Both versions of the Agila Supermini will be built at the Japanese firm's Hungarian assembly plant . Prices for the model have yet to be announced.
