VAUXHALL gave a world premiere to its new Agila small car which will enter the burgeoning micro-MPV sector in June. Almost identical to the new Suzuki Wagon R+ which also debuted in Geneva and will be built at Suzuki's Hungarian factory, the Agila is the first mini people carrier to be produced by a European manufacturer.

The Agila will be built at Gliwice in Poland and will also compete against the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Atoz and Daihatsu Move. It will also become Vauxhall's entry range with prices expected to be between 10% and 15% below the Corsa range, which starts at £7,945 on-the-road. With a choice of uprated 1.0-litre 57bhp 12v or 1.2-litre 74bhp 16v engines, the vehicle can accommodate four adults with the rear seats 10 centimetres higher than the front seats. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is claimed to be 45mpg and 43.4mpg respectively.