Junior is new kid on Opel block

Opel is working hard on a new sub-Corsa car nominally dubbed Junior and designed to target the likes of MINI and Fiat 500 as a chic but not necessarily cheap light car.

Opel executives are said to believe the Junior should be targeted at a younger, hip market and offer a similar wide range of customising options to that employed successfully by MINI. The only real issue is that Opel can draw on few historical cues such as those employed by the MINI range and the Fiat 500.

Rumoured for use in the Junior is GM Europe’s new small engine family, which is EU6-compliant and ultra economical. GM has also confirmed there will be an all-electric version.

The 3.7-metre Opel Junior, which is actually based on a shortened Corsa platform, will be built at the company’s plant in Eisenach beginning late in 2012 for a release in 2013.

With its hip, youthful image, it will supplement Opel’s Agila and Corsa models in Europe and will have the ability – with a squeeze – to seat four adults on shortish journeys.

It is expected that pricing for the Opel Junior will be structured around the Fiat 500 and comparable MINI models.

A Vauxhall Junior – if indeed that title is adopted – will also be sold in the UK.

At this stage it is a bit early to know whether a chic urban runabout would find a place in Opel’s plans for the Australian market when it begins selling here in 2012, but there's some comfort to be drawn from the fact that MINI is doing pretty well here, as is Fiat’s 500.

With its style and carefully calculated positioning, plus Opel’s plans for a big Australian future, an Opel Junior at some point just might find a place alongside the Corsa city car, which has already been announced as part of the local lineup.

— with Carparazzi

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