The couldabeen Barina

These are the first official images of GM's sexy new Corsa, the car that would have been our next Holden Barina had the General not shunned Europe in favour of Korea.

Confused? Well, allow us to explain. You see, the previous two generations of Barinas sold here were the handiwork of GM Europe -- where the car is known as the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa.

However, the high cost of sourcing cars from Europe prompted Holden to instead derive its baby-car range from Korean-based GM-Daewoo. So the current Barina, which was launched locally last December, is in fact a rebadged Daewoo Kalos.

It was by no means a silly move, as the sharp pricing Holden can offer on the car has earned it greater buyer interest than ever before. Barina sales until the end of April this year numbered 5204, compared with 3066 for the same period last year (when the former Corsa-based Barina was on the market).

However, on the minus side, the Daewoo-based Barina has attracted much negative publicity in recent weeks as a result of its mediocre two-star rating in NCAP crash tests. Holden says it is disappointed in the Barina's two-star performance, but points out that it is the outcome of only one testing procedure.

Getting back to the all-new GM Corsa, the stylish hatch is set to debut at July's British International Motor Show and it goes on sale in Europe later in the year.

The new Corsa is slightly longer and wider than the outgoing model, and GM claims the "coupe-like roofline of the three-door gives it a dynamic, sporty stance".

We must admit, the car does have undoubted visual appeal.

Inside, New Corsa drivers will enjoy a more spacious cabin than in the existing car, with the longer wheelbase and wider track helping deliver greater leg and shoulder room, according to GM.

The chassis, which was designed and developed by GM's engineers in Germany, is claimed to deliver top levels of dynamic ability and agility, with a host of active safety features including Enhanced Understeer Control (EUC).

The new Corsa will also be the first car in its class to have variable-rate power steering, which is designed to offer greater levels of feedback on the open road, but lightens up at low speeds for greater manoeuvrability.

Five engines will be available initially. Petrol choices will comprise 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4-litre units, while there will also be a common-rail diesel 1.3-litre CDTi unit, while the flagship oil burner will be an all-new 92kW 1.7-litre CDTi.

Sounds like a good thing... pity we'll never see it here.