Barina's Euro facelift

The wraps are off the new Barina, but you will have to wait until early next year before it arrives in local Holden showrooms.

The newcomer to the Holden range will be officially revealed at next month's Frankfurt motor show. Holden will not confirm when the car arrives but it is expected to carry over the existing model's 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, which develops 76kW at 5800 revs and 145Nm at 3600 revs.

However, these engines are unlikely to be coming to Australia.

Though the car's existing dimensions remain largely unchanged, the front has come in for a dramatic makeover to bring it into line with the Barina sedan and larger Epica range.

The grille is split horizontally with a deep under-bumper air intake and smoother bumper treatment. The curved clear glass headlights run along the bonnet and the company's trademark bow-tie logo becomes a styling feature in itself. At the back there are new clear-glass tail lights.

The look echoes some of the styling cues seen on the WTCC Ultra concept, first shown at last year's Paris motor show. GM says the car adopts the company's latest “design language” as seen in European Chevrolets.

GM has also answered criticisms that the hatch's interior looks too down-market.

The cabin gets improved soft-touch plastics and new fabrics and trim borrowed from the Barina sedan. The existing car's MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension are expected to carry over.

The car goes on sale in Europe early next year and is likely to arrive at Holden dealerships in Australia by mid-2008. Prices are expected to remain around $13,690 for the three-door.

So far this year, Holden has sold 7371 Barinas, down from its 2006 tally of 8476.