There’s just something so pleasant and treat-like waiting in an airport with time to kill with nothing to do apart from having a leisurely coffee and eating a whole croissant without accusing eyes coveting your last few bites. The downside of course is that it always seems to involve early morning wakings (not having to deal with the kids is a bonus) and a destination that might at first sight appear rather undesirable.

Frankfurt, I’m reliably informed by my jet-setting husband is rather dull (and I’m sure the Frankfurtians Frankfurters? might say the same about you). But that was not the final destination of the trip – instead we went on to Vauxhall/Opel’s HQ in Russelsheim for the static launch of their versatile and innovative monocab, the Meriva…

I have to confess that this was my initiation into the world of static launches and I was rather struggling with the whole idea, being so used to just getting in a car and driving it. What fun could there possibly be in just looking at a car? Well, in fact, so much fun that we missed our flight home! I know I’m easily excited, but this really was great and my curiosity about the all-new rear-opening rear doors was quickly satisfied.

Driving the car was not an issue here. In the past the these doors earned the nickname “suicide doors” but that was then and this is now. There is nothing suicidal about them – in fact they seem so practical to me that they may well help to reduce feeling of frustration and irritation where kids (or older folk) and cars are concerned.

It is very hard not to get carried away when you have the actual designer and engineer talking you about their car – their baby. Their sheer enthusiasm and belief in their product was all-consuming. If there was one word that I would use to describe this car, which was repeated almost ad nauseum throughout the day it was ‘flexible’. I think we all got the idea that this car offers endless flexibility for its passengers all aimed at making their driving/use of car as easy as possible. And while I was slightly concerned that I was being cunningly brainwashed, I had to admit that I found myself nodding in complete agreement as they went through what people want from a car, and how this car delivers FlexSpace, FlexDoor System, FlexFix bicycle carrier, FlexRail, Flex this and Flex that. If I had half as much Flex I’d be happy.

By the end of the day, I didn’t care whether the car drove well or not, I was convinced that all my car problems would be solved by this smart-looking, neat family car.

The doors are so obvious that I am confident that all cars one day will adopt the same style! They’re easy to get in and out of, even if parked very close to another car because of course you are entering and exiting through the highest part of the car. They do look very stylish in a modern way. I was concerned that it could give the car an old-fashioned look after looking at the cars of the thirties with the real suicide doors. But what I loved the most about these garage-style doors (no they don’t go upwards as my middle child thought) was the safety zone they afforded you when both of them are open. They provide a breathing space to get the kids in and out, calmly and safely.

While I have always thought sliding doors were the only way to go with kids a) for ease of access and b) so they can’t do any damage to the car parked next to you, I have had a couple of occasions where I was very nearly squashed by other cars and once a double decker bus as they failed to see me standing alongside the car. I will not forget that particular day, nor I guess will the bus driver!

The doors incorporate vigorous safety measures so they automatically lock over 4 km/hr and remain locked throughout the journey regardless of door handles being fiddled with by exploring hands.

So I am completely sold on the Flexdoors, lock, stock and barrel. They even have a puddle light (yes, called just that) to illuminate that muddy bit where your feet are going to land. This is just one of the examples of attention to detail that abound in this car, from amazing adjustable seats, great storage ideas on rails, integral bike holders and anti-puke rear windows (not my terminology) which dip down 50 mm more than normal to allow car- sick prone children to easily see out of the windows.

Vauxhall/Opal pride themselves on being the inventors of flexibility when it comes to cars and this is their new Flex Champion. No flexing of muscles though when it comes to altering any of the seats.

I look forward to seeing this on our roads later in 2010 and will be intrigued as to how many people get over the negative associations of these door and just get on and enjoy what this car has to offer.