Vauxhall has released the first pictures of the car which will replace the Frontera and mark Vauxhall's return to the booming 4x4 market the Antara.

The five-door, five-seat sports utility vehicle will make its world show debut at the Mondial de l' Automobile in Paris at the end of September.

The Antara is only fractionally larger than an Astra estate, but will offer plenty of room, thanks to its car-like body structure, transversely mounted engines and a compact four-wheel drive system.

The first cars to arrive in the UK and the biggest selling version of the Antara will be powered by a new, fuel-efficient, 2.0-litre common-rail turbodiesel, producing 150 horsepower. Both manual and automatic gearboxes will be available.

A 141 horsepower four-cylinder petrol unit will join the range shortly after launch to become the entry-level model.

Vauxhall says all versions of the Antara will feature a sophisticated active four-wheel drive system, which combines the fuel economy and handling characteristics of a front-wheel drive car, with the grip and stability of all-wheel drive when it is needed.

To further improve performance on rough terrain, the Antara features an electronic device to enable the car to be driven safely on steep descents at a constant speed.

Inside, sporty contoured seats, large, well-designed instruments and a centre console with easy-to-read info display give the cockpit a driver-oriented layout, and the fit and finish is expected to set a new benchmark for the class. Technology such as satellite navigation and Bluetooth phone connectivity will be available from launch.

The UK launch date will be announced nearer the show debut in September.