A massive dealer retraining initiative will be launched by Vauxhall ahead of the debut of a new premium city car.

The unnamed new model will compete alongside lifestyle products such the MINI and Fiat 500.An extensive personalisation programme – as pioneered by those two – means almost every car will be built to order.

“Selling it will be a different experience from a Vauxhall perspective because typically we have not had that type of car,” explained Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s managing director.

“We will be working with the dealers, because they are not in that mindset at the moment.”

The car will go on sale in 2013. A more traditional A-segment car, replacing the Agila, will also be available, giving Vauxhall two models below the Corsa.

Aldred said he wouldn’t be forcing dealers to open separate showrooms – as MINI did – but the car needed to be presented in an appropriate manner.

“We will have to work out how to display it in the showroom, what the sales process is going to be, and that’s going to mean a big training programme for the dealers.

"With the Ampera as well, they have a lot to absorb in the next 24 months.”