I agree with OP - I have often wondered why Airbus have not made a true rival to the 757. It would need a new wing - that's probably why. The 75 is such a useful (but thirsty) beast though, I would have thought the developement cost would be worth it.
I wouldn't call it the A322 though, save that for A321 variants. A325 sounds better to me and has echoes of the 75 it would be replacing. So; a new wing, slightly overpowered to give it more options, a few more seats, and yes, keep it single isle too - it needs to be a thin and sleek machine.
Last edited by Uplinker; 1st Feb 2013 at 19:03.