Photo: Opel
Even though they were the models we most associated with some European car brands during the 90s, small A-segment hatchbacks are no longer that popular. Data from 2013 shows that even the best sellers in the segment rarely go over 100,000 units sold per year. That's why most automakers like to co-develop them with other companies. In some cases, not even that is enough. Even though the Up! was the segment leader and had two sister cars, Volkswagen has even considered discontinuing it because it's destroying their profitability.
In this harsh yet competitive segment of the market, German automaker Opel wants to introduce its own fresh contender. The company is now working together with Chevrolet on a model that will debut next year under the name Karl, who's name pays tribute to one of company founder's sons.
We've seen Karl on numerous occasions in the past, yet very little is actually known about the car. This rendering from Hungarian graphics manipulator X-Tomi stands to change all that. Yes, it's based on the current Chevy Spark, but it does give us a good idea of what to expect. The front end that's been grafted onto the photo seems to match Opel's design, as does the rising belt line.
A large grille and apostrophe-shaped accents in the headlights, like on the Adam and Corsa, define the "face" of the car.
Karl is not a good looking machine when you compare it to an Astra GTC, but it's miles ahead of the current A-segment contender, the Suzuki-base Agila.
Opel and Suzuki are no longer working together on any cars. Initially, the Germans were supposed to collaborate with PSA Peugeot-Citroen instead, but decided to go at it alone in order to better implement their own technologies.
The Opel Karl, or Vauxhall Viva as it will be known in Britain, will share its underpinnings with the 2016 Chevrolet Spark. All should be available with small engines, most likely including a 1-liter 3-cylinder with about 70 horsepower. The new baby hatch is likely to debut in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show. It will face stiff competition from equally fresh rivals like the Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo or Citroen C1.
We've seen Karl on numerous occasions in the past, yet very little is actually known about the car. This rendering from Hungarian graphics manipulator X-Tomi stands to change all that. Yes, it's based on the current Chevy Spark, but it does give us a good idea of what to expect. The front end that's been grafted onto the photo seems to match Opel's design, as does the rising belt line.
A large grille and apostrophe-shaped accents in the headlights, like on the Adam and Corsa, define the "face" of the car.
Karl is not a good looking machine when you compare it to an Astra GTC, but it's miles ahead of the current A-segment contender, the Suzuki-base Agila.
Opel and Suzuki are no longer working together on any cars. Initially, the Germans were supposed to collaborate with PSA Peugeot-Citroen instead, but decided to go at it alone in order to better implement their own technologies.
The Opel Karl, or Vauxhall Viva as it will be known in Britain, will share its underpinnings with the 2016 Chevrolet Spark. All should be available with small engines, most likely including a 1-liter 3-cylinder with about 70 horsepower. The new baby hatch is likely to debut in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show. It will face stiff competition from equally fresh rivals like the Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo or Citroen C1.
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