Before we start talking about the Opel Karl, we should focus on the man that penned the design of the brand new city car. Mark Adams is a Brit that studied design and engineering at the posh Royal College of Art in London. After finishing his studies, the chap joined GM’s European division in 2002.
After leaving the chief designer position at Ford, Adams firstly filled the role of director of exterior design for Opel and Vauxhall, after which he was promoted to design VP in 2007. Mark led the development of the Insignia, the model that debuted the all-new design language for both brands.
By the way, the 2013 Opel Monza Concept is his creation as well, as is the fifth-generation Ford Fiesta, so yeah, he is a pretty talented bloke, alright. From my point of view, a good automotive designer tasked to pen the aesthetics of an European econobox has to make the car look and feel desirable without compromising price or the practicality.
With the 2015 Opel Karl (marketed as the 2015 Vauxhall Viva in the United Kingdom), Mark did just that. It doesn’t ooze desirability like a Porsche does, I completely agree with that, but looking at its quirkiness, the Opel Karl is far better a design proposition than other city dwellers. To boot, the 3.68-meter (12.07 feet) length is enough for five tall adults.
Slated to hold a base price of under €10,000 (£7,910 / $12,375), the 2015 Opel Karl is also what you may call good value for money. We’re not too enthusiastic about the all-new 1-liter EcoTec turbocharged three-cylinder motor and its 75 PS (73.9 HP), but the extensive list of standard equipment, as well as the possibility of equipping it with touchscreen infotainment makes it a rational choice for those in the market for such a vehicle. Look forward to the 2015 Geneva Motor Show for its official live debut.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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