Photo: GM
At long last, General Motors’ European division came clean with how much the Opel Karl (to be sold as the Vauxhall Viva in the UK) will cost. It was previously presented to us as a car that will start from under €10,000 ($11,700 or £7,683 at current exchange rates), yet the Karl’s sticker in Germany undercuts the projected price by €500 ($585 or £385).
Slated to make its world debut this March at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show, the 2015 Opel Karl / Vauxhall Viva is not only an all-new model, but the new entry-level model of both of the GM-owned brands. How they managed to pull of the €9,500 starting price in Germany, it’s still a mystery, but we know some details behind the cheap price.
Cost-cutting is a big thing in this day and age for an automaker as big as GM to survive in an ever-changing worldwide market, which is why we’re told that both the Opel Karl and the Vauxhall Viva will be assembled in South Korea by GM Korea. Yup, you heard that right - the ashes of the once powerful Daewoo Group are tasked with assembly.
Compared to the €11,750 Adam and the €11,980 Corsa three-door, the price difference is not what you’d call inconsistent. Whether the Opel Karl is going to become a better selling means of point A-to-B personal transport, only time will tell, but ’til then, let’s go through the major specifications.
A five-speed manual transmission is mated to it, while the optional extras list can enhance the lil’ Opel with everything you want. Intelligent driving aids like lane departure warning, cruise control, heated steering wheel, touchscreen infotainment and DAB+ digital radio are the highlights of the list.
Three trim levels (Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo) and 10 exterior finishes are the other elements that need to be taken into consideration before you wake up from the mirage of owning a sub-€10,000 city car. For more intel on the 2015 Opel Karl / 2015 Vauxhall Viva, refer to the document below.
Cost-cutting is a big thing in this day and age for an automaker as big as GM to survive in an ever-changing worldwide market, which is why we’re told that both the Opel Karl and the Vauxhall Viva will be assembled in South Korea by GM Korea. Yup, you heard that right - the ashes of the once powerful Daewoo Group are tasked with assembly.
Compared to the €11,750 Adam and the €11,980 Corsa three-door, the price difference is not what you’d call inconsistent. Whether the Opel Karl is going to become a better selling means of point A-to-B personal transport, only time will tell, but ’til then, let’s go through the major specifications.
Boasting with five doors, seating for five and a curb weight of 939 kilograms (2,070 pounds), it doesn’t surprise us that a 1.0 EcoTec three-pot drives the rear wheels with 75 horsepower.
The all-aluminum engine promises to drink just 4.3 liters for every 100 kilometers (66 UK mpg) and produce 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer, figures that translate in cheap taxation and insurance.A five-speed manual transmission is mated to it, while the optional extras list can enhance the lil’ Opel with everything you want. Intelligent driving aids like lane departure warning, cruise control, heated steering wheel, touchscreen infotainment and DAB+ digital radio are the highlights of the list.
Three trim levels (Essentia, Enjoy and Cosmo) and 10 exterior finishes are the other elements that need to be taken into consideration before you wake up from the mirage of owning a sub-€10,000 city car. For more intel on the 2015 Opel Karl / 2015 Vauxhall Viva, refer to the document below.
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