Opel is working to bring an all-electric version of its new Karl hatchback to the market by 2019, according to German automotive magazine Auto Bild. The Karl, introduced late last year, shares its platform with the Spark, which is already available with an electric powertrain, making a Karl EV an easy product for Opel to develop.
There’s little information surrounding the Karl EV, however Auto Bild says it will have an approximate range of 150 kilometers, or about 93 miles, which is an improvement over the Spark EV’s 80 miles of range. The Spark EV receives propulsion from a 97 kW (130 horsepower) electric motor, which is hooked up to a nanophosphate lithium-ion battery pack, however its unclear if the Karl EV will share any of its powertrain components with the Spark EV.
Similar to the Spark EV, we expect the electric Karl to receive some styling tweaks to optimize its aerodynamic efficiency. The electric Spark has a closed grille, a lower and wider rocker panel section, underbody panels, tire air deflectors, aero optimized mirrors and other small changes to ensure it slips through the air as efficiently as possible.
Opel’s electric Karl may debut as early as the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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So GM are making Hyundai i20s, now? Because that’s what this thing sure as hell looks like!