The New Opel Karl Forecasts What To Expect From The Chevy Spark

While overseas vehicle debuts – like that of the new Opel Karl at Geneva – may have limited bearing on our motoring lives here in the States if the car isn’t US-bound, we can sometimes glean some useful information from them. As it turns out, the new Opel Karl holds a number of clues regarding what we can expect to see from the 2016 Chevrolet Spark.

For instance, Motor Trend reports that the Opel Karl has a length of 144.9 inches and a wheelbase of 93.9 inches, compared to the current (third) generation Spark’s measurements of 144.7 and 93.5, respectively. In all likelihood, then, the 2016 Chevrolet Spark will share those dimensions, growing slightly from its current length.

The new Opel Karl also has a roofline three inches lower than on the current Spark, which should positively impact the car’s aerodynamic drag if the same measure is granted to the next Chevy. Despite that, cargo space is almost a full cubic-foot more plentiful in the Karl, at 32 cubic-feet. Weight of the vehicle is a claimed 2070 pounds, which is around 200 less than the current Chevy model; we have that weight-reduction to hopefully look forward to, as well.

Where the new Opel Karl is less of an indication of what to expect from the 2016 Chevrolet Spark is in terms of the drivetrain. The Karl gets a new 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo, good for a paltry 74 HP. Somehow, we can’t imagine American consumers willfully adopting that powerplant instead of the Spark’s current 84 HP, 1.2-liter four-pot. The Karl also comes exclusively with a 5-speed manual, which would be equally foolhardy to force on Americans; expect a five-speed automatic transmission option, and/or a CVT.

The Opel Karl is not the 2016 Chevrolet Spark, but if our gut interpretation of the facts proves accurate, we can at least expect a similarly lengthened, lighter-weight, less tall, and more capacious Spark to bow at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.