Designing a car in this segment is tough business, but the Vauxhall Viva/Opel Karl twins manage to create something that isn’t horrifically boring for our eyes to stare at. Granted, it’s no sleek low-slung sports car, but there are worse designs out there.
Head designer of the Viva, Mark Adams, was on hand at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show for a brief tour of the vehicle and how it accomplishes style and practicality inside and out.
First, Adams says the Vauxhall wanted the car to have a friendly approach to it, meaning no stereotypical angry sports car headlights here. The headlights instead are wide, creating a peppy look, but retain the classic “swoop and point” of past Vauxhalls.
Moving to the side profile, the roofline in particular, and a pressed pillar creates an attractive tear-drop design for the window area, as Adams points out in the video. Hard creases along the side of the car also add character and flare to the little hatchback’s styling.
And in the rear, once again, the pressed pillar allows for these lines to come to life, while retaining room for plenty of cargo inside and room for five adult passengers. That kind of space is difficult to come by in this segment, something Vauxhall is particularly proud of. The interior too benefits from an upscale look, and trickle down luxury features find there way to the Viva. Among them are a heated steering wheel, heated seats and the Intellilink system.
As for the future of the Viva/Karl, don’t expect a VXR or OPC variant, but do expect an EV variant, possibly tied to Chevrolet’s upcoming Bolt.
We’ve provided the video for you viewing pleasure right down below, have a look and let us know, how does the Viva/Karl do in the styling department?
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