The new Opel Karl

[jansdejager]

GMSA has too little faith in SAns' love of American brands and big, brash style over substance. They also mistakenly think their biggest growth segment is the newly minted middle class (which tend to veer towards the functional more than the status really). A car like the Malibu would sell like hotcakes here. Instead we get soulless PC Euro kei-car derivatives which just disappear into the crowd like the Cruze and the Spark. I mean look at this brute!

 

[Rouxenator]

Malibu would be sweet, but I think it is cheaper for them to sell us the Korean designed Cruze(Nubira)/Sonic(Aveo)/Spark(Matiz) that are built in India.

Build in germany or korea?

VIN with WA-W0 are built in West Germany

GMSA = Plastic lunch box cars.

You can argue the Daewoos with bowties are that, however I don't think the KB or Astra can be classified as that.

 

[Electric]

Malibu would be sweet, but I think it is cheaper for them to sell us the Korean designed Cruze(Nubira)/Sonic(Aveo)/Spark(Matiz) that are built in India.

VIN with WA-W0 are built in West Germany

You can argue the Daewoos with bowties are that, however I don't think the KB or Astra can be classified as that.

I don't classify the Astra as a GMSA vehicle, still see it as an Opel.

 

[Rouxenator]

I don't classify the Astra as a GMSA vehicle, still see it as an Opel.

+1 true that. Thankfully we get it with the real badge, before the rebadgers gets hold of it. In South America it wears a bowtie like the Deawoos we have here and until the brand went tits up the Astra H was sold as a Saturn in the USA. The 1.8 auto I bought last week was actually the only model sold state side as a Saturn if I recall correctly.

 

[jansdejager]

Malibu would be sweet, but I think it is cheaper for them to sell us the Korean designed Cruze(Nubira)/Sonic(Aveo)/Spark(Matiz) that are built in India.

Opel is always going to be a budget brand but Chevrolet's vanishing from the market here for so long makes me think they should do one or both of two things: continue to ride on Opel's coattails (a respected and loved brand), perhaps undercutting them or sprucing them up with better features as to seem like the Lexus of Opel; or elevate the brand to a higher status by offering a few mastheads between the mediocre fare (instead of just stuffing it down our throats). Either could do well but right now I don't know what to think of the Chevy badge except the celebration of half-baked mediocrity.

 

[Quantum Theory]

I wouldn't be surprised if our Isuzu KBs are rebranded as Chevrolet Colorados soon.

Colorado is not a badge engineered KB. They are different.

Edit: Okay, i see it is...

 

[cr@zydude]

In simple terms GM works like this; it has a global brand which is Chevrolet and then it has regional brands, [-]like Holden down under[/-], Vauxhall in the UK, Opel in mainland Europe and Deawoo in Korea - all the regional brands are sold along side the global brand. Obviously some are just redabged products but in the case of Opel for example it does have competing products, same goes for Isuzu.

Ten years ago GMSA tried to align us with the global brand which is Chevrolet. This meant Opel products would be phased out and they assumed people with GM products would simply opt for other GM products. It did not work out that well and most people that had Opel bought another brand instead of Chevrolet.

Currently GMSA is trying to position Opel as their premium brand, that is why we can have the more upmarket Adam but not the Spark/Picanto rivalling Karl. For GMSA to bring in an Opel product it needs to fit their premium product bracket. This is also why most late model Opels all have VIN numbers starting with W0, they are imported from Germany and not built locally.

Daewoo is dead too. GM Korea now sells all of its vehicles as Chevs.

Colorado is not a badge engineered KB. They are different.

Edit: Okay, i see it is...

They used to be different vehicles, but the current generation is exactly the same.

 

[Shah33m]

Came across the Opel Adam, looks really nice. Whats up the the names though.

 

[genetic]

Came across the Opel Adam, looks really nice. Whats up the the names though.

The Adam looks horrid. Looks like a Peugeot 207 mated with a Fiat 500.

The Karl looks ok though.

 

[Shah33m]

The Adam looks horrid. Looks like a Peugeot 207 mated with a Fiat 500.

The Karl looks ok though.

Lol, ok maybe. But then again, i drive a getz.../hides

 

[vicv]

Came across the Opel Adam, looks really nice. Whats up the the names though.

Nissan Micra? :erm:

 

[Rouxenator]

Came across the Opel Adam, looks really nice. Whats up the the names though.

The name is after the founder of the company, Adam Opel. Karl was the first of his five sons and the one that took the company from making sewing machines and bicycles to making cars.

Perhaps GMSA change their tune in a year or so and import the Karl.

 

[wazup]

Yawn. Boring. These Opels and Chevs all look the same nowadays.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

That's actually a decent looking car. Well done Opiel...

 

[jansdejager]

Perhaps GMSA change their tune in a year or so and import the Karl.

yes yes the opel Monza 1991 COTY... Give me the Chevro Impala or a Camaro!

 

[Rouxenator]

Seems we might be getting the Karl afterall, only difference is it will be wearing a golden bowtie :

Semi-silhouette shows a sleeker profile with more traditional proportions than either the current Spark or the new Adam.

Source : http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/cars/...-spark-the-son-of-karl-1.1829753#.VP_fmTSK2Uk

 

[sybertiger]

i like it,looks alot better than the


vw up
and
opel adam

 

[Pox]

I'm sorry but a car named Karl will never be the same to me after seeing this:

but Kaaaaaaaaarl

 

[Rusty0]

This carl was on Top Gear this week, the brakes dont work apparently.

 

[ShaunSA]

Seems we might be getting the Karl afterall, only difference is it will be wearing a golden bowtie :

View attachment 198228
Source : http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/cars/...-spark-the-son-of-karl-1.1829753#.VP_fmTSK2Uk

Looks more kark than karl.