My Shortfall
Get a Quote
0800 195 4926
Following in the footsteps of rival brands Volkswagen and Toyota, Vauxhall have announced plans to create their own city car which will be based on the next generation Chevrolet Spark platform. The company originally planned to develop the model in partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroen but Vauxhall's owner, General Motors, have decided to use the Spark's platform instead.
Comments on the Vauxhall city car
Designer Mark Adams, admitted that styling for the city car was tricky, “People don’t just want a bland little box.” The company's newest models, the Adam, Corsa and city car, should each have their own “distinct personality” according to Adams.
Boss, Karl-Thomas Neumann, commented, “We realise it’s smarter to build on our platform. We can do many things quicker and fit our latest engines and tech.”
What is expected from the new Vauxhall?
The Vauxhall city car is likely to feature a naturally aspirated version of the 1.0 litre turbo three cylinder petrol unit currently used in the Adam Rocks. This new Vauxhall engine was revealed last month and will debut in the Adam supermini. It will be available in two power outputs, one with 89 brake horse power or one with 114 brake horse power and both variants will develop 166Nm of torque. Vauxhall claims that the motor generates more low down torque and pulling power than it's 1.6 litre naturally aspirated engines.
Each engine will feature stop-start technology as standard, meaning the engine should be able to emit less than 99g/km in the lightweight city car, making it free from tax. The new engine also receives a new lighter gearbox which means the weight saving should help the up! rival keep weight as low as possible.
When the new city car makes it to production, an insider claims the model will start at “less than £7,000”, making it cheaper than the Skoda Citygo. Alongside the development of the new Vauxhall city car, the company will release their new Corsa model in a few months time. This new city car plan follows Vauxhall's reveal of their new hot hatch Astra VXR Extreme, Adam S and Adam Rocks convertible at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.