Vauxhall confirms new 2015 city car will be called Viva

Published: 10 September 2014 Updated: 26 January 2015

Vauxhall today confirmed what we revealed earlier this month – that the new city car coming in summer 2015 will be called the Viva.

The UK division of GM Europe has been allowed to come up with a bespoke name, reviving the household name made famous by Vauxhall’s 1970s family runabout.

The Viva name died in 1979, but next summer it’ll return – on a sub-Corsa city car.

Vauxhall Viva: coming in 2015

The new Viva will join the Vauxhall Adam city car and Corsa supermini to bolster the mainstream manufacturer’s small-car range.

Vauxhall is preparing for life after Chevrolet; the Korean budget brand is being pulled from Europe in 2015. A close study of the SMMT official UK sales figures suggests that no Chevrolets were in fact sold in August 2014. The axe has fallen early.

Little is known about the new Viva officially. All Vauxhall says is that it’ll have ‘an extremely attractive price point,’ five doors and either four or five seats.

‘Designed for modern, everyday life, the all-new model will share the original’s clean lines, durability and practicality,’ said a statement issued today.

Tomorrow Opel will announce the name of its version. The car is understood to be based on running gear of the Chevrolet Spark.

Vauxhall Viva: a UK legend

Ellesmere Port cranked out 1.5 million Vivas from 1963-1979, across three generations.

>> Is the Viva a good name to revive? Click ‘Add your comment’ and let us know

By Tim Pollard

Group digital editorial director, car news magnet, crafter of words

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