Chevrolet Spark Hatchback Coming to the U.S.
8/27/11, 07:32 PM
#21
Are you still over there?
8/28/11, 12:59 AM
#23
That sounds like a bummer to me....
9/16/11, 06:14 PM
#26
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GM Inside News is now reporting that the Spark will definitely be getting the 1.2-liter for the U.S. good for around 80 hp and 80 lb-ft of torque and 46 mpg, when converted from the European testing cycle. According to the report, transmission choices will either be a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual.
The changes for the North American market will not be left to the engine bay alone. GMI also says the Spark will receive a larger grille and larger lower intake. We’ll also lose the side-repeater turn signals that the current Spark wears on its front-three quarter panels.
The Spark rides on GM’s Gamma small-car platform and slots below the subcompact Sonic, which launches in the U.S. in the coming months. It is about three inches shorter than a Mini Cooper, but packs seating for five in a five-door configuration. The U.S. will be one of the final markets in which the car goes on sale: it is already available in Asian, European, and South African markets.
The changes for the North American market will not be left to the engine bay alone. GMI also says the Spark will receive a larger grille and larger lower intake. We’ll also lose the side-repeater turn signals that the current Spark wears on its front-three quarter panels.
The Spark rides on GM’s Gamma small-car platform and slots below the subcompact Sonic, which launches in the U.S. in the coming months. It is about three inches shorter than a Mini Cooper, but packs seating for five in a five-door configuration. The U.S. will be one of the final markets in which the car goes on sale: it is already available in Asian, European, and South African markets.
9/16/11, 09:54 PM
#27
Is this the new engine that they are building in Mexico?
9/17/11, 04:07 AM
#29
A Man Just Needs Some....
If the price ended up around $10k tops, I could see them selling some. Small cheap disposable car might sell. Chevy tried to make this thing sorta nice. They should strip it down and sell it as a cheap car.
9/17/11, 04:15 AM
#30
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Don't be surprised if the base MSRP ends up being higher than Cruze (since the main competition, such as Smart Fortwo and Scion iQ also have pretty high prices).
9/17/11, 04:59 AM
#32
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Um ... well, it depends. I always thought "bigger is better" and I always liked bigger cars, but after spending the past 6 months in Europe I'm really starting to see the spirit of smaller cars.
Especially if you're living in a larger city where traffic is pain in the butt. I recently spent two weeks in Rhodes (one of Greek islands) and 95% of cars there are Smarts and similar sized vehicles. I rented two of them and they were ok for daily transport.
One of the cars that I fell in love with is the Toyota Aygo (it looks so much better in person). I really wanted to rent it for a day to see what's like to drive it, but my girlfriend wanted a Suzuki Jimny convertible instead so we went with that.
Especially if you're living in a larger city where traffic is pain in the butt. I recently spent two weeks in Rhodes (one of Greek islands) and 95% of cars there are Smarts and similar sized vehicles. I rented two of them and they were ok for daily transport.
One of the cars that I fell in love with is the Toyota Aygo (it looks so much better in person). I really wanted to rent it for a day to see what's like to drive it, but my girlfriend wanted a Suzuki Jimny convertible instead so we went with that.
9/17/11, 05:26 AM
#33
A Man Just Needs Some....
I just don't see a need for micro cars in the American market. With the exception of only a handful of cities, full size cars have no problems fitting. This thing just has disposable car written all over it. But it needs the disposable price. I thought that is what chevy was doing with the aveo. The really small engine also takes away any possibility of the "at least it's fun to drive" excuse also. GM is really failing in their entry to mid level line up.
Americans need bright lights and background music. If it doesn't make sense, it better be at least dirt cheap or really cool. For instance, the Chrysler 200 or whatever it is called, had a great ad campaign for an otherwise bland car. The commercials barely even focused on the car and never showed a good full shot of it. But I'm sure people went check them out just because of cool commercials. Flashing lights and dancing girls will sell garbage in the US. I don't think America is ready to start making sense yet.
Americans need bright lights and background music. If it doesn't make sense, it better be at least dirt cheap or really cool. For instance, the Chrysler 200 or whatever it is called, had a great ad campaign for an otherwise bland car. The commercials barely even focused on the car and never showed a good full shot of it. But I'm sure people went check them out just because of cool commercials. Flashing lights and dancing girls will sell garbage in the US. I don't think America is ready to start making sense yet.
9/17/11, 05:42 AM
#34
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I don't think its the engine size and power that makes car fun to drive. My Fusion is the most boring car that I ever drove or owned (that's right, a Yugo 1.1L 45 hp is more fun to drive) and it's pretty powerful (at least for European standards). Or Mazda Miata, one of the most fun cars to drive and its powered by a 2.0L 167 hp engine.
I think Chevy Spark is really cool, it's one of the most unique cars on the streets. It's type of a car that's impossible not to see when it drives by. And, at least in Europe, Chevy priced it at 8,000 euros (~$11,000) which is the price impossible to ignore plus added a lot of standard features that none of the competition has (standard A/C for an example).
I think Chevy Spark is really cool, it's one of the most unique cars on the streets. It's type of a car that's impossible not to see when it drives by. And, at least in Europe, Chevy priced it at 8,000 euros (~$11,000) which is the price impossible to ignore plus added a lot of standard features that none of the competition has (standard A/C for an example).
9/17/11, 05:56 AM
#35
A Man Just Needs Some....
Like I said. It may make sense. But Americans are not known for making sense. I notice ever smart car I pass but I also notice every midget I walk past. But I don't really want to take either one home with me.
Sorry. That was a really wrong example and I hope no "little people" were offended. But I still don't see this car doing well in the US market. And if I was in the market for a micro car, I wouldn't be checking out the GM lots.
Sorry. That was a really wrong example and I hope no "little people" were offended. But I still don't see this car doing well in the US market. And if I was in the market for a micro car, I wouldn't be checking out the GM lots.
9/17/11, 08:08 AM
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10/12/11, 11:36 AM
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2013 Chevy Spark Coming to U.S. Next Year with New Engines, EV Version
DETROIT – The Chevrolet Spark, already on sale in other regions, launches next year as a 2013 model in the United States and Canada with a facelift and a new engine family. The new Ecotec 3- and 4-cylinder engine family will range from 1.0 to 1.5 liters, and the ’13 Chevy Spark for North America gets an 83-horsepower 1.2-liter four, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The new Ecotec family also complements the larger four-cylinder engine family that launches in fall of ’12, when the ’13 Malibu gets a 2.5-liter four. The next Malibu goes on sale in January with the 2.4-liter based eAssist light hybrid powertrain, says GM’s small car chief, Jim Federico.
Federico also announced a full-electric version of the Chevy Spark that GM is planning for select markets, including the U.S., using lithium-ion battery technology from A123 Systems. He did not give timing or other details about the electric Spark.
GM developed the smaller, 1.0-1.5-liter Ecotec family with PATAC (Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center) and SAIC, the American automaker’s partner in China. After rolling out in the new Spark, it will eventually replace small fours here in the Sonic, Cruze and extended-range electric Volt and could eventually make its way into larger cars like the Malibu, the Epsilon II-based next Impala. Federico says all the new engines will have gas direct-injection, will include turbocharged versions, and will work with various alternative powerplants, including electric.
Federico also announced that GM’s experimental EN-V autonomously driven electric bubble-pods (our description) will carry the Chevy brand bowtie. GM hopes to maintain a market for personal vehicles in the emerging megacity market, where automobile use may be limited or even banned in the future.
DETROIT – The Chevrolet Spark, already on sale in other regions, launches next year as a 2013 model in the United States and Canada with a facelift and a new engine family. The new Ecotec 3- and 4-cylinder engine family will range from 1.0 to 1.5 liters, and the ’13 Chevy Spark for North America gets an 83-horsepower 1.2-liter four, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The new Ecotec family also complements the larger four-cylinder engine family that launches in fall of ’12, when the ’13 Malibu gets a 2.5-liter four. The next Malibu goes on sale in January with the 2.4-liter based eAssist light hybrid powertrain, says GM’s small car chief, Jim Federico.
Federico also announced a full-electric version of the Chevy Spark that GM is planning for select markets, including the U.S., using lithium-ion battery technology from A123 Systems. He did not give timing or other details about the electric Spark.
GM developed the smaller, 1.0-1.5-liter Ecotec family with PATAC (Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center) and SAIC, the American automaker’s partner in China. After rolling out in the new Spark, it will eventually replace small fours here in the Sonic, Cruze and extended-range electric Volt and could eventually make its way into larger cars like the Malibu, the Epsilon II-based next Impala. Federico says all the new engines will have gas direct-injection, will include turbocharged versions, and will work with various alternative powerplants, including electric.
Federico also announced that GM’s experimental EN-V autonomously driven electric bubble-pods (our description) will carry the Chevy brand bowtie. GM hopes to maintain a market for personal vehicles in the emerging megacity market, where automobile use may be limited or even banned in the future.