Chevrolet Spark Debuts

on November 16
Chevrolet has been working on its tiny, cute little compact vehicle. It’s a remarkable car, 100% electric, that can travel at speeds up to 85mph. The engine under the Spark’s hood is a 1.2L 4-cylinder with 85 hp, and comes in a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission configuration. It’s been around for a while, but hardly anyone even knows about this little gem.

 

Until recently, it’s more than likely you hadn’t heard of the Chevrolet Spark, since pretty much the only people who did were those developing and designing it, or select attorneys for General Motors. That’s because the first-generation Spark, formerly called the Daewoo Matiz was leaked a bit early and later shamelessly copied by Chinese carmaker Chery. The Chery QQ was so similar to the Spark that many of the various body panels were interchangeable. The Chinese and GM entered into a legal battle that lasted for years, and now, finally, Chevrolet is ready to roll the Spark to the public.

 

Chris Perry, Chevrolet Vice President for marketing and strategy, had this to say about the project: “Spark is for buyers who want much more than a ‘cute’ small car – they want a car that can be personalized, is dynamic and fashionable, and delivers a lot of value for the money. Spark’s vibrant exterior and interior colors make a fashion statement, but it is also affordable, safe, maneuverable and very fuel-efficient.”

 

This isn’t the first time Chevrolet has stepped into the compact city car market to compete against the imported vehicles in that class. The Spark is the car Chevrolet will use to compete with the likes of the Scion iQ, the Fiat 500, and the two person Smart Car. This new offering from Chevy makes its official debut on November 16 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. It is aimed at urban drivers that want a highly maneuverable vehicle that is able to wedge itself easily into tight spaces. Good fuel economy is important to this class, so depending on how long a charge lasts, that will have a lot to do with its reception.

 

The Spark might be small, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is loaded with safety features and packed with entertainment options. With ten standard airbags and OnStar, the Spark aims to protect in case of a collision. Is also has a built in touch screen display that interfaces with smart phones to allow for navigation.