Chevrolet Spark
All-new Chevy supermini to be a global car - with hot hatch potential
The Geneva motor show will see the unveiling of the latest new Chevrolet and the good news is it’s due to go on sale in Europe later this year. The bad news for muscle car fans is that the Chevrolet Spark is GM’s latest supermini.
Sporting a range of fuel-efficient 1.0 and 1.2-litre petrol engines, with 64bhp and 85bhp respectively, the Spark isn’t exactly going to satisfy a craving for a new hot hatch. However, with engines derived from Vauxhall there are rumours that the 148bhp turbocharged 1.6 from the Corsa SRi could eventually find its way into the Spark to create a warmed over Chevy hatchback.
The Spark is an evolution of the Beat concept shown at the 2007 New York motor show which was declared the favourite of three concepts. It finished ahead of the Groove and Trax concept cars (pictured with the Beat) in the public vote to determine Chevrolet’s next small car.
The Spark does have global significance, though. It is destined to go on sale in Europe and the USA, where small car sales are relatively strong in a declining market. The new car can only serve to highlight the state of affairs currently across the pond where the big car is falling out of favour. There are plans for it to be sold in emerging markets such as India, too, where personal mobility is becoming increasingly important.
The Spark is the replacement for the Chevrolet Matiz here in the UK. You can read our take on the tiddly Matiz in our hire car special.
