The Beat Begat Spark, And It Was Good: New Spark for 2015

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
  • 95 comments
  • 5,620 views
buickgnx88
Whatever happened to a small car that doesn't look fugly?
Click to expand...

Don't you know? Ugly is the new style that is "in" these days. Prius, new Insight, 90% of other small cars...
I really have no idea why most small cars are so ugly these days, this funky new Chevy included.
 
Philly
Opel Corsa IIRC.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that the Spark will end up replacing the Aveo outright, but its still difficult to know for sure. The Corsa and the Spark are both supposed to ride on the Gamma-II chassis, there should be a Daewoo model as well. But as for actual specifics, we're still coming up a bit short.
 
You guys all realize that this is a very small car, and a lot of the awkwardness in the styling is present in a lot of cars that are around this size, right?

YSSMAN
I'm thinking that the Spark will end up replacing the Aveo outright, but its still difficult to know for sure.
Click to expand...

I think that would be a good thing. The Aveo isn't exactly an inspiring car, and it wouldn't do very well with a (presumably) much better car selling next to it that is a little bit smaller.
 
Oh I know that all small cars are now awkward looking, but that's not to say I like the styling direction. I prefer a simpler time of compacts, namely the 80's/90's where the designs were straightforward and had straight lines.
 
Toronado
So, is the Aveo finally going to go away?
Click to expand...

Until 2011, we're stuck with it. Can't complain too much, there are people dumb enough to buy them. Well, until the Fiesta shows up...
 
Why must so many small-car concepts be unveiled in diarrhea green?
 
GT Pro
Why must so many small-car concepts be unveiled in diarrhea green?
Click to expand...

Because they want you to think that they're economical and environmentally friendly. Colors have psychological/suggestive impact.
 
So, It Is Happening...​

2013_chevrolet_spark_group_ns_111411_717.jpg


MORE Info at Inside Line

So, 24 or so hours ahead of time we see that, for sure, GM is bringing the Spark to the US and Canada next summer. What are we in for? A sub-compact that measures less than 130 inches long, and weighs in at less than 2,300 lbs. Powered by a 1.2L four-cylinder, it puts out 85 BHP and 82 LB-FT of torque. Standard gearchanging will be done by a five-speed manual, optional is a four-speed automatic.

2013_chevrolet_spark_int_ns_111411_717.jpg


Although they're not talking about pricing, they say they're going after city-dwellers, first-time buyers, and the "youth market." So, think of the people who are buying Fiat 500s, MINI Coopers and Toyota iQ's and you get what they're after. The car looks pretty decent, seems to have enough room for four, and should come with a plethora of standard features for not a whole lot of money.

Having owned a sub-90 BHP compact that weighed in nearly the same, I'm interested to see how it drives. Reviews from other parts of the world seem somewhat reasonable, if a bit complainy. We'll find out soon enough...
 
YSSMAN


Although they're not talking about pricing, they say they're going after city-dwellers, first-time buyers, and the "youth market." So, think of the people who are buying Fiat 500s, MINI Coopers and Toyota iQ's and you get what they're after. ​
Click to expand...

For half the price of any of those, I hope.
Who shopping for any of those would give a second look to a cheap Chevy?​
 
YSSMAN
Although they're not talking about pricing, they say they're going after city-dwellers, first-time buyers, and the "youth market."
Click to expand...
Which means they are going to get the 50-year-old bald men trading in their Toyota Yaris.
 
Ewwww, this is hideous. I thought GM couldn't fail more on design until I saw this. The interior looks ok, which is surprising for a GM, but the exterior looks worse than my 🤬. This segment needs conservative and discreet not OMFG LOOK AT ME, LOOOOOOOOOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad to think that the most conservative design for the city car segment here in the US is actually the Smart. :yuck:

I'd rather work a little harder and buy a base model Focus or a bit harder and buy Fiat 500.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
There's a very good reason it only weighs 2300lbs: there's nothing to it. My car weighs that much, and it was designed in an era when tin was considered an exotic material, so the fact that Chevrolet have managed it in 2011 where 20 airbags are standard is a little concerning.

And personally I really liked the concept - it looked imposing and solid. Doesn't look like that anymore. Take a look at the tyres on that photo, then cut them straight down the middle - that'll give you a good idea of what the Spark rides about on, and it doesn't do it any favours.
 
When will automakers realize that "youth" usually refuse to drive wimpy ass ecogo rags like this?

I paid less than $3000 for an old RX7 that shoots ****ing fireballs and is more awesome in every way than 90% of the cars on the road. And everybody else loves it, too. Not a single youth-ish person I know would be caught dead in a new-age Geo Metro. Would rather have an old Buick or something.
 
Keef
When will automakers realize that "youth" usually refuse to drive wimpy ass ecogo rags like this?

I paid less than $3000 for an old RX7 that shoots ****ing fireballs and is more awesome in every way than 90% of the cars on the road. And everybody else loves it, too. Not a single youth-ish person I know would be caught dead in a new-age Geo Metro. Would rather have an old Buick or something.
Click to expand...

Scion tC's and xB's sell like crazy to kids who live around me. I've driven an xB and I had to floor it to enter the highway. I've also seen them in Chevy Aveos and Kias.
 
The only people I ever see driving xBs are old people. The few young people who do buy them do it for JDM modding purposes. tCs did okay, but not when they were new because it's a rarity that young kids can afford a new car. I don't know how many they sold but they're relatively rare, and unless you're a boutique seller like Scion then it's hard to make the case for a rare car. Chevrolet is not a niche manufacturer.
 
Last edited:
Keef
When will automakers realize that "youth" usually refuse to drive wimpy ass ecogo rags like this?
Click to expand...

Its hard to say with something like this. The Fiesta has done pretty well with the hipsters they targeted (well, around here anyway), and I feel like the previous Versa did well with the kids too. It all depends on the marketing and the pricing. If GM is going to push these things out the door for $10,000 or so... I could see them doing quite a few.

Thing is, it isn't a Sonic. That thing is a shockingly good sub-compact, built right here in Michigan, and sold for a pretty reasonable amount of money. Considering you can get one with a decent set of options for $17K before the eventual discounts... You'd have to be silly not to spring for that.

But, I still want to drive the Spark. Just to see if it reminds me of my old Fox.
 
Last edited:
The Sonic replaced the Aveo, and is built just outside of Detroit. The Spark will fill a slot underneath the Sonic, and as I understand it, will be built in Korea and shipped to the US.
 
This is Also a Thing... The Chevrolet Spark EV

​


The Spark EV is getting it's official debut, and it isn't anything that we didn't already expect. You're basically taking the electric motor and battery from the Volt and jamming it into the compact Spark, and, tada! A $25,000* all-electric small car that'll likely go 80 miles on a charge.

* After a $7,500 Federal tax credit

Give or take, it's the beginning of the electrification of a wide variety of vehicles at GM. With the extra power on tap (40 BHP more than the standard car), I'd imagine this car would scoot pretty well. The gasoline version is apparently fairly fun to drive, I'd imagine this one isn't all that different either.

Seems interesting. Let the flood of cheap electric cars begin.
 
They do appear to have done a proper job on it, but $25k after incentives is still too much. It is, still, just a Spark.

Smart is selling the Fortwo Electric Drive for $25k before incentives, which is heading in the right direction. And it's pretty good, too. The thing the Spark should have in its favour of course is performance. I expect it'll be one of the quicker EVs on sale.
 

Latest Posts

Back