But it's in Europe where Chevrolet Spark will find its true identity. On sale in all major European markets, including the UK, from the first quarter of 2010, it exceeds all expectations of what a buyer might expect from a small car - be it as an urban motorist, or one who simply doesn't need a larger car.
From the outset, Chevrolet Spark was engineered and designed to meet exacting standards. The bodyshell is exceptionally stiff, with no external panel gaps greater than 3mm, and the fit and finish of the interior is designed to match, if not beat that of cars in a class or two above.
Yet despite the quality, Chevrolet Spark is also designed to be edgy, vibrant and fresh, as well as to offer exceptional levels of space and practicality. There aren't many cars with such a small footprint that can offer the benefits of five doors, five seats and a usable luggage area, for example.
"We've styled and engineered the Chevrolet Spark so that it can compete anywhere in the world where there's a demand for mini cars and the benefits they bring," said Jack Keaton, vehicle line executive for the new model. "The Chevrolet Spark is, first and foremost, a car that offers great economy and manoeuvrability, yet it is also quite sophisticated. We think it will turn heads with an aggressively stylish design and we think it's going to make a lot of drivers happy with its dynamic ride and handling abilities."
Keaton said that while the Chevrolet Spark is certainly affordable, it was not developed to be either the most or least expensive offering in its category.
"We developed the Chevrolet Spark with the idea that buyers would feel they got a lot of vehicle for their currency," he said. "From a complete package perspective, we think the Spark will be among, if not the best five-door car in its segment. It offers high quality craftsmanship, is well-equipped with safety technologies and, most importantly, is fun to drive."
Much of the Chevrolet Spark's character comes from its styling.
"From the beginning, we wanted to have a revolution in size and design," explained Taewan Kim, vice president of GM DAT Design. "We wanted to take a big step forward to deliver a completely new statement, especially in the design of the car.
"We wanted it to look ready to pounce, it needed to look great from 360 degrees and it needed to generate excitement."
The exterior of the Chevrolet Spark features a 'wheels-out; body in' stance, its single arc roofline accentuated by strong, clean body sides free of cladding. The appearance is sleek; slightly aggressive, and unmistakably more upmarket than a number of mini car rivals, which tend to favour a more 'cute' approach.
This precision and attention to styling detail is not only reserved for the car's exterior - unlike some models in the segment, where interior design is clearly functional, the Chevrolet Spark manages to add a youthful, vigorous appeal to the inside of the car that is equal to the look of the exterior.
While maintaining exemplary levels of craftsmanship, the Chevrolet Spark's cabin is an iconic piece of design in itself. It maintains all of the class attributes - comfort, spaciousness and easy-to-use controls, yet delivers them in a style that is unique to the sector.
The focal point of the cabin is the motorcycle-style instrument 'pod', which sits on top of the steering column and delivers all of the essential information in a compact yet easy-to-read manner. The analogue speedometer is backed up by a digital tachometer, just like on a sports bike, backlit by upmarket ice blue lighting when the headlights are turned on. It's truly unique to the sector, and clearly illustrates the Chevrolet Spark's intention to put the fun back into function.
As well as its edgy styling, Chevrolet Spark also has advanced dynamics. It has taut, responsive handling characteristics, at the heart of which is a very stiff integral body frame structure, designed to aid the car's dynamic performance and provide the driver with a heightened sense of stability, solidity and confident road command.
The suspension follows a traditional yet effective layout - MacPherson struts at the front and a compound crank (torsion beam) axle at the rear, a combination that allows for neutral, predictable handling characteristics. It is both nippy and nimble round town, yet surefooted at higher speeds.
Depending on market and trim level, Chevrolet Spark is also available with a system known as VSES, standing for Vehicle Stability Enhancement System. This provides outstanding safety and control benefits, with electronic brake and traction control capabilities to provide precise anti-lock braking capabilities, as well as exceptional yaw stability.
Of course, even the most able driver in the most dynamically competent car can sometimes find his or herself in a situation where a collision is inevitable, so with this in mind the Chevrolet Spark was designed with high levels of passive safety inbuilt from the outset, enough to earn it a creditable four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Almost 60 per cent of the car's structure consists of advanced steels, with varying levels of stiffness and built-in crush zones to absorb crash impacts. The front engine bay rails and subframe are designed to absorb energy while maintain the highest loads possible as they collapse, while a transition zone around the base of the A-pillars and front bulkhead effectively distributes crash energy around rather than into the passenger compartment.
A similar crush zone exists at the rear, with the fuel tank and its connections designed in a way to minimise the chance of ruptures. Additional rear impact loads are absorbed by a strong rear cross member, as GM's internal rear crash measurement standards are greater than industry required standards.
High levels of occupant protection are further enhanced by twin front airbags, side curtain airbags and additional seat mounted thorax and abdomen airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and a pedal retraction system, which pulls the pedal box away from the car's occupants in the event of a frontal collision, reducing the risk of lower leg injury.
Two engines are on offer at launch - both petrol units with displacements of 1.0 and 1.2-litres.
Both units are closely related and use a cast iron block and alloy head, with a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. They feature multi-port fuel injection and are both Euro V emissions compliant.
The two engines use advanced features such as port de-activation technology to improve exhaust gas recirculation, leading to optimal fuel efficiency and idle stability, along with a timing chain to ensure a lifetime of low maintenance and running costs.
Practicality is a big plus, too. It may not be very big on the outside, but the Chevrolet Spark's clever design means it is able to make the most out of its available space.
Front seat passengers enjoy up to 1067mm of available legroom (893mm in the rear), while shoulder space of 1295mm (1255mm rear) and headroom of 1010mm (947mm) are also rated among the very best in the segment, proving that even when a car is small, it doesn't need to be cramped.
With five doors and five available seats, the Chevrolet Spark is one of the most space-efficient cars in the mini segment.
Much of the interior space is down to the car's clever design - details such as the steering column-mounted instrument pod and longer than average wheelbase allowed the designers to reduce cabin intrusion, allowing for as much space between the axles as possible.
On top of this, the cabin was planned to accommodate as much supplementary storage space as possible. The centre console, for example, incorporates a bin for carrying smaller items such as a mobile phone, MP3 player or packet of chewing gum, while there's also a double cup/drinks holder ahead of the gear shifter.
All of this in such a compact package: at only 3640mm long and 1597mm wide, it will easily squeeze into tight city spaces, yet thanks to its short overhangs and clever cabin design the compact dimensions come without compromise.
While we can't promise that the Chevrolet Spark will put an end to the stresses of commuting, we do believe it will make urban life much easier to tolerate - as the Chevrolet Spark's packaging, driveability, classless looks and easy-to-manoeuvre nature make it a multi-faceted car that will fit in with even the most frantic of lifestyles.
Chevrolet Spark is a car with immense character, a fresh youthful design, a classless image, great practicality and low cost of ownership; in short, everything an urban motorist needs, and a lot more besides.
Design
For years, car designers believed that the key to making a car appeal in the mini segment was to make it cute and cuddly.
But Chevrolet doesn't do cute and cuddly. It's out of keeping with almost a century of iconic vehicle design, where every Chevrolet has had to deliver a new level of edginess, character and a bold identity.
As a result, the Chevrolet Spark has a purposeful stance. It isn't cute, but it sure is handsome, its angular, self-confident profile giving it the proportions of a larger vehicle, and making it appear self-confident among a sea of meeker looking city cars.
Chevrolet Spark was also designed with global appeal in mind. Chevrolet has always been a brand with a large footprint across the world, but its growth in Europe makes that now, more than ever, relevant.
It originated from the GM DAT design centre in Korea, with influences from all of the key markets in which Chevrolet is a major player. It's goal? To redefine what was expected in the mini car segment. To break the rules, defy convention and deliver something that offered great style and value for money, but without compromise.
"From the beginning, we wanted to have a revolution in size and design," explains Taewan Kim, vice president of GM DAT Design. "We wanted to take a big step forward to deliver a completely new statement, especially in the design of the car.
"We wanted it to look ready to pounce, it needed to look great from 360 degrees and it needed to generate excitement."
The exterior of the Chevrolet Spark features a 'wheels-out; body in' stance, its single arc roofline accentuated by strong, clean body sides free of cladding. The appearance is sleek; slightly aggressive, and unmistakably more upmarket than a number of mini car rivals.
The headlamps are sculptured elliptically into the body, stretching from the front grille right back to the A-pillar, with clear polycarbonate lenses and chrome coated headlamp bezels to emphasise the frontal styling.
From the side, the rear door handles are hidden away alongside the C-pillar, answering the conundrum faced by many a designer - is a sporty three-door better than a practical five-door? Chevrolet Spark delivers the appeal of both.
What's more, the sharp looks are enhanced by a level of fit and finish that's second to none. Every single panel gap is laser straight, and engineered to be below 3.0mm or less across the car.
This precision and attention to styling detail is not only reserved for the car's exterior - unlike some models in the segment, where interior design is clearly functional, the Chevrolet Spark manages to add a youthful, vigorous appeal to the inside of the car that is equal to the look of the exterior.
While maintaining exemplary levels of craftsmanship, the Chevrolet Spark's cabin is an iconic piece of design in itself. It maintains all of the class attributes - comfort, spaciousness and easy-to-use controls, yet delivers them in a style that is unique to the sector.
The focal point of the cabin is the motorcycle-style instrument 'pod', which sits on top of the steering column and delivers all of the essential information in a compact yet easy-to-read manner. The analogue speedometer is backed up by a digital tachometer, just like on a sports bike, backlit by upmarket ice blue lighting when the headlights are turned on. It's truly unique to the sector, and clearly illustrates the Chevrolet Spark's intention to put the fun back into function.
Another smart feature is the Chevrolet Spark's Integrated Centre Stack, which incorporates all of the radio, sat nav (where fitted) and heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls in one central location, leaving the fascia clean and uncluttered and putting all of the major switches in one central location that is simple and intuitive to use. The heating and ventilation controls feature a crystalline surround, which lights up in ice blue to match the instrument panel when driving at night.
A neat appliqué around the instrument panel adds even more attention to detail - finished in high grade technical grain on base models, piano black on mid-range or a choice of silver, red or blue surrounds on top models is matched by inserts in the doors, while colour-coded seat fabrics are also available.
Market and Brand
With the environment and the economy at front of mind for many motorists, the 21st century has seen a huge swing in consumer behaviour, away from excess and towards a more frugal, prudent approach to spending.
The Chevrolet Spark is the perfect antidote to such conservatism. It may be frugal. It may be financially prudent. But at the same time it shows how motorists can manage their responsibilities yet at the same time still have fun. No longer do people buy small or inexpensive cars because it's all they can afford - they buy them because that's exactly what they want. Chevrolet Spark is a car designed to appeal to the heart just as much as it is to the head.
Building on the strengths of the iconic Chevrolet brand - a name that for years has represented, perhaps more than any, the joy and freedom of motoring by virtue of the fact it has appeared in popular music more often than any other car brand - the Chevrolet Spark is a modern world interpretation of those very values.
Styled and developed by a young and dynamic team across the world, the Chevrolet Spark truly is a global car. It is based on GM's Global Mini Car Architecture, which will be on sale in more than 100 countries worldwide between now and 2013. The Chevrolet Spark itself will be sold across Europe, Australia, Korea and even the USA, reflecting the significant changes in consumer trends, even in countries where small cars have previously never made much of an impact in the market.
In Europe, of course, that impact has already been immense. In Italy, Chevrolet's strongest market in Western Europe, over 50 per cent of cars sold are in the A and B (mini and supermini) segments of the market, while in France and the UK the two segments account for over 30 per cent of sales.
Chevrolet Spark is a car that cunningly bridges the gap between a city car and a fully-fledged supermini. It has five-doors and five seats, with leg and headroom among the best in class, yet at the same time is as compact and easy to manoeuvre as the smallest city cars.
Its striking, modern design works harmoniously with its practicality to offer a compromise-free car for urban motorists, with the convenience of a much larger vehicle, youthful, vibrant appeal and a level of classlessness that only a legendary name like Chevrolet can evoke. It may be small and inexpensive, but the Chevrolet Spark is not a car you buy because it's cheap. It works on so many more levels than that.
It also needed to be fun-to-drive, safe, well-equipped, beautifully made and refined - not normally words associated with city cars, but all of which are applicable to Chevrolet Spark.
Built in South Korea initially (although production in India and the USA will follow), the Chevrolet Spark is set to go on sale in all key European markets in the first quarter of 2010.
Powertrain
Across Europe, two engines will be offered in the Chevrolet Spark - both petrol units with displacements of 1.0 and 1.2-litres.
Both units are closely related and use a cast iron block and alloy head, with a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. They feature multi-port fuel injection and are both Euro V emissions compliant.
The two engines use advanced features such as port de-activation technology to improve exhaust gas recirculation, leading to optimal fuel efficiency and idle stability, along with a timing chain to ensure a lifetime of low maintenance and running costs.
The smaller of the two units is of 995cc displacement and produces 68PS (50Kw) at 6,400rpm, enough to power the car from 0-62mph in 15.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 96mph. The unit produces 93Nm of torque at 4,800rpm, with a compression ratio of 9.8:1
Available in Chevrolet Spark, Spark + and LS, the unit returns 55.4mpg on the combined cycle, with a CO2; output of 119g/km.
The larger unit displaces 1206cc and produces 81PS (60Kw), with maximum torque of 111Nm at 4,800rpm. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 102mph.
Available in Chevrolet Spark LS and LT, the unit also returns 55.4mpg on the combined cycle, with a CO2; output of 119g/km.
Both engines come with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Comfort and Convenience
It may not be very big on the outside, but the Chevrolet Spark's clever design means it is able to make the most out of its available space.
Front seat passengers enjoy up to 1067mm of available legroom (893mm in the rear), while shoulder space of 1288mm (1263mm rear) and headroom of 1009mm (952mm) are also rated among the very best in the segment, proving that even when a car is small, it doesn't need to be cramped.
With five doors and five available seats, the Chevrolet Spark is one of the most space-efficient cars in the mini segment.
Much of the interior space is down to the car's clever design - details such as the steering column-mounted instrument pod and longer than average wheelbase allowed the designers to reduce cabin intrusion, allowing for as much space between the axles as possible.
On top of this, the cabin was planned to accommodate as much supplementary storage space as possible. The centre console, for example, incorporates a bin for carrying smaller items such as a mobile phone, MP3 player or packet of chewing gum, while there's also a double cup/drinks holder ahead of the gear shifter.
There's a generously sized glove box, seat back pockets designed to accommodate books, road atlases or laptop computers, door bin pockets on both sides with storage for a standard sized 500ml drinks bottle and neat convenience features such as an auxiliary power socket in the lower instrument panel, overhead assist grips on the front passenger and rear doors and padded sun visors, with a ticket holder on the driver's side.
Luggage space is 170-litres with the rear seat in place. The rear seat base and back both split 60:40 to fold flat increasing the luggage space to 568 litres.
The cabin is also one of the most refined and well-finished in the segment. Ergonomically designed, the seats are designed to be harder wearing and longer lasting than the class average, with strong knit fabric on entry-level cars and woven fabric on upper models.
Cabin engineers paid particular attention to longevity, increasing the ratio of stitches-per-inch to ensure all sew lines and seat surfaces remained tight and free from premature sagging or a stretched-seam appearance over time.
The firm 'Durometer' foam in the seats is highly bolstered and of a construction that evenly distributes the passenger's weight for high comfort on both long and short journeys.
An indication of the attention to detail that went into Chevrolet Spark's overall design comes from the testing carried out on the seats prior to launch - prototypes were tested in various seasons and climates across various road surfaces to optimise comfort, including side-by-side comparisons with key rivals.
Add to that the use of only high grade plastics in the interior and computer-controlled interior panel alignment ensuring no inside gap bigger than 5mm between door shuts and it's clear to see that the high levels of build quality seen on the Chevrolet Spark are of a level normally only found on bigger, more expensive cars.
Of course, comfort and refinement don't just come down to fit and finish or the use of high quality materials - one of the keys to delivering class leading refinement is to reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels (NVH) inside the cabin through effective damping and noise suppression.
With its tight and stiff body structure and carefully optimised damper and spring rates, Chevrolet Spark delivers a ride comfort and noise level that's easily among the best in class, making it remarkably refined for a mini car.
Much of that is down to its complex four-mount engine cradle (with a hydraulic mount on RHD cars) which is tailored to the engine's inherent torque axis, effectively damping transfer of vibration and noise in the process.
Enhanced chassis-to-body structure interface points are designed to ensure high levels of stiffness, further retarding low-frequency noise intrusion into the car's cabin, isolating much of the noise and vibration caused by road surfaces.
Dynamics and safety
Whether it's within the confines of the city limits or out on the open road, a good looking car has to be as impressive to drive as it is to look at.
That's why the engineering team behind the Chevrolet Spark focused on a number of key factors that would enable it to deliver the absolute best in terms of dynamic performance and safety.
Chevrolet Spark has a number of key passive safety features, detailed below, that are often reserved for more expensive, larger cars - but it's the car's dynamic performance that is the driver's first line of defence in any emergency situation.
As such, the Chevrolet Spark has taut, responsive handling characteristics, at the heart of which is a very stiff integral body frame structure, designed to aid the car's dynamic performance and provide the driver with a heightened sense of stability, solidity and confident road command.
The suspension follows a traditional yet effective layout - MacPherson struts at the front and a compound crank (torsion beam) axle at the rear, a combination that allows for neutral, predictable handling characteristics. It is both nippy and nimble round town, yet surefooted at higher speeds.
Chevrolet Spark is also available with a system known as ESC, standing for Electronic Stability Control. This provides outstanding safety and control benefits, with electronic brake and traction control capabilities to provide precise anti-lock braking capabilities, as well as exceptional yaw stability.
Vented front disc brakes of 236mm in diameter are fitted at the front with 200mm drums at the rear, while a four-channel ABS system is fitted to Sparks in all European markets, along with an electronic brake assist system, which automatically applies more power to the brake callipers when an urgent stop/foot pedal motion is detected.
Round town manoeuvrability and nimbleness is enhanced by the Chevrolet Spark's efficient hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering, which is geared to give a minimum turning radius of only 5 metres, with just over three turns lock to lock - it's quick ratio making city driving more of a pleasure than a chore.
Of course, even the most able driver in the most dynamically competent car can sometimes find his or herself in a situation where a collision is inevitable, so with this in mind the Chevrolet Spark was designed with high levels of passive safety inbuilt from the outset.
Almost 60 per cent of the car's structure consists of advanced steels, with varying levels of stiffness and built-in crush zones to absorb crash impacts. The front engine bay rails and subframe are designed to absorb energy while maintain the highest loads possible as they collapse, while a transition zone around the base of the A-pillars and front bulkhead effectively distributes crash energy around rather than into the passenger compartment.
A similar crush zone exists at the rear, with the fuel tank and its connections designed in a way to minimise the chance of ruptures. Additional rear impact loads are absorbed by a strong rear cross member, as GM's internal rear crash measurement standards are greater than industry required standards.
High levels of occupant protection are further enhanced by twin front airbags, side curtain airbags and additional seat mounted thorax and abdomen airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and a pedal retraction system, which pulls the pedal box away from the car's occupants in the event of a frontal collision, reducing the risk of lower leg injury.
Other safety features include three-point seatbelts for all five seating positions, ISOFIX rear child seat fixings and an inbuilt pedestrian protection system, designed to protect a victim's head from hitting hard points of the car's body or engine block in the event of a collision.
The Chevrolet Spark recently attained a four-star Euro NCAP rating, putting it among the best in class for small cars.
It received 69 out of a possible 100 points, coming within a single point of a maximum five-star rating.
"The outstanding performance of our new mini-car in stringent Euro NCAP testing reflects our attention to safety as well as eye-catching styling and great packaging," said Wayne Brannon, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe. "The Chevrolet Spark meets the high expectations of mini-car buyers in Europe's mature markets."
In Adult Protection, the Chevrolet Spark recorded the maximum score of 8 points in the side impact crash test against a moving deformable barrier. It also received a high score of 7.35 points out of 8 points in the side pole test, indicating solid passenger protection in the event of a more severe side collision.
In Child Protection, the Chevrolet Spark also scored maximum points in Child Restraint System dynamic performance tests, which evaluate child protection from possible injuries in various types of crashes. Crash test dummies representing 18-month old and 3-year-old children were properly contained in their restraints by the Chevrolet Spark's protective shell during side impact tests.
These achievements are the result of the Chevrolet Spark's structural enhancements combined with a full offering of active and passive safety features. More than 66 per cent of the car's body is constructed of high-strength steel, with 16.5 per cent comprised of ultra-high-strength steel. The latter is mostly used in the longitudinal member of the underbody, and front and center pillars in the side body structure. This contributed to its strong performance in side crash tests.
Value and running costs
The coolest new mini car in town is set to offer value for money and running costs that are as enticing as its vibrant good looks!
Set to arrive in Chevrolet retailers in Spring 2010, the all-new Chevrolet Spark will be available from only £6,945 on-the-road, with a choice of two engines.
The entry-level Chevrolet Spark will be offered with a 1.0-litre engine developing 68PS, coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox. Despite being the smallest car in the Chevrolet line-up, it comes with six airbags as standard, proving that even the most compact cars can offer class-leading safety. The model recently achieved an excellent four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, with a maximum five stars for child protection.
Models in Chevrolet Spark + trim, also available with the 1.0-litre engine, come with air conditioning, electric front windows and central locking, along with a USB compatible four-speaker stereo.
The LS, which is expected to be the most popular trim level, comes with a choice of the 1.0-litre or an 81PS 1.2-litre engine, and adds remote central locking, silver trim detailing, a sunglasses holder, 14-inch wheels, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, a chrome-effect grille surround, front fog lamps and a body-coloured rear spoiler.
For £500 more than the 1.2 LS, customers can add a plus pack - the LS+ gets smart alloy wheels, electric windows front and rear, a trip computer, heated electric door mirrors, roof bars and steering wheel audio controls.
The range-topping LT, which comes with the 1.2-litre engine only, comes with a level of equipment you'd normally expect of a much larger and more expensive car, including 15-inch alloys, climate control, interior detailing to match the exterior (depending on colour), an exterior body kit and a six-speaker stereo.
Options across the range include metallic paint, rear parking sensors and electronic stability control.
What's more, the Chevrolet Spark will be cheap to run - as well as economy of up to 67.3mpg on the extra-urban cycle, it qualifies for incredibly low insurance. Under the new 50 Group rating system, the Chevrolet Spark 1.0 is in Group 1, the lowest possible band. The full list of insurance groupings is below.
