The slow infiltration of minicars continues in approximately May 2012 when the 2013 Chevrolet Spark arrives in the U.S.
It will be built in South Korea initially, but should demand exceed Chevy's modest projections (volumes will be "small," we hear), it could be built at any of the automaker's North American plants, Jim Federico, GM's chief engineer for Global Compact, Small, Mini and Electric Vehicles, told us.
Key rivals for the four-door, four-passenger hatchback are the Fiat 500 and Scion iQ. "Some people say Mini Cooper, too, and I say no," Federico said. No surprise there, as the Spark will be among the rarefied class of vehicles with double-digit 0-60-mph acceleration.
Unlike the iQ, though, GM will let you have it with a manual transmission driving its front wheels so you can squeeze out whatever vigor the car's 1.2-liter engine (85 hp, 82 lb-ft of torque) might have to offer. Of course, you can have a four-speed automatic, too.
If that's not enough, wait for the all-electric Spark, slated for a phased rollout in the U.S. and Europe sometime in 2013. Federico told us the Spark EV will be more than a second quicker to 60 mph.
Pricing is still a ways off for either car, but count on the gasoline-powered Spark coming in below the cheapest Sonic ($14,495 with destination).
First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Spark
scottyscooter says:
05:42 AM, 11/17/11
lol @ the face of that guy in the first picture who is looking through the drivers side window; it doesn't appear that he likes what he sees in there.
blackdynamite1 says:
09:26 AM, 11/17/11
Is it me, or does the Spark's big, funhouse face give you the creeps?
BD
blackdynamite1 says:
09:28 AM, 11/17/11
Does it's big funhouse face give you the creeps?
BD
revn says:
10:15 AM, 11/17/11
@scottyscooter
Ha, I thought the same thing. That guy is -not- pleased.
I... think that's a really ugly car, honestly. Kinda looks like the Soul, which I also can't stand. Dunno if it's really better looking than the Aveo.
cml says:
11:44 AM, 11/17/11
That guy's face says it all.