2013 Chevy Spark Priced at $14,660*

[Air-over-water]

$20K can buy a nice small car or an even better slightly used car.

Or a Viper if you can talk someone down $2k.

[pknopp]

GM is offering too many cars to close to each other. IMO they should offer the Sonic on many different platforms. A 2 door commuter. 4 door hatch and sedan. Perhaps a wagon. Then offer different drivetrains.

GM please, please start offering the diesels you sell elsewhere. A Sonic 1.4 turbo diesel in a wagon would get me interested pretty quick for what they should be able to price one at.

[BRealistic]

I bet with a pinch of creativity this car will accept the 1.4T (which I quite enjoyed with a Trifecta tune) and make quite a screamer.

Chris

But the suspension will go all wet noodle with that much power.

iow- I seriously doubt this chassis was designed to handle even 100 hp, let alone 150.

And the styling of this car is at least distinctive...
I bet it makes many people happy- being a "modern" safe economical car for under $14k.
It does looks fairly roomy for its size.
(the same people that bought brand new Rios ten years ago)

[bzcat]

This car makes a lot more sense than Scion iQ or FIAT 500. The only question remains is whether the Chevy badge is going to automatically eliminate the car from the consideration list of likely buyers of tiny city cars.

Also, fun with stats:

2013 Chevy Spark (5 door hatchback)
Wheelbase: 93.5 in
Length: 144.7 in
Width: 62.9 in
Height: 61.0 in
Engine: 1.2 liter/I4/85.2hp

2001 Chevy (Geo) Metro (3 door hatchback)
Wheelbase: 93.1 in
Length: 149.4 in
Width: 62.6 in
Height: 54.7 in
Engine: 1.0liter/I3/55hp; 1.3 liter/I4/70hp

[clutchrider]

2009 Called looking for their car back Funny that a 2013 model was in theaters 4 years ago. Can't wait for the 2015 Beat to appear

[BRealistic]

^

The Spark has been sold in other markets for two years now IIRC.
I don't know what you are going on about.

[SoCalDubber]

Is it just me or is the Fiat MUCH better looking?

[VarianceVQ]

Is it just me or is the Fiat MUCH better looking?

Not nuts about either.

[SoCalDubber]

Not nuts about either.

That wasn't the question

[clutchrider]

^

The Spark has been sold in other markets for two years now IIRC.
I don't know what you are going on about.

I fall into the troll bucket of notintheUSdontcarebutwillwhinethatwedontgetit.

Basically that GM is dropping a car that is aging onto our shores as an afterthought.

[whitejeep1989]

Is it just me or is the Fiat MUCH better looking?

I'm not saying that you are biased or anything, but as a Fiat owner I would expect that you would find the Fiat better looking.

IMO, it's a case of different strokes. If you need a four door hatch, the Fiat 500 won't meet your needs, but the Spark will.

[whitejeep1989]

I fall into the troll bucket of notintheUSdontcarebutwillwhinethatwedontgetit.

Basically that GM is dropping a car that is aging onto our shores as an afterthought.

Not really.

GM is launching cars in their primary or local markets before rolling them into the US market. Many foreign brands do the same thing. The Honda Fit existed as the Honda Jazz in the ROW, before crossing the Pacific. The Toyota PriusC exists as a member of the Yaris family elsewhere. The BMW 1-Series, Audi A4, and Honda Accord Wagon/Acura TSX Sportwagon all existed in Europe before coming here. It's all about plant capacity, local environmental regulations, and servicing the regions that have the most need.

[Matt@EuroJerks]

Honestly- this is the Aveo replacement... as in, this is the cheap car for people that just care about getting a brand new car as cheap as possible.

I drove one. This is EXACTLY right.

[DamienR8]

AKA everything else.

ROFL true

[2.0T_Convert]

Is it just me or is the Fiat MUCH better looking?

I believe you. But I bet the Spark is going to kill the Fiat and every other non hybrid in fuel economy.

[SoCalDubber]

I believe you. But I bet the Spark is going to kill the Fiat and every other non hybrid in fuel economy.

I hadn't really considered it until I really thought about it... but are you aware of the "diminishing return" equation?

428.57 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 35mpg ($4.50/gallon) = $1,928.57

333.33 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 45mpg which is a HUGE over-estimation most likely ($4.50/gallon) = $1,500

So $35/month in savings assuming this car is rated at 40/50... which I can't imagine it will be.

[Spinnaker]

Pretty silly to bring a new product to market without a target demographic or campaign planned.

[mobile363]

2009 Called looking for their car back Funny that a 2013 model was in theaters 4 years ago. Can't wait for the 2015 Beat to appear

GM likes to delay vehicles for their home market for whatever reason. Cruze, Sonic, Orlando, Spark. Im sure im missing more

[2.0T_Convert]

I hadn't really considered it until I really thought about it... but are you aware of the "diminishing return" equation?

428.57 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 35mpg ($4.50/gallon) = $1,928.57

333.33 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 45mpg which is a HUGE over-estimation most likely ($4.50/gallon) = $1,500

So $35/month in savings assuming this car is rated at 40/50... which I can't imagine it will be.

I heard that line from haters everytime I flaunted my 40 MPG CR-Z

Even if the gas savings are minumal the fact the Spark can advertize a 40+ highway figure will be an eye catching number that gets Chevy traffic in showrooms and on the website.

[mobile363]

I believe you. But I bet the Spark is going to kill the Fiat and every other non hybrid in fuel economy.

If by kill you mean barely edge out. My Kia is rated 40/30 in the US. When canadian EPA figures, which i can get, are converted to US, they are 48 hwy and 40 city. While this statistic doesn't necessarily mean anything, the Spark is only rated for 44 hwy 33 city. and thats with a 1.2 that does 0-60 in 12 seconds. vs 8 for my Rio. and its not really that much cheaper.

yea for a cheap city car, it works. but the alternatives arent bad.

on the same hand, the Elantra is rated the same as my Rio, but offers more space, power, etc. But i prefered everything about subcompacts over midsize

[lojasmo]

is there a reason why chevy won't develop a North American market diesel 4-cylinder for the Cruze & Sonic? Seems to me that would be a more efficient alternative.

I'm told it will be offered in 2013.

[l5gcw0b]

Had to go back to 2009 for this pic, iirc that is the Orlando with it.

[deagle]

w/ cars like this, GM is gonna need another bailout again soon

[uncleho]

GM likes to delay vehicles for their home market for whatever reason. Cruze, Sonic, Orlando, Spark. Im sure im missing more

Probably has to do with the fact that where it launches first are emerging markets and/or high-fuel-cost markets where small, cheaper cars are popular (i.e. More important than USDM where such cars are considered a niche and experimental.).

But hey... maybe they're smoking dope down at the RenCen. That's probably more likely.

[Air and water do mix]

I hadn't really considered it until I really thought about it... but are you aware of the "diminishing return" equation?

428.57 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 35mpg ($4.50/gallon) = $1,928.57

333.33 gallons to drive 15,000 miles at 45mpg which is a HUGE over-estimation most likely ($4.50/gallon) = $1,500

So $35/month in savings assuming this car is rated at 40/50... which I can't imagine it will be.

Right. Everyone I know goes to a dealership with calculator in-hand and crunches the numbers before buying a car. They pay no attention to the numbers in the advertising whatsoever.

[Air and water do mix]

w/ cars like this, GM is gonna need another bailout again soon

You're missing the point entirely. The last time the gas prices spiked GM didn't have competitive small cars and got trounced. Now they'll have the Spark, Spark electric, Sonic and Cruze. All of those are capable of 40ish mpg highway or better. That looks really good in advertisements.

Between these and the new Malibu coming up they have all segments pretty well covered, not just trucks and big cars with small cars being an afterthought.

Couple that with the Electric version of the Spark, Volt and their "eco" light hybrid cars and suddenly their "green cred" is looking pretty good, too. It's a totally different game now. You can bet your ass that Toyota doesn't have that same cavalier attitude about GM right now.

[Air and water do mix]

yea for a cheap city car, it works. but the alternatives arent bad.

I think "cheap city car" is entirely the point. Don't forget, one of those alternatives is the Sonic, too.

[Troike]

[GTRaavv]

Probably has to do with the fact that where it launches first are emerging markets and/or high-fuel-cost markets where small, cheaper cars are popular (i.e. More important than USDM where such cars are considered a niche and experimental.).

But hey... maybe they're smoking dope down at the RenCen. That's probably more likely.

It seems to be a degree of GM trying to line its products up to prevent new lower-end products from overlapping too much with older higher-end models, like the mess that has been going on at Ford with the Fiesta/Focus/Fusion. The Cruze had to wait for the Cobalt's lifecylce to wind up, the Sonic until the Cruze took hold in the market, and the Spark until the Aveo died and moved Chevy's B-segment car upmarket.

[compy222]

I bet with a pinch of creativity this car will accept the 1.4T (which I quite enjoyed with a Trifecta tune) and make quite a screamer.

Chris

that would be a complete riot! a 15,500 dollar 1.4T with 6 speed and a decent suspension/tire combo would make this car stupid fun.

[Air and water do mix]

It seems to be a degree of GM trying to line its products up to prevent new lower-end products from overlapping too much with older higher-end models, like the mess that has been going on at Ford with the Fiesta/Focus/Fusion. The Cruze had to wait for the Cobalt's lifecylce to wind up, the Sonic until the Cruze took hold in the market, and the Spark until the Aveo died and moved Chevy's B-segment car upmarket.

That's an astute observation. I can't say it's indeed fact, but the premise seems sound.

[GTRaavv]

That's an astute observation. I can't say it's indeed fact, but the premise seems sound.

I don't know if it was their reasoning but it has seemed to work - both the Sonic and Cruze launched to much better numbers than the Fiesta and Focus.

It should be interesting to see how the Spark does sales wise. If they price it right - funny that we don't know the price yet considering that's what this thread started out as - I could see it being a pretty decent hit without taking away too many Sonic sales. If it's price comparable to the Versa it gives American consumers looking for the cheapest new car possible a good choice - big and basic or small and better-appointed.

[Air and water do mix]

If it's price comparable to the Versa it gives American consumers looking for the cheapest new car possible a good choice - big and basic or small and better-appointed.

What's the mileage on the Versa? Isn't it a little bit thirsty compared to the new competition? I'm not suggesting it's not good, but "advertising numbers" are very important when the price of gas is high.

[adrew]

What's the mileage on the Versa? Isn't it a little bit thirsty compared to the new competition? I'm not suggesting it's not good, but "advertising numbers" are very important when the price of gas is high.

It's not that bad -- the new 1.6 sedan gets 30/38 with the CVT or 27/36 with the stick. *

It is the old hatch with the 1.8 that is a bit of a gas hog: 24/32 (4-speed auto), 28/34 (CVT), 26/31 (6-speed stick).

[Air and water do mix]

It's not that bad -- the new 1.6 sedan gets 30/38 with the CVT or 27/36 with the stick. *

It is the old hatch with the 1.8 that is a bit of a gas hog: 24/32 (4-speed auto), 28/34 (CVT), 26/31 (6-speed stick).

Yeah, that's not bad at all, but it doesn't cross that "magic" line of 40 mpg in advertisements, either. No, 2 mpg in a high mileage car won't stop someone who runs the numbers, but it's a big deal nonetheless.