You thought the Chevrolet Sonic was small? Well, Chevy is about to get even smaller than that. The subcompact and minicar segment in the United States has seen an explosion of offerings and interest. The Spark minicar has been confirmed to come to the U.S for a while now, but just recently Chevy let loose details on WHEN it would be coming. Now, ahead of the Los Angeles International Auto Show, all the details have been announced.
The Spark destined for U.S and Canadian markets gets some styling tweaks versus international models. It includes revised headlights, a bigger grille and reworked fascia, along with Sonic-esque rear taillights. The Spark is aimed at young buyers and customers in urban areas. Funky? Oh yes, but Chevy thinks that is central to its appeal.
The Spark is powered by a 1.2-liter four-cylinder making 85 horsepower (or electric power, if you go for the Spark EV in 2013). Standard is a five-speed manual transmission, with an optional four-speed automatic. What color would you like? Salsa, Jalapeño, Denim, or more traditional colors like Grey Area, Black Granite, Silver Ice and Summit White?
Inside, the car has an interior with body-color elements to add an element of style. A Sonic-like instrument cluster with digital readout continues Chevy’s motorcycle-themed small car look. Maybe they did some studies saying customers like motorcycle elements? Anyhow, we think its cool. Standard features on the Sonic are pretty impressive; air conditioning, power windows and 10 airbags. Optional is Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, which is available on 1LT and 2LT models and is operated through a seven-inch touchscreen. That is definitely something we’d want to spring for, if we ever found ourselves driving one of these (chances are slim to none). The Spark goes on sale in the U.S and Canada in mid-2012. Pricing information is forthcoming. You can check out a gallery of Chevy’s smallest offering below.
