Chevrolet would reveal the new Spark to the world on the 2nd of April at the Seoul and New York Auto Shows. To keep the ones with interest in small cars excited, the American carmaker has released a teaser image of the model. We’d like to mention here that the new 2016 Chevrolet Spark has been spied all its un-camouflaged glory earlier (check out the images below).
Chevrolet is calling the new Spark an ‘all-new’ model. The newest generation Spark, known as the Beat in India will be based on the Opel Karl / Vauxhaull Viva city cars. The key differentiator between the aforementioned duo and Spark would be the rear door handles mounted close to the C-pillar, similar to the ones on the current generation Beat.
Opel Karl
Vauxhaull Viva
Much as we’d like to tell you that this is the next generation Beat that we’ll get for India, we cannot be certain about it going by what we have heard so far. Apparently, GM has plans to introduce a totally different, cheaper-built hatchback for India, which the American carmaker has codenamed ‘project Amber’. While the new generation Spark will replace the current model in developed countries, for emerging markets like India and Brazil, GM is rumoured to be considering the Amber based model as the Beat replacement for cost advantage.
Chevrolet may also sell the new ‘Project Amber’ based hatchback as a cheaper alternative in India alongside the new Spark. The sentiment gathers some force going by the official press statement with the teaser that makes a direct reference to the Chevrolet Spark being sold in India as the Beat.
The current gen Spark / Beat has an extremely expressive and bold design. The new gen car will carry over some of the current car’s funk while also incorporating traditional proportions to also appeal to those with conformist tastes. The new Spark will also grow appreciably over the current gen model.
The new generation Spark is expected to be powered by a 1.0 liter, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine with a power output of 75PS. Transmission duties will be taken care of by a 5 speed manual transmission. There are also rumours of a 1.0-liter turbo petrol with close to 100PS of power and more than 160Nm or torque, but again, we cannot be sure about that engine for the new Spark as GM hasn’t revealed any tech specs officially.
Features on the car are good for the segment and include cruise control, heated front seats, sun roof, park assist, and a heated steering wheel.
Chevrolet has sold more than 1.1 million Spark cars around the world since it went on sale. The model is currently available in as many as 71 markets worldwide. Expect the new gen Spark / Beat to make its Indian debut in 2016 whether or not the Amber based model replaces it completely.