Spark to light up the market

Cute, comfortable and cocky.

The extensively kitted out new 'Sparky' has arrived in this country hot from its launch in Europe and India where it is already heading for sales records.

But although the two new Spark models are considerably more expensive than the current range, the good news is that the current Spark Lite and Spark Lite LS will remain available in the local market priced at well below R100 000, according to Malcolm Gauld, GMSA's vice president, sales and marketing.

Bells and whistles

While the current Spark has proven to be a runaway sales success with both first and last time new car buyers it is in essence a moderately furbished, value for money purchase, whereas the two new models are wall-to-wall equipped with impressive bells and whistles.

And, what's more, they look the part - cute, comfortable and cocky, they boast a host of nice-to-haves which, even on the lower-specced L model, include colour coded bumpers, power steering, air conditioning, tinted windows, rear windscreen wiper, audio system with MP3 compatibility and auxiliary USB port, front airbags, alarm/ immobiliser system and remote central locking.

The Spark’s comprehensive peace of mind programmes are a powerful attraction.

The flagship LS has all of that plus colour coded door handles, electric heated side mirrors, power front windows, remote boot release, a comprehensive four-speaker sound system, ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and automatic locking doors.

To match its chic city looks there are eight zippy colours to choose from; Olympic White; Super Red; Carbon Flash; Switchblade Silver; Green Cocktail; Moroccan Blue; Ice Teal; and Misty Lake.

A considerable step up

Both new Sparks are powered by the same fuel efficient 1,2 litre 4-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve engine.

The double-overhead camshaft, multi-point fuel injected engine generates a segment leading 60kW and peak torque of 108Nm. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission.

With its edgy design and impressive specs, the new Spark is a considerable step up from the existing range.

The controls: no brain surgery required.

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It looks trendy and it gallops with plenty of energy, even with four (five at a push) aboard. It sits comfortably on the road and although it's no boy-racer it handles the corners at a fair lick.

The steering is obviously not go-kart sharp, but just light enough not to feel fluffy and vague. The engine is fairly high-revving and raspy and you need to pour on the coals to get to maximum pull and power, but there is more than enough low-down grunt to make it a very easy car to drive economically in city traffic.

Sexy shift

The gear shift is slick with the soup spoon close to hand and just stubby enough to look sexy.

Particularly impressive are the ABS, EBD brakes on the LS model, as we discovered when a stray dog belted across a stretch of unfenced farm road during our media launch drive.

The Spark's freshness and appeal are also apparent inside the spacious cabin with leg and head room ranked amongst the best in the segment.

The knobs and blobs are attractive and logically positioned so that a degree in brain surgery is not required to adjust the aircon or change radio stations.

Both new Sparks are powered by the same fuel efficient 1,2 litre 4-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve engine.

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While not multi golf bag-size, the boot is more than adequate with a normal capacity of 170 litres which can be considerably enlarged thanks to the 60/40 fold-down split of the back seats.

There are also plenty of mousey holes inside the cabin, in the front doors and central console, plus mandatory cup holders and even seatback pockets with generous storage for rear seat passengers.

What a combination!

But what puts the Spark way ahead of its competitors is the attractive Big Four combination of price, specifications, performance and warranty period - particularly when you compare it to key competitors such as the Polo Vivo, Toyota Yaris, Kia Picanto, the Hyundai i10 and even the attractive new Ford Figo.

The 'Sparky' fan club is already substantial in this country and with its youthful exuberance the two new models are going to appeal even more and not only to the cool trendies but also to small families and time-rich retirees who place a high premium on safety and value for rand.

Bags of space in a small package.

OK, so R115 495 for the Spark L and R125 495 for the Spark LS are no longer in the pocket-money, bread-and-butter pension brackets, but as a common sense purchase it is difficult to match, let alone beat

In these days of high costs, the Spark's comprehensive peace of mind programmes such as a five-year/120 000km warranty as well as roadside assistance throughout the warranty period counts for a lot.

The new Spark models are already on the dealer showroom floors in quantities described by the motoring industry as one of the largest launch batches yet to be off-loaded in South Africa - and the Chevrolet sales people reckon they will all be sold before the arrival of that jolly fat bearded fellow with the funny red suit.

Specifications

2010 Chevrolet Spark - Designer Talks about the Design