Top in Automotive: Chevrolet Spark

Showing posts with label Chevrolet Spark. Show all posts

Apple’s Siri “Intelligent Assistant” Comes to Chevrolet Spark and Sonic LTZ / RS from 2013

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The late Jim Morrison sang, “keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel”. These lyrics from The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” would make a perfect match for Apple’s new Siri app that, from early next year, will be available in two of Chevrolet’s city cars.

More specifically, the company announced today that the Spark and Sonic LTZ and RS owners will be able to pair their cars’ standard MyLink infotainment system to Siri, provided, of course, they have an iPhone running Apple’s iOS 6.

It’s true that the words “fun” and “electric vehicle” don’t usually feature in the same sentence, especially if the vehicle in question is a city car.

Chevrolet, though, claims that the 2014 Spark EV, which was officially introduced ahead of its world debut at the LA Auto Show tomorrow, offers both one of the best ranges among electric vehicles on sale today and a sub-8.0 seconds 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration time.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Electric cars are all about offering a green alternative to fossil fuel-powered models (though, this is debatable if you consider where electricity comes from), but Chevrolet's newly developed Spark EV that was introduced ahead of its world premiere at the LA Auto Show this month, doesn't lack in performance, at least not on paper.

The 2014 Spark EV is driven by an oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor that according to GM's own words, "produces at least 100 kW", which is equal to 134hp or 136PS, and a massive instantaneous torque of around 400 lb.-ft. (542Nm!) with the coaxial drive unit.

Combined with the small footprint of the Spark, this results to a 0-60mph (96km/h) acceleration time less of than eight seconds, always according to GM.

“When our team set out to develop the propulsion system for Spark EV, we knew we had to provide surprising fun-to-drive acceleration with maximum efficiency,” said Spark EV Chief Engineer Chuck Russell.

“What we think customers will enjoy most is how fun Spark EV is to drive; it’s seamless and power is available at every stage of the drive,” Russell added. “This will help us to provide an exciting option for those customers who are looking for an EV that’s as much fun to drive as it is environmentally responsible.”

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

There is a greener future lying ahead for General Motors, which plans to have up to 500,000 vehicles on the road with some form of electrification by 2017, according to product chief Mary Barra.

On Wednesday, the company’s top product development executive said GM will focus on electric vehicles, and plug-in and mild hybrids instead of conventional hybrids.

“The plug-in offers a unique opportunity to change the way people commute,” Barra told the reporters attending the GM Electrification Experience in San Francisco. “Plug-based solutions will play a significant role in our technology portfolio going forward.”

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

If you checked out our list with the world premieres of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, you already know that Chevrolet Spark EV is among them, but today, General Motors made it official.

The plug-in electric version of the Spark city car will be introduced in final production trim in LA before it begins to arrive in dealerships across the U.S. and select global markets in the first half of 2013, with more specific details to be announced.

Friday, October 19, 2012

From funky to speedy, and from socially responsible to wild, Chevrolet's SEMA Show booth promises to have a little something for everybody.

Today, the bowtie brand revealed its small car plans for the Las Vegas event at the end of the month, where it will be represented by several customized concepts of its Spark, Sonic and Cruze models.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Besides the world premiere of the new Trax small SUV that we have already shown you, Chevrolet's Paris Motor Show stand will also host the European premieres of the 2013 Spark facelift, and new engine variants of the Orlando MPV and Malibu sedan.

Chevrolet has brought the European market version of the Spark subcompact in line with the North American specification model that just went on sale this year.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

As the new Chevrolet Spark hatchback begins to arrive in showrooms across the U.S., General Motors decided to share a second infographic with us about its mini car, which was first launched in South Korea in 2009 having sold more than 600,000 units worldwide up to date.

Whereas the first information graphic concentrated on the Spark's size, this one includes some interesting and some not-so-interesting facts about the car from around the world.

Monday, July 9, 2012

The crew from the German tuning firm KBR Motorsport has taken a new interest in the Chevrolet Spark city car presenting an upgrade kit for the five-door hatchback model in Europe.

KBR Motorsport fits the car with a lowering kit from suspension specialist H&R and a new set of 17-inch Barracuda Voltec T6 alloy wheels finished in a matte black shade and shod in 185/35R17 sport tires.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Back in the 1960s and even more so in the first half of the 1970s, American automakers produced some of the largest mainstream cars ever, before the oil crisis put an end to these dinosaurs of the automobile industry.

General Motors, of course, was no exception. One example is the fifth generation of the Chevrolet Impala that measured a whopping 222.0 inches (5,639 mm) long.

On the occasion of the U.S. launch of its new 2013 Chevrolet Spark, the Detroit carmaker released an info graphic comparing the city car with the average American sedan in the early 1970s.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

GM is getting ready to enter the small car segment with its new 2013 Spark, which made its North American debut at last November's 2011 LA Auto Show. Today, the Detroit company released pricing ahead of the Spark's market launch later this year.

The small city car will be available with a single engine option, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit producing 85-horses, and in three trim levels starting at $12,995 (including destination) for the LS that gets 15-inch alloys, 10 airbags and an electronic stability control system with traction control and brake assist.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Electric vehicles may be all the rage in the zero-emission-obsessed 21st century automotive world, but they are not the novelty carmakers would have you believe.

In fact, the first electric vehicle was manufactured in the early 19th century, predating the invention of both gasoline and diesel internal-combustion engines. Its limited range, though, along with the rapid development of road infrastructure in the early 20th century that made travels much easier, caused its demise.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Even though it has been available in other regions including Europe and Asia since 2009, Chevrolet’s latest city car, the Spark, will make its North American debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16.

The five-door, four-seat subcompact hatchback will be available in the U.S. and Canada with a single engine option, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder with an output of 85HP that turns the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox or, optionally, a four-speed automatic transmission.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

On Wednesday, General Motors held a special event in the U.S. to announce the launch an all-electric version of its Chevrolet Spark. But it didn't go as smoothly as the company had hoped for.

You see, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, during the event, computers displayed a derogatory remark after any mention of certain GM competitors like Chrysler to the 200 members of the media who were using the company’s internet network.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The development of the Chevrolet EN-V prototype wasn't the only electric vehicle-related news to come out of General Motors' Detroit headquarters today as the automaker also announced the launch of the Spark EV.

The pure-electric version of its Spark city car will be produced in limited numbers for select global and US markets, including California, starting from 2013.

“The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option”, said Chevrolet’s global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles Jim Federico.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

In the same warehouse where the Ark of the Covenant is purportedly stored, all of the world’s missed opportunities are held in a sort of limbo, no doubt waiting for sweet release at the hands of Irina Spalko.

What you may not realise until the last twenty seconds (assuming you’re seeing this ad for the first time and didn’t look at the title of this post) is that it’s a TV commercial for Chevrolet’s European arm.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Driven by the new Cruze sedan and the globalization of the Chevrolet name, sales of GM’s brand in the first three months of the year reached 1.1 million vehicles worldwide, which is the best first-quarter results in the company’s history. Compared to the first quarter of 2010, Chevrolet recorded a 15 percent increase in sales this year.

Monday, December 20, 2010

If you happen live in Britain and have decided that a new Chevrolet Spark is the perfect Christmas gift to yourself or someone (*cough sugardaddy cough*) close to you, then you'll be happy to know that the GM brand is offering a free gift wrapping service on all orders received by December 21. The... festive bow tie initiative is being offered by Chevrolet UK across the country.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

General Motors' Chevrolet division unleashed three prototype models fitted with bits and pieces from its forthcoming Z-Spec line of accessories at the SEMA Show today. The cars chosen to showcase the new dress-up parts were the 2011 Cruze compact, the new Volt extended-range electric vehicle and the soon-to-be-launched Spark minicar.

The Detroit-based automaker has not yet released details on its Z-Spec concept models, but from what we can tell by looking at the photos, all three cars receive similar upgrades including unique alloy wheels wrapped in chunkier tires, exterior graphics, mild body modifications and numerous touches inside like the sports steering wheel and niftier materials and colors. Photo gallery after the jump.

Friday, October 8, 2010

GM is gearing up for the Australian launch of the new Chevrolet Spark, which has been on sale in Asia and Europe for some months now. The first step towards its local launch is an appearance at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney next week, before it goes on sale locally as the Holden Barina Spark in late 2010.