Holdens New Micro Car

[csv8]

General Motors has released photos of a new micro car due for release in Europe early next year – and possibly on the cards for Australian showrooms. By RICHARD BLACKBURN.




This funky little hatch could be wearing a Holden badge by next year.

It is the all-new Chevrolet Spark, the tiny city car that will replace the Korean-built Matiz in General Motors’ European line-up.

The wedge-shaped hatch, which is due to make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show next month, is the production version of the Beat concept car, which was one of a trio of mini-car concepts created in GM’s Korean design studio and shown at the 2007 New York motor show.

Since the trio was revealed, almost two million GM fans have logged on to the company’s site to vote for their favourite. The majority chose the Beat, which got the green light for production.

Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale refuses to say whether the car will make its way down-under following its overseas launch early next year, but she admits it is under consideration for local introduction.

“It’s a great looking little car. We’d be crazy not to have a look at it,” she says.

She expects a decision to be made soon. If it does get the go-ahead, the Spark would be the second micro car confirmed for local introduction. Last October, Suzuki revealed it would import the 1.0-litre Suzuki Alto from the second quarter of this year. Other car makers are looking at micro cars as well. Hyundai has its i10 undergoing customer evaluations, while Kia is still interested in importing its tiny Picanto.

The Spark would give a much-needed injection of style into Holden’s range of Korean-built small cars, which has been criticised for bland looks, sloppy handling and less than impressive safety.

The Barina was initially criticised for receiving a sub-par crash test result, but has since been upgraded with the introduction of more airbags. It was recently re-tested by the NCAP safety body and received four stars.

But the safety upgrade and an August makeover have done little to lift interest in the Barina, with sales down by close to 15 per cent in 2008.

Chevrolet SparkChevrolet SparkChevrolet SparkChevrolet Spark

The larger Holden Viva, which will be replaced by a locally-built Holden small car next year, has met a similar fate, with sales sliding 20 per cent in 2008.

The five-door Spark is smaller than a Holden Barina and will initially come with a choice of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines. A turbo-diesel is on the cards for Europe and may come here.

The funky, angular exterior styling is matched by an equally unorthodox cockpit that includes a circular, motorbike-like speedo mounted on the steering column with a digital rev readout to the side.

It also appears to have more impressive safety credentials than the Barina, with six airbags and stability control available on European models.

The Spark is 240mm shorter than the Barina, but its wheels are pushed out to the corners of the car, giving it a wheelbase of 2375mm, just 105mm less than the small Holden.

[BlackLS]

What happens when you try to copy the new Fiesta design whilst drunk.

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

What happens when you try to copy the new Fiesta design whilst drunk.

hahaha

I needed that chuckle cheers

[MITCHAY]

Oh ma god :

[Nikked]

haha, what a laugh.

[Mr Hardware]

Chevrolet SparkChevrolet SparkChevrolet SparkChevrolet Spark

It's like a car, but not quite as good.

[Burnout]

I wanna take one out and muster a mob of Roos in it!

[Daymoe]

From a distance, that actually looked good until I came up to my PC, opened the attachment and saw it up close >.<

[barbarian]

disgusting

barina replacement i predict

[irlewy86]

Crappy

but ultimately 100 times better than the Matiz, 800cc of Korean fury

[MickyB]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Crappy

but ultimately 100 times better than the Matiz, 800cc of Korean fury

My most embarrassing moment on the road was when I was driving a poorly tuned 1.5 litre 1986 Mitsubishi Colt, with a 3 spd auto and got dragged off by a Matiz.

[fordel]

Originally Posted by MickyB

My most embarrassing moment on the road was when I was driving a poorly tuned 1.5 litre 1986 Mitsubishi Colt, with a 3 spd auto and got dragged off by a Matiz.

Haha, are you sure you are wanting to be admitting to either of those ;)

[XPfalcon170]

Looks current korean barina with new front paneling. Slap a chev or holden badge on a bucket of crudd and watch it sell!!

[MickyB]

Originally Posted by fordel

Haha, are you sure you are wanting to be admitting to either of those ;)

Not really, but in my defence, I did own a nice EB XR6 at the time which was off the road due to mods being done.
Still, the Colt was certainly the only car I've driven that would get overtaken by cyclists!

[ea90gl]

So with this rebadged chev I put money Holden will still crap on about the whole "completely and utterly OOStrayyLiUUn" spin

[Ghiadude]

L.O.T
lump o

[Danny]

That's meant to take on the brilliant new Fiesta??? Crazy talk I tell ya!

[WILDB]

What a dog :

I don't think any of the current small cars can compete with the new Fiesta for looks to be honest.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Danny

That's meant to take on the brilliant new Fiesta??? Crazy talk I tell ya!

I doubt it. It is a lot smaller than the Barina, so this is 1 class below the Fiesta. Ford OZ doesn't have a micro car at the moment, so if Holden priced this around the $12,490 mark plus ORC it would sell well I imagine.

But why put 4 doors on it?? They should have removed the rear doors to knock off another 50kg from the weight, kept it as a 3 door city car that could get 4l per 100km.

Just did some research... the Spark is the Matiz just rebadged.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

I doubt it. It is a lot smaller than the Barina, so this is 1 class below the Fiesta. Ford OZ doesn't have a micro car at the moment, so if Holden priced this around the $12,490 mark plus ORC it would sell well I imagine.

But why put 4 doors on it?? They should have removed the rear doors to knock off another 50kg from the weight, kept it as a 3 door city car that could get 4l per 100km.

Just did some research... the Spark is the Matiz just rebadged.

The KA is Fords micro, but it would probably be too expensive to sell here. Price would probably work out to be similar to the bigger Fiesta, but FoA would know the figures cause they have looked at it.