Chevy Spark Offers Inexpensive City Car with Motorcycle-tinged Interior

Chevrolet will debut its compact Spark on November 16 at the LA Auto Show. The little city car is aimed at young people in the US who are short on disposable income but who want lots of technology and style in a small package. The interior of the Spark has a unique gauge cluster with an analog speedometer with digital tachometer display. For 2013, the Spark will be available with a 1.2 liter, four cylinder engine in the US. Chevrolet intends for the Spark to compete with the Fiat 500, Smartfortwo and Scion iQ. 

From the front, the Spark's most arresting element is its headlights. They raise up over the fenders nearly to the windshield. In between them is a wide two-tiered grill with the Chevrolet bowtie between them. On some models, below the grill is a body-color air dam with fog lights in chrome bezels. It comes with 15in wheels with optional 15in wheels painted gray. The sides are rather tall with roof rails. The rear door have their handles embedded in the C-pillar to hide them. Around back there is an integrated, body-color spoiler with large tail lights similar to the head lights. 

The interior is unique for a small, cheap car like the Spark. It has a large analog speedometer with a rectangular, digital tachometer mounted next to it that also displays things like fuel level and gear position. The Spark has a 7in color, touch screen radio. The Spark seats four and offers 10 air bags. 

The Spark is powered by a 1.2 liter, four-cylinder engine with 85hp with a five-speed, manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. Chevrolet has not announced fuel economy for the engine yet.  

The Spark goes on sale in the United States and Canada in mid 2012. It comes with a five-year, 100,000 warranty.