Pressroom South Korea

-All-new global mini-car offers greater performance, safety and connectivity
-New 1.0L gasoline engine is matched with next-generation C-TECH transmission
-New active safety features include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Spot Alert

GM Korea announced on July 1, at Chevrolet’s new mini car “THE NEXT SPARK” showcase at Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza(DDP) that it opens the purchase contract from July 1.

“At its core, the all-new Spark is still the fun, agile urban car that made the first-generation model so popular. But it delivers that fun driving experience with greater sophistication,” said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha. “As the all-new Spark is a truly global car, its design and engineering were led by our tremendous team at GM Korea with global engineering collaboration.”

THE NEXT SPARK, about to begin its sales in August, maintains the outstanding driving efficiency and safety of the previous Spark and is equipped with new three-cylinder Ecotec engine and the next-generation C-TECH transmission on top of high stiffness body based on the new global mini car architecture.

It also has new Mylink system that supports Apple’s carplay for the first time in Korea and installs the best safety features of the same segment with a premium design exceeding the small car level.

Moreover, the Spark stays true to mini car’s value of high fuel efficiency and affordable cost but takes a step further by loading many conveniences and safety features usually seen in mid-sized cars by releasing an eco model with the highest fuel efficiency driven by the automatic stop and start technology.

THE NEXT SPARK has a sleeker appearance, thanks to a slightly longer wheelbase, and an overall height that is 45 mm lower than the previous model. The lower profile reduces aerodynamic drag to help improve efficiency. Interior changes maintain the Spark’s traditionally generous headroom.

An all-new, more robust architecture serves as the foundation for the all-new Spark’s more sophisticated driving experience. The stronger body structure enabled engineers to tune ride and handling more precisely, for a greater feeling of control and refinement, while fostering a quieter ride.

Additional new and enhanced vehicle features:

• All-new 1.0L three-cylinder Ecotec engine offered with a manual next-generation C-TECH continuously variable transmission;
• Premium safety features including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Spot Alert;
• Next-generation Chevrolet MyLink with a 7-inch diagonal color touch screen;
• Advanced dot-matrix LCD instrument cluster;
• Comprehensive lineup of accessories for unprecedented personalization options.

Mature design

With the instantly recognizable face of a contemporary global Chevrolet, the all-new Spark is distinguished with a sleeker proportion and more sophisticated aesthetics.

The lower roof height reduces the characteristic tall-car look of many mini-cars, while thinner pillars and an efficient package – with the wheels pushed to the edges of the fenders – contribute to a more substantial, firmly planted presence.

An evolution of Chevrolet’s signature dual-port grille is flanked by large, elliptical headlamps that sweep back into the front fenders. The projector-beam headlamps have a highly detailed appearance that, along with LED daytime running and position lamps, contributes to the Spark’s more sophisticated design.

A variety of color matches in the exterior and interior will please those who wish to seek their own individual color expression.

Inside, designers matched the lowered roof height by adjusting the hip-point dimensions for the seats, maintaining the ample headroom of the current model and offering comparable spaciousness with a more engaging driving position.

Upgraded materials and greater attention to detail, including everything from the higher-quality fabrics to higher-density seat foam that enhance comfort and durability, add sophistication.

An all-new instrument panel design with an advanced LCD features a prominent “center stack” for the infotainment and climate system controls. The Spark’s signature color-matched instrument panel décors are updated with trapezoidal air outlets.

The Spark’s all-new Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system features a capacitive-touch color display, with an icon-based interface similar to smartphones and other electronic devices. Like a smartphone, the display allows swiping, pinching and other gestures for quick, easy operation.

New volume controls and buttons reduce complexity and enhance the system’s intuitiveness.

Fun to drive yet efficient

THE NEXT SPARK is powered by GM’s new global family of Ecotec small-displacement engines, which deliver strong performance with excellent efficiency.

“An all-new, more robust architecture serves as the foundation for a more sophisticated driving experience,” said Salvatore Basile, executive chief engineer of GM Global Mini Vehicles. “A new power-dense and efficient Ecotec engine contributes to a greater feeling of driving performance and refinement.”

The new Ecotec engine features an aluminum cylinder block and head, which help reduce the Spark’s overall mass to enhance performance and efficiency. The cylinder head also incorporates an integrated exhaust manifold, which further reduces weight – an attribute that contributes to increased vehicle efficiency and a more favorable front-to-rear weight balance, for more responsive driving.

THE NEXT SPARK is offered with a 1.0L gasoline engine matched with a manual or next-generation C-TECH dual-range continuously variable transmission.

Enhanced level of safety

THE NEXT SPARK builds on the current model’s reputation for delivering excellent passenger safety in the mini-car segment, where the 2015 Spark was a “Top Safety Pick” by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

A stronger body structure is at the core of the all-new Spark’s safety story and is complemented by a wider array of passive and active safety features.

Additionally, new active safety features can help drivers avoid collisions through camera-based technology that provides alerts to possible collision threats. They include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Spot Alert.

Manufactured in Korea

THE NEXT SPARK is produced at GM’s award-winning Changwon plant, which is a leader in the use of solar energy for sustainable manufacturing in Korea. Since 2010, more than 1 million Chevrolet Sparks have been sold around the world.