Chevy Spark release announced EDIT : Now launched

DriverR · 19th April 2007, 09:04

As on paper, Santro may have 100 CC more, but Spark has the same bhp, or is it 1 bhp more. Torque are pretty comparable too and the weight of both cars are almost same. So on paper it means that both cars should perform similar. How Spark actually performs on road as compared to Santro is to be seen, and may be a deciding factor.

shobhit15 · 19th April 2007, 10:30

Personally speaking...I feel that Spark actually looks like a 'baby' car (atleast in photos) just like Estilo with a few frills of the next segment thrown in.

Matiz looked cute and not as small...but somehow Spark looks quite smaller. I guess we would have to actually see the car to make a true judgement

DriverR · 19th April 2007, 11:07

Based on the dimensions, Spark is the same length as the Alto, so it is smaller than either Wagon R/Estilo or the Santro.
The way I see it, Spark is an "Alto' class car with features of a Santro/Zen, Wagon R class. Possible if Maruti give more features to the Alto, it will eat into the Saprk sales. Alto is a fantastic city car, a bit underpowered, but still very good. The one major advantage Spark seem to have is the 1 ltr engine. This is why I had earlier called it the "real Zen", as it has taken the very same place occupied by the old Zen.

wolfinstein · 19th April 2007, 11:22

Is the ground clearence the lowest in the small cars, Or is it just appearing to be..!

With the success of Chev Optra and Aveo on CNG, I think GM should also come with a CNG Spark model, However the Dickie does not appear to be so big, Ideal Tank size could be 9 Kg cylinder..!

shobhit15 · 19th April 2007, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfinstein

Is the ground clearence the lowest in the small cars, Or is it just appearing to be..!

It does look quite low specially in the green pic in Photo Gallery on the website.

DriverR · 19th April 2007, 13:20

Was searching the net for the ground clearance of the Spark/Matiz as sold in other countries and I came across a very interesting fact........
Spark/Matiz seems to be sold much cheaper in India than other countries. For example going by the official Chevy UK site, the base price of the Spark (800cc engine)is GBP 6,245 (5.27 Lakhs), while in South Africa the 995cc model price starts at Rand 77,660 (Rs 4.59 Lakhs).

So.......... What the heck happened to the Logan's "cheap" pricing?????

If GM could do it, why not Renault?

windsurfer · 19th April 2007, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriverR

So.......... What the heck happened to the Logan's "cheap" pricing?????

If GM could do it, why not Renault?

Do we know the percentage of localization on both cars? That should be the driving factor behind the pricing.

DriverR · 19th April 2007, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsurfer

Do we know the percentage of localization on both cars? That should be the driving factor behind the pricing.

I don't have any figues on the localization percentage, which should account for a lower cost. But even then, Logan is supposed to be built here. Are both Spark and Logan engines direct imports? One post seems to suggest that the Logan engine being imported, therefore pushing up the cost.

Equus · 20th April 2007, 13:19

Did you check on the specs? The ones in UK would have airbags/ABS as standard I believe.

DriverR · 20th April 2007, 15:36

Yup, it has both ABS/airbags. But they cannot fully account for the diff of Rs 2 lakhs.
UK Chevy Matiz link

[COLOR=#333333]Matiz - The new Matiz - Chevrolet UK[/COLOR]

bharanidharang · 21st April 2007, 06:45

one nice thing abt the spark... check the cost of spares online

Chevrolet Spark

jkdas · 21st April 2007, 07:03

OT! saw an AVeo for the first time on road in Bangy!

navdeep · 21st April 2007, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by vebmetal

The comparison is pretty much useless unless it is a total cost comparison (i.e. including things like labour costs etc.).

I think you are missing something. Total cost includes cost of spares which is easily available on Chevy website. I don't think there will be marked difference in labour charges of Zen / Spark / Santro. And actual mileage will be public once the spark is on roads.

finneyp · 21st April 2007, 14:22

The specs of Chevy Spark looks quite promising, 1.0 - 63BHP, nice interiors, decent looks, overall a good package!
It should give - Santro, Estilo, Wagon R etc a run for its money!

AkMar · 21st April 2007, 17:14

Spark is a nice car from GM. Worthy competition for the Estilo, WagonR & Santro with better looks, better finishing (from the pics posted). It looks really good. Only problem which I can see is the centrally located Instrument cluster. I do not like this at all.

19th April 2007, 09:04	#241
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	As on paper, Santro may have 100 CC more, but Spark has the same bhp, or is it 1 bhp more. Torque are pretty comparable too and the weight of both cars are almost same. So on paper it means that both cars should perform similar. How Spark actually performs on road as compared to Santro is to be seen, and may be a deciding factor.
	() Thanks

19th April 2007, 10:30	#242
shobhit15 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Noida Posts: 222 Thanked: 11 Times	Personally speaking...I feel that Spark actually looks like a 'baby' car (atleast in photos) just like Estilo with a few frills of the next segment thrown in. Matiz looked cute and not as small...but somehow Spark looks quite smaller. I guess we would have to actually see the car to make a true judgement Last edited by shobhit15 : 19th April 2007 at 10:31.
	() Thanks

19th April 2007, 11:07	#243
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	Based on the dimensions, Spark is the same length as the Alto, so it is smaller than either Wagon R/Estilo or the Santro. The way I see it, Spark is an "Alto' class car with features of a Santro/Zen, Wagon R class. Possible if Maruti give more features to the Alto, it will eat into the Saprk sales. Alto is a fantastic city car, a bit underpowered, but still very good. The one major advantage Spark seem to have is the 1 ltr engine. This is why I had earlier called it the "real Zen", as it has taken the very same place occupied by the old Zen.
	() Thanks

19th April 2007, 11:22	#244
wolfinstein BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 994 Thanked: 20 Times	Is the ground clearence the lowest in the small cars, Or is it just appearing to be..! With the success of Chev Optra and Aveo on CNG, I think GM should also come with a CNG Spark model, However the Dickie does not appear to be so big, Ideal Tank size could be 9 Kg cylinder..! Last edited by wolfinstein : 19th April 2007 at 11:24.
	() Thanks

19th April 2007, 13:20	#246
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	International Spark prices compared to Logan Was searching the net for the ground clearance of the Spark/Matiz as sold in other countries and I came across a very interesting fact........ Spark/Matiz seems to be sold much cheaper in India than other countries. For example going by the official Chevy UK site, the base price of the Spark (800cc engine)is GBP 6,245 (5.27 Lakhs), while in South Africa the 995cc model price starts at Rand 77,660 (Rs 4.59 Lakhs). So.......... What the heck happened to the Logan's "cheap" pricing????? If GM could do it, why not Renault?
	() Thanks

20th April 2007, 13:19	#249
Equus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 424 Times	Did you check on the specs? The ones in UK would have airbags/ABS as standard I believe.
	() Thanks

20th April 2007, 15:36	#250
DriverR BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 415 Thanked: 526 Times	Yup, it has both ABS/airbags. But they cannot fully account for the diff of Rs 2 lakhs. UK Chevy Matiz link [COLOR=#333333]Matiz - The new Matiz - Chevrolet UK[/COLOR] Last edited by DriverR : 20th April 2007 at 15:41. Reason: Addition of UK Specs
	() Thanks

21st April 2007, 06:45	#251
bharanidharang BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 410 Thanked: 262 Times	one nice thing abt the spark... check the cost of spares online Chevrolet Spark
	() Thanks

21st April 2007, 07:03	#252
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,685 Thanked: 1,497 Times View My Garage	OT! saw an AVeo for the first time on road in Bangy!
	() Thanks

21st April 2007, 14:22	#254
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,762 Thanked: 403 Times View My Garage	The specs of Chevy Spark looks quite promising, 1.0 - 63BHP, nice interiors, decent looks, overall a good package! It should give - Santro, Estilo, Wagon R etc a run for its money!
	() Thanks

21st April 2007, 17:14	#255
AkMar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,184 Thanked: 2,609 Times	Spark is a nice car from GM. Worthy competition for the Estilo, WagonR & Santro with better looks, better finishing (from the pics posted). It looks really good. Only problem which I can see is the centrally located Instrument cluster. I do not like this at all.
	() Thanks