Chevrolet Spark ’16 transforms mini-car

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Spark is a completely redesigned version of itself, strengthening its exceptional reputation as a mini-car. With the instantly recognizable face of a contemporary global Chevrolet, the 2016 model is distinguished by a sleeker proportion and more sophisticated aesthetics. The lower roof height reduces the characteristic upright look of many mini-cars, while a “shrink-wrapped” body – 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 headlamps have a highly- detailed appearance that contributes to the Spark’s more sophisticated design. And bold exterior colors remains with one new color – Splash – added to the mix. Inside, designers matched the lowered roof height by adjusting the hip-point dimensions for the seats, maintaining the ample headroom of the previous model and offering comparable spaciousness with a more engaging driving position. There’s also a more sophisticated look and feel to the interior, thanks to upgraded materials and greater attention to detail, including everything from the higher-quality fabrics to higher-density seat foam that enhance comfort and durability. It’s a more contemporary environment, too, with an all-new instrument panel design – with an advanced LCD display – featuring a prominent “center stack” for the infotainment and climate system controls. The Spark’s signature color-matched instrument panel décors are updated with the new model and the previously round air outlets are now trapezoidal, adding to the more contemporary design. A new first for the Spark in 2016 includes Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system with a 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen gives owners a smart and simple way to access phone projection technology. For the first time in the 2016 Spark, new smartphone projection technology displays content from the driver’s phone on the multicolor MyLink screen. On a performance front, the 2016 Spark is equally impressive. It is powered by an all-new 1.4L engine that is part of GM’s new, global family of Ecotec small-displacement engines. For the first time ever in the Spark, the vehicles offers an estimated 100 horsepower (73 kW) – a 16-percent increase over the previous model. Engineered to deliver strong performance with excellent efficiency, the new Ecotec engine family represents a clean-sheet design and engineering process, leveraging the diverse experience of GM’s global resources. The 2016 Spark will offer impressive fuel economy with a combined fuel economy of 19.6km/L. The 2016 Chevrolet Spark, which features dual driver/font passenger air bags and electronic stability control, builds on the previous model’s reputation for delivering excellent passenger safety in the mini-car segment. In fact, in the United States, the 2015 Spark was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. A stronger body structure is at the core of the new Spark’s safety story and it’s complemented by a wider array of passive and active safety features. All 2016 Spark owners will receive a new level of customer experience courtesy of Chevrolet Complete Care. The comprehensive aftersales package promises additional value with competitive and transparent maintenance pricing; one-hour servicing; two days advanced booking; a regional three-year/100,000-km warranty; and four years of regional 24x7 roadside assistance. The 2016 Spark is now available for sale in showrooms across the Middle East. — SG