No Spark: What happened to GM's promised 5-door microcar in Detroit?
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevrolet Beat Groundhog Day edition
Earlier this week, when General Motors rolled out the very same 3-door Chevrolet Beat concept that it showed back in 2007, we were a bit confused. After all, GM's Ed Welburn teased all of America when he pulled back the tarp on a related (but clearly different) subcompact during NBC's Today Show (video here), only to trot out the same vivid green three-door that has been steadily making the show circuit rounds for some time now.
Well, Kicking Tires has unearthed the back story, and evidently the tarp-pulling session with Matt Lauer revealed a foam model of the production Spark five-door. Understandably, GM couldn't very well drive a foam block up the ramp and onto the stage, so it simply left it out of its press conference and substituted the old concept. We thought GM might quietly put the five-door out on the floor later, so we checked back at their display during yesterday's supplier days, and unfortunately Chevrolet's stand never did get the mockup.
Kicking Tires evidently had to place repeated calls to GM's communications team in order to get them to admit that they had pulled a switcheroo. Eventually, GM's Klaus-Peter Martin noted that: "...any misunderstanding was unintentional, and that the company had always intended to reveal the production Spark in Geneva." That may be true, but we have trouble understanding why the car was teased on national television and a press shot of the five-door was circulated with the Detroit Auto Show press release.
Regardless of GM's intent, we look forward to seeing the production Spark in March, and eagerly await its arrival on America's roads in 2011.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Chevy Spark, aka Beat
[Source: Kicking Tires]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
the vegas style guy 11:14AM (1/16/2009)
I really like this car. If it drives halfway decent, I'm buying it.
Of course, halfway decent means better than my Daewoo Wagon.
Dude, where's my acceleration?
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Jj 11:19AM (1/16/2009)
I think it's safe to go ahead and place an order as they soon as the confirm it will be availible in the US.
Kumail 11:21AM (1/16/2009)
i think i like the fiesta more than this.
oh well, this will make some awesome comparo's :D
the vegas style guy 11:39AM (1/16/2009)
Jj- Ya think?
LOL!
hypermiler 12:38PM (1/16/2009)
But Spark is a Daewoo.
the vegas style guy 12:57PM (1/16/2009)
hypermiler 12:38PM (1/16/2009)
"But Spark is a Daewoo."
Cool, now my little Wagon won't be quite so jealous.
happy_penguin 1:04PM (1/16/2009)
I don't like cars like this at all but it's no worse than a Yaris or a Versa.
remy 3:35PM (1/16/2009)
They're going to pull another "camaro" and "volt", release a car 4 or 5 years later after showing a very viable concept... that's too long ! That's a small simple car, GM should be able to market it way quicker.
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216 11:33AM (1/16/2009)
its funkaaay
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jimmy glick 11:39AM (1/16/2009)
I can see why there would be confusion. In the Today Show reveal, Ed Welbburn (GM VP of Global Design) says that they are bringing "this car" to the Detroit Auto Show.
Of course he also said that over 2 million people voted for "this car" as their favorite among the three microcar concepts..but that's also not exactly correct because no one voted for the 5 door version that's under the tarp.
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Tim 11:47AM (1/16/2009)
They Pulled this out of the Studio to show how "Green" they have become post bailout.
What platform is this car supposed to be based on. A new small car platform? Cars like this and the Volt are still 3-4 years away.
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Kimura 12:00PM (1/16/2009)
Gamma, I believe.
hypermiler 12:57PM (1/16/2009)
Well, Beat goes by the codename M300 at Daewoo. And no it is not 3~4 year away, it's launching this summer in Korea.
hypermiler 1:13PM (1/16/2009)
@ Kimura
Gamma II is for next-gen Aveo.
Beat's chassis's much smaller than Gamma II and almost certainly unrelated.
Josh 11:47AM (1/16/2009)
"Well, Kicking Tires has unearthed the back story, and evidently the tarp-pulling session with Matt Lauer revealed a foam model of the production Spark five-door."
If one goes to the hyperlinked video, it is clear from 1:41-1:45 that the Spark under the cover is actually a 3-door. If you look closely, you can see one bulge from one door handle. This is true, of course, only if the 5-door does not use Saturn's "Quad Coupe" design, which uses the rear-hinging rear doors. Or maybe I am just missing something? =)
- Josh
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Kevin 11:50AM (1/16/2009)
The five door has a "hidden" flush mounted door handle that would not be visible through the tarp.
Josh 11:58AM (1/16/2009)
That makes sense. However, I do find it bizarre that they would use 2 different door handle styles. =/
jimmy glick 12:05PM (1/16/2009)
Josh: Here's the visual reference of the production car.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/detroit-preview-chevy-spark-beats-a-path-to-the-web/
Josh 4:00PM (1/16/2009)
Ahh okay. That makes a lot more sense. thank you for the reference =) haha
I do like the 'shaved' look on the back doors. It looks a little more sporty than the typical 5-door. On the other hand, I have a feeling that this is going to go over like the Aztec did...until GM develops an SS version ;D hahaha
why not the LS2LS7? 6:45PM (1/16/2009)
The doorhandle thing started with the Alfa Romeo 156 a few years back.
I personally, I don't find just taking off the door handles fools my eye at all. The B pillar is still in a 4-door location anyway.