Chevrolet Spark (from English - "spark") - front-wheel drive five-door, five-seat subcompact. In Russia, under the name Chevrolet Spark, two generations of five-door small hatchbacks are known. One was produced from 2005 to 2009 in Korea and India. Others from 2009 to the present are also produced in Kazakhstan. Both cars are a continuation, which, by the way, in some markets also bore the name Spark.

In 2002, the Daewoo company completely came under the control of General Motors, and, in order not to create a new compact model, the concern chose to modify the already existing Matiz. In 2004, the M3X concept was presented - it was the Matiz, on which the ItalDesign specialists worked. The car received LED optics and a new 1.0-liter engine. It was this concept, in fact, that laid the foundation for the Chevrolet Spark model.

The Spark was launched into serial production in 2005, the new car differed from the usual Matiz with an improved suspension, improved noise insulation, an expanded list of equipment, a spacious interior, as well as a modified interior and exterior.

In 2007, the Chevrolet Trax, Beat and Groove concept cars debuted in New York, one of which was to become a production car after an internet vote. With more than 1.8 million votes, Beat won and became the modern Spark that entered production in 2009. The design of the model was supervised by Taevan Kim (until 2006 he worked for Fiat and took part in the creation of the Fiat 500 and Grande Punto).

In Russia, the model began to be sold in 2010 after the premiere at the Moscow Motor Show, and in the USA it appeared only in the second half of 2012. Spark for Russia is produced in Uzbekistan at the GM Uzbekistan plant, for Europe - in South Korea in the city of Changwon.

In 2012, the Spark EV debuted in Los Angeles with a 130-horsepower electric motor and a range of 150 to 200 km. It is noteworthy that it was a production-ready car, at the same time it was announced that in 2013 the car will go on sale in the United States.

Technical features

The first Chevrolet Spark was 14 cm longer than the Matiz, almost 10 cm wider and slightly higher. The new generation Spark differs from the previous one in increased weight (835 versus 939 kg). The drag coefficient of the new and old Spark is 0.33 and 0.34, respectively. The 800 cc engine previously used on the Matiz was refined at the Worthing Technical Center (UK). Spark, released after Daewoo was incorporated into General Motors, received a modified front end and an improved liter engine. In 2005, a restyled version appeared with a design from Italdesign Giugiaro, on a new platform and with an automatic transmission.

The length of the modern Spark is 3,640 mm, width - 1,597 mm, height - 1,522 mm, wheelbase - 2,375 mm, trunk volume - 170/570 liters (minimum / maximum).

The car uses 1.0- and 1.2-liter gasoline engines. In Russia, a liter engine is available only with "mechanics". In Europe, the Spark is sold with gasoline and natural gas engines.

Pros and cons

The hatchback stands out for its expressive appearance and good value for money. Chevrolet positions the Spark as a 5-seater car, but there is not enough space in the back for three adults, only three children will be comfortable. In addition, the trunk of the model is quite small: 170/570 liters (the competitor Suzuki Splash has about the same - 178/573 liters).

The base Spark has air conditioning, but does not include an adjustable driver's seat and ABS. Suzuki Splash has richer standard equipment: ABS, EBD, emergency braking system, front and side airbags, air conditioning, opening the fuel tank hatch from the passenger compartment, heated seats.

But Citroen C1 with its only 1.0-liter engine and trunk volume from 139 to 712 liters "fades" in front of Spark.

The KIA Picanto is sold in 3- and 5-door versions, but it does not have such a large ground clearance (the Picanto has 142 mm, the Spark has 160 mm).

Safety

In 2009, Spark received four "stars" out of five on the EuroNCAP tests (69 points out of 100), the car was let down by the lack of ESP stabilization system. For comparison, Daewoo Matiz received only three "stars" from EuroNCAP; in a head-on collision, the dummy hit the steering wheel with his chest, and also sustained leg injuries.

Interesting Facts

The prototype Beat played a character named Skids in Transformers 2. By the way, Trax, another prototype that debuted with Beat at the New York auto show, also appeared in this film, playing the role of its twin named Mudflap.

In 2002, a joint venture between General Motors and SAIC in China began production of a Chinese version of the Spark called the Chevrolet Le Chi.

Czech fans of Spark have already set more than one record in the national Book of Records. In 2008, they organized a meeting at which one hundred Sparks gathered at the same time, and in 2010 they beat their own achievement by collecting 101 compact cars in one place.

Awards and numbers

In 2011 and 2012. Chevrolet Spark became the first in the "Car of the Year in Russia" competition in the "City Cars" category. The car also received the title "Best car according to the version of Runet-2011".

Several times Spark was included in the list of contenders for the title of "Car of the Year" in Europe and the United States, but did not achieve success.

In 2012, the American magazine Wards Auto awarded the Spark model the prize for the best interior. By the way, in this ranking, Spark turned out to be the cheapest of the winners.

The contract for organizing the production of Chevrolet Spark at the GM Uzbekistan plant worth $ 124.5 million was signed in 2008. Production started in August 2010. In 2012, GM Uzbekistan produced 33,027 Spark units (14% more than in 2011).

In 2012, 47,640 of these hatchbacks were sold in the markets of Western and Central Europe, the market share increased to 4%.

Chevrolet Spark is the name under which the restyled generation of Daewoo Matiz came to the Russian market. Urban minicar front-wheel drive segment "A" was developed in 1998 by the South Korean division of General Motors. Spark (added that there was some kind of impersonal proposal) replaced the Daewoo Tico on the market, inheriting from it a 0.8-liter 3-cylinder engine, suspension elements and a manual transmission. Both cars are based on the global auto platform of the Japanese model Suzuki Alto, which was bought by Daewoo representatives after the model was discontinued in Japan in 1988.

Italian designers from ItalDesign-Giugiaro S.p.A. worked on the appearance of Spark. Spark owes its appearance to a misunderstanding - initially, the Italian auto studio performed work on the order of Fiat, which conceived a new concept car. While the bodybuilders from ItalDesign pored over the minivan, Fiat employees themselves came up with and implemented the idea of ​​a new Fiat Siecento model. As a result, representatives of Daewoo Motors bought out the developments of Giorgetto Giugiaro's team and developed on their basis a serial model of a 5-door 5-seater hatchback with a factory index M-100. Car production began in 1997 in South Korea. The Daewoo Matiz M-100 was so successful that for some time it was the best-selling Daewoo model on the European market. Since 1998, the production of the car began in Poland, and a year later in Romania and India. In 2000, Daewoo Matiz underwent the first global restyling, after which Uzbekistan bought a license for the production of a modified model with a factory index M-150 using the SKD method from ready-made components.

In 2001, the American automobile concern General Motors bought out a controlling stake in the passenger car manufacturing division of the bankrupt South Korean company Daewoo Group. After the rebranding, Daewoo Matiz was supplied to the markets under the Chevrolet Matiz and Pontiac Matiz G2 brands, and since 2005 as the Chevrolet Spark.

In 2005, the car underwent a second global restyling. Changes affected the appearance of the Chevrolet Matiz, interior trim, and improved basic technical characteristics. The 1.0-liter R4 engine has completely replaced its predecessor - the 0.8-liter R3 engine that does not meet European environmental safety standards. After a while, in the 2007 Chevrolet Spark model, turn signal repeaters were transferred to the outside rear-view mirrors.

It is the second generation (factory index M-200) that is known to the wide world community under the Chevrolet Spark 2006 brand. The 2006 Chevrolet Spark entered the Eastern European market mainly of South Korean and Polish assemblies. In Russia, the 2007 Spark was imported mainly from abroad. Sales of Spark 2008 assembly Uz Daewoo officially started in dealerships in 2008.

In 2009, the Chevrolet Spark was again radically modified. In the same year, the model under the factory index M-300 was launched into serial assembly, and the pre-styling Chevrolet Spark 2007 was removed from main production.

In Russia, where there is a tendency that car prices are growing faster than wages, inexpensive, economical small cars with more or less acceptable appearance will always be in demand. Such as, for example, the 2nd generation Chevrolet Spark, which was born in 2010 and amazed the general public with significant changes in appearance and not only. The Spark's appearance has become really recognizable - its "eyes" alone are worth something! And what are the frankly youthful shades of the body ... Read about what the second Spark is and who needs it at all with its "eyes" in our review!

Design

If someone needs a second Spark, then certainly not the categories of family people and people "aged". And why should they, because you can already spend money on more upscale and practical cars, whose spaciousness is beyond doubt. Cars that will not make you wonder every time: where to stick your luggage? No, Spark, with its “sparkling” name, is definitely for a different audience. But for which one?

Judging by the head optics, which make them look like giant insects from adventure films, and also by the compact dimensions, which are especially convenient for narrow European streets, Spark is a product for young people. And it is difficult to imagine who else will fall for this "insect", whose rear door handles, by the way, are disguised just like the cars of the Italian brand Alfa Romeo. That's the number! Needless to say, after the second Spark, the first generation model seems incredibly boring and unprepossessing. The car that survived the update has everything else: headlights, a radiator grille, sidewalls, "stern" and even roof rails are different! It is not for nothing that the small car has been updated, oh, not in vain.

Design

The model is based on the "new" proprietary GM DAT chassis, designed for heavier equipment than the previous generation of Spark cars (aka Daewoo Matiz). At the same time, the suspension scheme is the same as that of its predecessor: MacPherson struts are installed in front, and a twisting beam is installed in the back. The front brakes are ventilated disc brakes, and the rear ones are drum brakes. The brakes are surprisingly grippy, and the suspension is tuned for comfort rather than dynamic driving. The small car easily jumps over speed bumps, easily overcoming pits and potholes (and this is taking into account the ground clearance of 143 mm), but at the same time it is quite rolly and noticeably heels during maneuvering at speed and in slow turns.

Adaptation to Russian conditions

The second Spark is well prepared for the Russian realities by the standards of the class. By default, side mirrors and 1st row seats are heated in it, there is climate control and a 5th door wiper, and in the trunk with the rear seats folded down can fit up to 994 liters. luggage. With the seats folded out, the trunk volume, however, is much more modest - only 170 liters, and this is enough only for a standard suitcase and 2-3 bags from the supermarket. The cargo compartment is opened with a key or a lever from the passenger compartment - there is no handle outside. The engines of the little Chevrolet are economical, and most importantly, unpretentious and quite calmly relate to inexpensive 92nd gasoline, which is very important in our operating conditions.

Comfort

Surprising, but true: in the salon of the budget Spark, there is a design, and what kind! Other state employees, lacking interesting interior solutions, should definitely learn from him. Here, the proprietary principle of symmetry of the zones for the driver and the passenger immediately catches the eye, the plump steering wheel with a slightly recessed central part attracts attention and the colored lining on the dashboard, logically continued on the inner side of the doors, excites the imagination. Another plus of the Spark interior is the variety of niches and pockets for storing small items. There is a mesh pocket even at the side of the front passenger seat, not to mention the pockets in the backs of the seats, doors and 5 cup holders. The "motorcycle" dashboard, located on the tilt-adjustable steering column, leaves a double impression. Undoubtedly, its "motorcycle" - a spectacular solution, especially due to the blue illumination, which is typical for many Chevrolet cars. But here's the bad luck: the right sector of the "tidy", which has a non-linear tachometer scale, a digital fuel gauge and a miniature screen of the on-board computer, is less informative than the analog speedometer on the left. Average and current fuel consumption is not displayed - only the power reserve is in front of your eyes.

Forgetting about not too informative devices, you can enjoy the good texture of the torpedo - thanks to it, the hard and gray material does not give off cheapness, as is the case with the plastic in the old Spark. The audio system and climate control units, which are well-integrated into the center console, are decorated for heightened effect with a glossy overlay, whose pattern is somewhat reminiscent of carbon fiber. Smart, in a word. Chairs of the 1st row have a rather comfortable shape, but slightly disappointing with slippery artificial upholstery, which does not "breathe" at all. What GM refers to as seat height adjustment is simply adjusting the angle of the seat cushion. Unfortunately, there is no resting area for the left leg. The back sofa is quite spacious by the standards of the class; the backrest folds in a 60:40 ratio to form a flat loading area.

In 2009, the 2nd generation Spark passed the tests of the European independent organization Euro NCAP, earning 4 points out of 5 possible. Automotive experts rated driver / adult safety at 81% out of 100, child protection at 78%, and pedestrian safety at 43%. Electronic assistants also awarded 43%. Good marks allowed for good equipment for a state employee, which, depending on the configuration, includes front and side airbags, rear parking sensors, anti-lock braking system (ABS), Isofix mounts for child car seats and other safety attributes. Inflatable "curtains" available for Spark in other countries, alas, are not attached to the Russian version.

On the center console, Spark is a regular CD / MP3 radio with a small, narrow screen, steering wheel control buttons and a USB port for mobile devices. There is nothing special in it, but you can not count on something more significant. There is no full-fledged multimedia complex in any of the configurations and it is impossible to get it even for a separate fee. The sound quality of the stock radio, as you might guess, is far from ideal, but it’s better to have at least such a radio tape recorder than none, right? Especially if you remember that we are talking about a state employee.

Chevrolet Spark Specifications

The engine range is represented by two gasoline 16-valve "fours" inherited from the technological "twins" Opel Agila and Suzuki Splash. It is a 1.2-liter 82-horsepower engine, compatible with a five-speed manual transmission, and a liter engine with 68 hp output, which is also combined with a 4-speed automatic transmission without manual mode. The old 0.8-liter 3-cylinder engine, familiar to most from Daewoo Matiz, the second Spark never got it. According to the manufacturer's statement, the average fuel consumption of the 82-horsepower modification is small - only 5.4 l / 100 km, and that of the 68-horsepower - 6.3 l / 100 km, which almost does not differ from reality. The dynamics in both cases is mediocre, but given the low cost of the model, it is quite understandable and forgivable.

One of the most successful car brands in the world, Chevrolet has an interesting history of meteoric rise and major setbacks. The American corporation was originally founded by a wealthy American motor sports enthusiast, William Durant. Soon after the creation of this corporation at the beginning of the twentieth century, this investor organized the world's most successful automobile concern General Motors.

Until today, GM has gained such a serious momentum that the production of this company is present on every continent and in fact in every large and developed country. Nevertheless, cars of the Chevrolet brand are produced in a very extraordinary mode. The country of manufacture of Chevrolet is a question that is difficult to answer unequivocally.

Two sides of the coin in offers under one brand

If we are talking about the expensive and successful Chevrolet brand, it has two completely different incarnations. The North American side of this company is the creator of unique SUVs with great potential and great sports cars, supercars with huge value and premium sedans. But also a division of Chevrolet is present in South Korea, where under this brand are mainly produced former Daewoo models in the budget segment.

This gives General Motors Corporation certain advantages:

• the ability to offer the market a wide variety of cars in various trim levels;
• access to European markets with budget and quite reliable cars from Korea;
• the conquest of the CIS market with cheap offers in the budget class;
• approbation of technologies for other GM cars and rather cheap assembly of cars at a Korean plant.

Until 2012, in the markets of the CIS countries, the Chevrolet brand was associated exclusively with cheap and not very high-quality cars, which were bought exclusively for lack of money for more impressive vehicles. In turn, in North America, cars under this brand are an expensive and elite offer that is worth buying.

This dissonance of the brand made the Chevrolet company one of the most mysterious in the modern automotive world. This increases the interest in the proposals of the corporation. Let's take a closer look at two different faces of an American corporation.

Low-cost segment from the South Korean Chevrolet plant

In Europe and Russia, when asked about the country of manufacture of Chevrolet, motorists confidently answer - Korea. Indeed, most of the proposals on the market are produced precisely at the Korean Daewoo plant. The cheapest deals, such as Matiz and Nexia, are sold under the Daewoo brand in Russia, Ukraine and some other countries. Since 2014, they have also been joined by a more expensive car - the redesigned Chevrolet Lacetia - Daewoo Gentra.

This step by the corporation suggests that the Chevrolet brand is beginning to increase its status in European markets. Today, the following Chevrolet offers are present in Europe and Russia:

• Korean budget Spark, Aveo and Cobalt;
• the comfort class Cruze, the Orlando family minivan and the Captiva crossover also from Daewoo;
• the Russian Chevrolet Niva, which is produced by AvtoVAZ;
• the American Malibu sedan and Corvette sports car, as well as the company's best-selling Camaro;
• the Trailblazer SUV and the Tahoe Big Jeep, which also hail from America.

That is why in the salon when buying a car under an American brand you need to be as careful as possible. Auto production is carried out in Russia, Korea and America. But the cars that are assembled in the United States are very different in technical and visual terms from the Korean ones. They use a different metal, different technologies, completely different materials for interior trim.

If you want to experience all the greatness of American technology, buy a large Trailblazer or Tahoe.These are perfectly acceptable competitors for premium Japanese crossovers and SUVs. The Chevrolet brand in the CIS countries and Europe only in 2015 will finally begin to change its nature and be transferred to the premium American class.

Chevrolet brand in the US and other North American countries

For Americans, the local brand seems to be very expensive and premium, because the bulk of the proposals are made in America. Chevrolet offers its compatriots a huge range of technology, which is revealed from a completely different side than for Europeans.

Chevrolet offers four main types of cars for Americans:

• passenger cars with Korean brands already known to us, as well as American Malibu, Impala and the Volt hybrid hatchback;
• sports cars SS, Corvette and Camaro;
• SUVs and crossovers, to which are added the purely American models Trax, Equinox, Traverse and Suburban.
• the most unusual and interesting Colorado and Silverado pickups, as well as a huge selection of commercial vehicles.

These are the different offers of this brand on different continents. One part of the planet's population knows Chevrolet as an affordable budget brand, while the other perceives the purchase of a car under this brand as a real achievement. Interestingly, the company's plans include raising the brand level around the world to a completely different level and returning Darwoo cars to the CIS markets. But these plans are long-term.

We invite you to enjoy the review of the truly American large sedan Chevrolet Malibu.

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Summing up

Cars assembled in virtually every developed country in the world cannot fail to attract attention. Chevrolet has taken several extraordinary steps that have helped the company to conquer the markets. For example, in 2010 the Chevrolet brand became the best-selling brand in Russia and Britain, and in America these cars occupy one of the first lines of the hit parade of successful cars every year.

The peculiarities of the corporation's work suggest that in the near future it will be very difficult for competitors to bypass the company in any direction. I wonder how you personally feel about the entire Chevrolet brand and the philosophy of its global development?

So, today we would like to talk about who today belongs to the honor and the right to produce one of the most successful American car brands - Chevrolet. To say that the country of manufacture of Chevrolet is England, or the United States, or Russia would be in any case incorrect, because due to localization for each specific market, for commercial reasons, automakers often even offer their own model ranges, not to mention the almost ubiquitous availability of DKD - SKD assembly.

Manufacturing or assembly?

A full-fledged answer to the question that we want to analyze today will require a fundamental definition of what is meant by the concept of “production”?

AvtoVaz with its OAT group of companies from satellite factories was the only enterprise in the world that produced auto components and carried out their further assembly on their own conveyor. As a result, there was no need to conduct a dialogue with component suppliers about the economic component, about the advisability of at least periodic production audits, and, as a natural result, hundreds of marriage details, which were then installed on cars that had already set the teeth on edge for the whole country with their unreliability and unpredictability.

The world's major brands work in a completely different way. The components from which the cars are assembled are produced by third-party companies that are also global brands - take the same Faurecia - whose plastic products (interior and exterior elements) are used, and for Ford, and for Renault, and for Nissan, and for many more brands around the world. Gestamp - steel stamping body parts, Johnson Controls - relays and switches. The plant of each of these companies are present on all continents and in almost all developed countries.

Maybe we will now reveal a terrible secret, but the so-called automaker does not so much carry out production, but simply assembles a car on an assembly line from components that have been produced by more than one third-party manufacturer.

So it's more about assembly, to be precise in terms.

Chevrolet and Chevrolet

And now, since we have cleared up the point of production and assembly, let's understand a little what the Chevrolet brand is.

To begin with, the Chevrolet brand and trademark belong to the well-known American automobile concern General Motors, in the future, for brevity, we will simply call it GM.

Historically, the Chevrolet company was born in the northern part of the United States, where to this day they continue to release those models that have given the brand world fame, honor and glory - massive SUVs that can compete with all-terrain vehicles in cross-country ability, graceful and powerful sports models. a distinctive feature of which are naturally aspirated engines of impressive size and power, and of course supercars. This is in the North of America. And unfortunately, it cannot be said that North American models are widely represented in the Russian automotive market.

And here is another division of the company, whose product, on the contrary, is offered by every 4th automobile salon in our country, located in South Korea.

And although the name is exactly the same - Chevrolet, but the manufactured products are almost 100% related to the Korean concern Daewoo, which has sunk into oblivion. Many still have to remember the 2 most popular models of the 2000s - the Espero and the Nexia. Well, today South Korean Chevrolets are entirely economy or economy + class cars.

Therefore, the answer to the question "where is the Chevrolet Cruze assembled?" or “where the Chevrolet Aveo is assembled” is unambiguous - in Korea, at the production facilities of the old Daewoo plant!

Although it is more than possible to understand the management of GM. From a sales management standpoint, they made a very smart move by acquiring the nearly bankrupt Daewoo company. But now in the model range of the manufacturer there are cars of all classes and categories, from low-budget small cars to supercars and business sedans, which in some cases have a truly cosmic value.

This is very important in terms of strategic brand positioning.

Oddly enough, the consumer is more likely to turn to a company that cares about everyone, both those who can buy a premium car and those who are just going to buy their first-ever "economy" from a foreign manufacturer, saying goodbye to classics of the Russian car industry.

South Korean Americans

Residents of Russia and Europeans, when asked which country is the manufacturer of Chevrolet cars, give an unequivocal answer that Korea.

This is quite natural, since the lion's share of cars currently sold in the markets of Russia and Europe are really assembled on the conveyors of South Korea and are, in fact, nothing more than a continuation of the line of budget cars that existed under the auspices of the Korean Daewoo brand.

The most popular and well-known models for our consumers were and continue to bear the names Matiz and Nexia.

Although about 3 years ago, an economy-plus class model was added to the budget economy class cars - the Chevrolet Lacetti, which received a new life after a small facelift under the name Daewoo Gentra.

That is, the Chevrolet manufacturer strives to go beyond the already familiar economy class in the Russian and European markets, gradually teaching the consumer that more expensive, and, therefore, comfortable and powerful cars appear on sale.

What is generally available on the Russian market today from cars from the Chevrolet brand?

Budget subcompacts Spark, Cobalt, Lanos and Aveo (assembled in Korea)
- Comfort class sedan - Chevrolet Cruze, crossover Captiva and Orlando family minivan (also of the South Korean brand Daewoo)
- Niva Chevrolet is already the product of a joint venture based on AvtoVAZ
- And finally, the true progenitors and pearls of the brand are the famous Camaro, which became famous not only among consumers, but also on movie screens, the legendary Corvette model - a sharp and impressive sports car, and the classic American Malibu sedan.
- With regards to heavyweights, these are TrailBlazer and Tahoe - American jeeps with huge engines and external dimensions. By the way, "Tahoe" is the official machine of the secret service under the President of the United States, which in itself sounds like an impressive recommendation.

So you do not have to ask car dealership managers questions “where are Chevrolet Lanos, Captiva or Orlando assembled”. Now you definitely know that they are collected in South Korea.

We also note that the cars that are assembled in the United States are strikingly different from the cars of Korean or Russian origin. Everything is completely different, of a different quality, of a different level, and of course at a different price.

In no case do not give up the test drive and remember that the hallmark of Chevrolet, the very original American one, has always been and still is heavy jeeps - TrailBlazer and Tahoe - try it yourself and we assure you - you will like it!

Conclusion

Today we will not focus too much on the Chevrolet models presented in the United States - anyway, it is almost impossible to buy them in Russia or Europe.

Moreover, you will definitely have difficulties with their repair, if you nevertheless decide to purchase such a car according to the "gray scheme", which we strongly do not recommend you to do.

The fact is that the entire production base for a certain market is built on the basis of a certain information system, which carries all, without exception, VIN numbers of cars produced for a particular market.

And the VIN number of a car for an automaker is a passport, an identity card of a car produced and sold. According to the VIN, it is determined from which components the car was assembled, what warranty repairs were performed, what should be replaced and what not, and what and in what quantity should be kept in the warehouse in case of planned or emergency repairs.

There are no American models in this list, because they should not be produced on this continent, and therefore it will be problematic to repair them in the event of a breakdown.In the literal sense, you will have to wait for spare parts from overseas, and this is time, nerves and inconveniences right away.

There is a feeling that in the coming years, Chevrolet will carry out a restructuring of the product range for Russia and Europe, so it is possible that electric cars and classic American sedans and minivans from the eminent manufacturer will become available to us. In the meantime, we propose to enjoy what we have, looking hopefully into the future of the American manufacturer in Russia.