Holdens New Micro Car

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General Motors has released photos of a new micro car due for release in Europe early next year – and possibly on the cards for Australian showrooms. By RICHARD BLACKBURN.




This funky little hatch could be wearing a Holden badge by next year.

It is the all-new Chevrolet Spark, the tiny city car that will replace the Korean-built Matiz in General Motors’ European line-up.

The wedge-shaped hatch, which is due to make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show next month, is the production version of the Beat concept car, which was one of a trio of mini-car concepts created in GM’s Korean design studio and shown at the 2007 New York motor show.

Since the trio was revealed, almost two million GM fans have logged on to the company’s site to vote for their favourite. The majority chose the Beat, which got the green light for production.

Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale refuses to say whether the car will make its way down-under following its overseas launch early next year, but she admits it is under consideration for local introduction.

“It’s a great looking little car. We’d be crazy not to have a look at it,” she says.

She expects a decision to be made soon. If it does get the go-ahead, the Spark would be the second micro car confirmed for local introduction. Last October, Suzuki revealed it would import the 1.0-litre Suzuki Alto from the second quarter of this year. Other car makers are looking at micro cars as well. Hyundai has its i10 undergoing customer evaluations, while Kia is still interested in importing its tiny Picanto.

The Spark would give a much-needed injection of style into Holden’s range of Korean-built small cars, which has been criticised for bland looks, sloppy handling and less than impressive safety.

The Barina was initially criticised for receiving a sub-par crash test result, but has since been upgraded with the introduction of more airbags. It was recently re-tested by the NCAP safety body and received four stars.

But the safety upgrade and an August makeover have done little to lift interest in the Barina, with sales down by close to 15 per cent in 2008.

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The larger Holden Viva, which will be replaced by a locally-built Holden small car next year, has met a similar fate, with sales sliding 20 per cent in 2008.

The five-door Spark is smaller than a Holden Barina and will initially come with a choice of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines. A turbo-diesel is on the cards for Europe and may come here.

The funky, angular exterior styling is matched by an equally unorthodox cockpit that includes a circular, motorbike-like speedo mounted on the steering column with a digital rev readout to the side.

It also appears to have more impressive safety credentials than the Barina, with six airbags and stability control available on European models.

The Spark is 240mm shorter than the Barina, but its wheels are pushed out to the corners of the car, giving it a wheelbase of 2375mm, just 105mm less than the small Holden.