Confirming spy shots that appeared in China, the next-generation hatchback adopts a more mature design with a new front fascia that borrows several design cues from the Chevy Cruze. Notable changes include a pronounced lower grille and L-shape headlights that do not sweep as far back toward the A-pillar.
“The new Spark’s design has evolved and grown up with the segment,” said GM design VP Michael Simcoe. “The youthful whimsy of the original Spark is still in its genes, but it is conveyed in more traditional proportions that reinforce the customer’s refined expectations.”
Full details remain unclear, though the US-market Spark could be powered by the same engine as its overseas cousin, the Opel Karl. The Euro-spec model integrates a 1.0-liter mill that produces 75 horsepower, slightly below the 1.2-liter engine in the current-generation Spark.
The company boasts collective global sales of more than 1.1 million Sparks since the model first arrived in India six years ago. US demand has increased by 32 percent for the first two months of the year.
Additional information regarding the 2016 model will be announced next month at the New York auto show.
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