So GM, where was the production Chevrolet Spark in Detroit?

If you’ve been following the whole Chevrolet Beat concept turned production version (now known as the Chevrolet Spark) scene, then you remember that about a week ago Ed Welburn gave Today Show host Matt Lauer a sneak peek at the car before its alleged Detroit debut.

All of us in the automotive media industry figured “Hey, we’ll finally get to see the production Chevrolet Beat in Detroit.” However, in Detroit, GM showed the same old Chevrolet Beat concept that made its debut at the 2007 New York Auto Show. The closest we got to seeing the production Spark was one press photo released by GM’s Media Site (check it out after the jump). So where was the Chevrolet Spark?

According to KickingTires, who contacted GM’s communication department, the car under the tarp on TV was a foam model of the Spark. Since it wasn’t a full working prototype, Welburn refused to reveal the whole vehicle on TV and for that very reason GM decided to show the Beat concept instead since it is very close to the production model.

GM Global Communications Department’s Klaus-Peter Martin said that the company had always intended to reveal the Chevrolet Spark in Geneva (which was stated in the Chevrolet Spark’s press release). The 2010 Chevrolet Spark and the 2010 Chevrolet Orlando will both come to the U.S. market in 2011.

2010 Chevrolet Spark:

Source: KickingTires

Chevrolet Spark - Detroit 2009

After our news this morning on the Chevrolet Beat debut at the Detroit show, the car will be presented as the “Spark”, with style principally derived from the Beat.
The main update is the addition of the two rear doors and an agressive look, which should mean this car is ready to battle the city. More updates to follow at the show.
© Source: eurocarblog

Detroit 09': Chevy Spark and Orlando Headed to the US

GM originally stated that the production version of the Chevy Beat and Chevy Orlando would not be coming to the US, but things change. With a lack of small cars in the US, it makes sense to bring the two vehicles to the US.

The production version of the Beat, officially now dubbed the Spark and the Orlando will come to the US in 2011. The Chevy Spark is going to have its official debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Sales of the Spark in Europe will begin in the first-quarter of 2010.

The one photo we have of the Spark was apparently leaked. Expect more details soon.

Detroit Preview: 2010 Chevy Spark beats a path to the web

As the hours wind down before the 2009 Detroit Auto Show finally kicks off in the morning, more vehicles are leaking through the manufacturers' embargo nets. The latest addition to the list is the 2010 Chevy Spark, teased earlier this week on Today by GM design honcho Ed Welburn. Spark is the production version of the Chevy Beat concept that made its debut alongside the Trax and Groove at New York two years ago. Beat was the winner of a public poll to see which of the three microcar concepts would make it to production. We also know that Beat/Spark's going to get some time in the limelight as a character in this summer's Transformers sequel.
The itsy-bitsy new "world car" has grown a second set of doors in production trim, but otherwise, its styling remains remarkably true to the Beat show car. Roof rails hint at real-world practicality, and the fact that GM is choosing Detroit to unveil it suggests that maybe, just maybe, we'll see it here after all. We'll know more as the show gets officially underway, but we can say one thing: it's more interesting than the car it's presumably set to replace in other markets. We'll have plenty more when we see it up close.
[Source: WCF via CarSpyShots]