The redesigned Matiz (codenamed M300) was launched in 2009 and is based on the 2007 Chevrolet Beat concept car. Although sold globally as the Chevrolet Spark, in India, this model retains the Beat name from the concept car, as the second-generation Spark continues to be sold in this market. In some Latin American markets, the Beat name was also used, while Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru received it as the Spark GT. Prior to the 2011 elimination of the Daewoo marque in South Korea, the third-generation Spark was marketed as the Daewoo Matiz Creative.
Concept
The Chevrolet Beat concept car was unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show alongside two other concept vehicles, the Trax and the Groove. The Beat is a three-door hatchback concept, derived from the Daewoo Kalos. It was designed by GM Daewoo in South Korea. It is powered by a 1.2 L turbocharged gasoline engine mated to an automatic transmission.[34]
In early 2007, GM conducted a poll testing the relative popularity of the Beat, Trax, and Groove concepts on a Chevrolet website,[35] with the Beat receiving nearly 50% of the vote, which ultimately determined the car making it into production.
GM displayed a prototype woodie version of the forthcoming Chevrolet Spark for the 2010 Paris Motor Show.[36]
This version was used as Skids vehicle mode in the 2009 film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen alongside the Trax. The car sports a Vertigo Green exterior paint job with the same hue carried over to the parts of the interior.
Facelifts
The first facelift was revealed at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. It features a redesigned dual-port grille and front bumper, and restyled headlamp covers and fog lamps.[37] The North American model, launched for the 2013 model year, uses the facelifted styling. The first facelift model was launched in India in February 2014.[38][39] The facelifted Holden Barina Spark retained the existing front bumper, with its front grille being redesigned.
A second facelift was launched in 2017 for the 2018 year with a design inspired by the fourth-generation Spark (M400). Produced in India and Colombia, it is aimed mainly to developing countries.[28]
Beat sedan/notchback (NB)
A four-door sedan version was unveiled in a near-production prototype form at the 2016 Auto Expo in India as the Chevrolet Essentia.[40][41] After GM halted domestic sales in India in 2017, the Essentia was ultimately cancelled for the Indian market. The model was instead exported to Latin America either in finished form or as knock-down kits (to be assembled by GM Colmotores) as the Beat or Beat NB (notchback).
The Beat and its notchback version were discontinued from the Mexican market in early August 2021, giving the production run from 2018 to 2021 model years. The Taxi variant of the Beat Notchback was available for the Colombian market until the 2022 model year.[29]
Spark/Beat Activ
A crossover-styled version is also available in South America as the Chevrolet Spark GT Activ or Chevrolet Beat Activ. The concept version was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in India,[42] however the production version was never sold in India as GM pulled out from the market. The production version is available in several Latin American markets starting from 2018.[43][44]
Markets
United States
The U.S. version of the third-generation Spark went into production on 16 April 2012, and arrived in dealerships in August 2012. Marketed as the Chevrolet Spark, the car uses a special up-stroked version of the "S-TEC II" engine (RPO code LL0).
The 2013 Spark was the fastest-selling car in the United States for July 2012, with just 6 days from when they arrived at dealers to when they were sold.[45]
For 2014, the automatic transmission is a Jatco M4M-CVT7[46] continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the final drive ratio lowered to 3.75.[47][48] The CVT gives better fuel mileage overall than the previous 4 speed automatic, and changing the final drive ratio from its previous 4.145[49]
United States
The U.S. version of the third-generation Spark went into production on 16 April 2012, and arrived in dealerships in August 2012. Marketed as the Chevrolet Spark, the car uses a special up-stroked version of the "S-TEC II" engine (RPO code LL0).
The 2013 Spark was the fastest-selling car in the United States for July 2012, with just 6 days from when they arrived at dealers to when they were sold.[45]
For 2014, the automatic transmission is a Jatco M4M-CVT7[46] continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the final drive ratio lowered to 3.75.[47][48] The CVT gives better fuel mileage overall than the previous 4 speed automatic, and changing the final drive ratio from its previous 4.145[49][50]
Domino's DXP
The Domino's DXP (short for "Delivery eXPert") is a version 2015 Spark marketed in the U.S., which was customized by Roush Performance for Domino's Pizza where it was converted to a revival of a canopy express vehicle which was popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. Based on the mid-level 1LT trim of the Spark, the front and rear passenger seats are removed and replaced with storage compartments that can carry 80 pizzas, two 2-liter bottles of soda, and dipping sauces. The left rear passenger door is converted into a warming oven that can only be unlocked with the key fob or a button within the driver's door frame. The Spark's Chevrolet front grille is replaced with a custom-made black front grille with the "Domino's" logo, as well as a custom lower body kit, and all DXP cars have a custom Domino's-themed vinyl wrap with a lighted Domino's roof topper.
Production is limited to less than 200 units and once each car reaches 100,000 miles, it will be retired and returned to Roush, where it will be restored to stock form and sold as a used Spark (all four factory seatbelts and airbags are left fully intact, and covered by plastic panels).[52][53][54] Despite the intentions of Domino's to eventually retire the DXP and leave none remaining, several wrecked DXPs have been salvaged by private individuals with the intention of retaining them as rare cars when the rest of the fleet is retired. The situation has resulted in threatened legal action by a Domino's franchisee.[55]
Europe
The third-generation Spark was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.[33] It became available in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. Engine choices include 1.0- and 1.2-litre I4 engines. In Italy there is an LPG version of the Spark called the Chevrolet Spark Eco Logic with BRC Gas Equipment as of the end of 2009. This bi-fuel version is available with the 1.0 and 1.2 engines (both with 16 valves) with 113 to 119 g of CO2 emissions respectively. While the LPG cars are still available in Italy, in France the LPG versions were only available from 2009 until 2012.
India
Production of the third-generation, badged as the Beat, started at Halol plant near Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 15 December 2009. It was launched in India on 5 January 2010, during Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Beat was marketed alongside the second-generation Spark, which was offered as a more affordable alternative. The Beat is powered by a 1.2 L S-TEC II engine capable of operating using petrol or LPG autogas, marketed as Smartech II. The engine was destroked from 1,206 cc to 1,199 cc for the Indian market due to lower tax imposed to vehicles with engine displacement under 1,200 cc.
In July 2011, General Motors launched the diesel version of the Beat in India.[57] The 3-cylinder, 936 cc turbo-diesel engine produces 62.5 PS and 160.26 Nm of torque, resulting in good acceleration and pick up. The 1.0 L, 936 cc diesel engine enables the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 16 seconds and a top speed of 142 km/h. Chevrolet Beat Diesel offers mileage of 24 km/L (56 mpg) as per the ARAI test reports. The engine is based on the Fiat Multijet diesel technology.[58]
GM India was reported to build an electric version of the Spark or Beat with Reva Electric Car Company.[59]
Mexico
In Mexico, the third-generation Spark it was released in July 2010 as a 2011 model year, but did not replace the Chevrolet Matiz (formerly Pontiac G2 Matiz), which was sold until 2015. In mid 2017, the third-generation Spark received a facelift and it was renamed the Chevrolet Beat.
On 5 August 2021, the Beat was discontinued in Mexico due to the Talegaon, India, plant being closed, leaving the Aveo as their entry-level model in said market.[61]
Philippines
In the Philippines, the third-generation Spark is equipped with 1.0 L and 1.2 L engines. It has 2 trims; the LS (5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic) and LT (5-speed manual). It was discontinued in 2015.
South Korea
The car was unveiled in South Korea as the Daewoo Matiz Creative at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show.[62] The Matiz version was renamed to Matiz Creative. The car has a 1.0 L S-TEC II engine with 4-speed automatic transmission. Sales began on 1 September 2009.[63] The Groove name used in one of the rejected concepts returned as a trim level.[64]
In 2011, the Matiz Creative is renamed as Chevrolet Spark, as part of phasing out the Daewoo brand in South Korea, making way for the Chevrolet brand.
Australasia
In Australia and New Zealand, the third-generation Spark was released in October 2010 at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney as the MJ series Holden Barina Spark. It was available in two trim levels, CD and CDX. It was discontinued in February 2018 to be replaced by the fourth-generation model.
Uzbekistan
The Chevrolet Spark was released in Uzbekistan in August 2010. It was available in three trim levels: L (1.0 L manual), LS (1.0 L manual/auto) and LT (1.2 L manual).
Russia
The Uzbekistan-made Spark has been sold in Russia as the Ravon R2 since 2016. It was available with the 1.2 L engine and automatic gearbox.[65]
Safety
Latin NCAP
The Korean-made Spark in its most basic Latin American market configuration with no airbags and no ABS received 0 stars for adult occupants and 2 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP 1.0 in 2014.[66]
The Indian-made Spark GT in its most basic Latin American market configuration with no airbags, no ABS and no ESC received 0 stars for adult occupants and 0 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP 2.0 in 2016.[67]
Latin NCAP
The Korean-made Spark in its most basic Latin American market configuration with no airbags and no ABS received 0 stars for adult occupants and 2 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP 1.0 in 2014.[66]
The Indian-made Spark GT in its most basic Latin American market configuration with no airbags, no ABS and no ESC received 0 stars for adult occupants and 0 stars for toddlers from Latin NCAP 2.0 in 2016.[67]
Spark EV
The Chevrolet Spark EV is a limited production 5-door hatchback battery electric vehicle produced by Chevrolet from 2013 until 2016. The Spark EV was a compliance car specifically designed to meet the government mandate on automobile manufacturers to increase the penetration of electric automobiles into the fleet of all operating vehicles on the road in certain US states, but was not intended for broad adoption in the broader US market, nor produced and sold in quantities that would meet demand for such vehicles in the open market where no such government rules exist.[72][73]
In October 2011, General Motors announced the planned production of the Chevrolet Spark EV, with availability limited to select markets starting in 2013.[74] The production version was unveiled at the November 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.[75] Within the framework of GM's vehicle electrification strategy,[76]