No Spark

[Intrepidation]

Earlier this week, when General Motors rolled out the very same 3-door Chevrolet Beat concept that it showed back in 2007, we were a bit confused. After all, GM's Ed Welburn teased all of America when he pulled back the tarp on a related (but clearly different) subcompact during NBC's Today Show (video here), only to trot out the same vivid green three-door that has been steadily making the show circuit rounds for some time now.

Well, Kicking Tires has unearthed the back story, and evidently the tarp-pulling session with Matt Lauer revealed a foam model of the production Spark five-door. Understandably, GM couldn't very well drive a foam block up the ramp and onto the stage, so it simply left it out of its press conference and substituted the old concept. We thought GM might quietly put the five-door out on the floor later, so we checked back at their display during yesterday's supplier days, and unfortunately Chevrolet's stand never did get the mockup.

Kicking Tires evidently had to place repeated calls to GM's communications team in order to get them to admit that they had pulled a switcheroo. Eventually, GM's Klaus-Peter Martin noted that: "...any misunderstanding was unintentional, and that the company had always intended to reveal the production Spark in Geneva." That may be true, but we have trouble understanding why the car was teased on national television and a press shot of the five-door was circulated with the Detroit Auto Show press release.

Regardless of GM's intent, we look forward to seeing the production Spark in March, and eagerly await its arrival on America's roads in 2011.

Source: Autoblog

[NOS2006]

Simply put, that is bull$h!.

[Intrepidation]

Another fine example of GM's good decision making.

[61Elkamino]

Call it what they want. I calls it FUGLY!!! Why don't they just put some jagged teeth in the front in place of the grille. Better yet, with that funky green color, why not call it a GREMLIN (with apologies to AMC of course).

[GMFAN]

Hey,

GM fans voted this as their prefered production model out of the three concepts. It may be fugly but was "the people's choice"!

[GMFAN]

Another fine example of GM's good decision making.

Like Chryslers been turnin out a bunch of winners.

Edited January 17, 2009 by GMFAN

[Intrepidation]

Like Chryslers been turnin out a bunch of winners.

You can thank Daimler for much of that, and yes they've turned out their share of lame ducks but so has Ford and GM. However the difference is Ford has a plan, Chrysler has a plan, and GM is second guessing itself, canceling good cars (G8 ST), introducing pieces of $h! (G3), wasting an excellent platform it spent millions to develop (Zeta), and the list goes on. Saying it can't do RWD and fuel efficient, even while others can. This is coming from what was the biggest automaker in the world, with not so long ago, the most resources and talent...but they can't do it.

Then they show photos of the Spark during the Detroit autoshow, but roll out the Beat, confusing the hell out of people, and then say "whoops, well we were planning to show the Spark in Geneva all along."

Yeah, that is GREAT decision making.

And if you think I'm saying this just because of my username, just ask CaminoLS6 or many others about GM's decision making capabilities.

[Z-06]

Like Chryslers been turnin out a bunch of winners.

If finger pointing is going to help GM's case then your post is the most valid one.

The fact Chrysler co makes mistakes does not exonerate GM from making ones.

[fightingbee]

While their at it, they could have just dusted off this thing and showed it as their new subcompact.

[PurdueGuy]

Hey,

GM fans voted this as their prefered production model out of the three concepts. It may be fugly but was "the people's choice"!

Except that the move from 3 to 5 doors messed up the look considerably, IMO.

[Intrepidation]

Except that the move from 3 to 5 doors messed up the look considerably, IMO.

Agreed.

[daves87rs]

While their at it, they could have just dusted off this thing and showed it as their new subcompact.