You sure? It seems like the lower opening is much larger than the top. The top also looks to be jelly bean shaped.

 

My next car was going to be either this codename "SS" or the upcoming Charger with the Hemi 8 Speed. (From what I gathered both will be coming around the same time)

But... if their is even the slightest chance of a Ute. I'd wait for it. I'll keep my fingers crossed.


The Spark is selling well in the U.S? Or is the Spark welling well internationally?

 

Its selling well in the US.

Chevy Spark catches fire, posts strong early sales results

 

Who woulda thunk? I'm usually very good at guessing when a car will be a success or not. I would of never guessed the spark to a be success due to it being so close to sonic. But I guess GM made reasonable predictions on it's sales expecting only 2,000 a month. That's 24,000 a year which is very achievable.

 

I didn't even realize the Spark was available here yet.

 

The Spark is such a stupid looking car.

 

I don't think the Spark and Sonic are close. Its about the same size difference between the Sonic and Cruze. Starting at $12,250, the Spark is $2500 less which is a lot at that price point.
That 1900/month was based on the initial 18 market roll-out. They still haven't even released it to the rest of the country.

 

I thought I remembered reading that the Ute would have to be imported as a commercial vehicle, which kills it with import duty. Did I read that here? That would be my car if it ever comes here though.

-Geoff

 

I just hope they name it something other than just "SS". This will be Chevrolet's halo car. It needs a name.

Also hope they don't put the SS emblem on the bottom of the rear doors. I've never liked that on the Holden SS's.

 

While I agree, that ship has sailed I'm afraid. Its going to be called SS.

 

I mean... you never know. Codename "Z28" Camaro was going to be called Z28 Camaro until the 11 hour, when they decided to change it to "ZL1"

 

*cough* Chevelle *cough*

 

Not much you can do about the basic proportions, its a very compact 5-door for four people like the Scion Xa

 

That's just the angle of the picture. It's a picture that was leaked a month or so after Ed Welburn was down there to approve it. There's probably been some minor changes since then (ie: grill texture, etc) but that's the nose.

Here's an artist's version, and outside of the headlights it's also close.



The US has a heavy duty on imported trucks, which is why all foreign car makers assemble their pickup trucks here.

However, about 6 years ago, the US signed a Free Trade Agreement that lifted it for all vehicles shipped between Australia and the US.... which is why we had the G8 ST less than 6 months from showrooms until GM killed Pontiac and filed for bankruptcy.

There's currently nothing keeping the Holden Ute from the US.

 

The Corvette is Chevrolet's "Halo Car". To a leseer extent, so is the ZL1. Both are cars aimed to get press and attract customers to the showroom floor more than turning sales figures.

The SS is perhaps an "Image Car" because like the Camaro in that it helps set in the public mind what Chevrolet is, and people actually buy them in numbers (and unlike Corvette, it's future is actually depended on good volume of sales).

The Chevrolet SS is aimed at the SRT Charger, and GM will import enough to meet demand. GM is predicting low numbers because they don't expect there to be huge number of takers.

Also, barring a last minute reprieve, (and I agree, it should be changed) Chevrolet seems to be sticking with the name.


The trouble with predicting which cars are successful and which aren't is very difficult unless you're familiar with different areas of the country or various demographics. Also, gotta take personal opinions out of the mix. I personally disliked the Beetle when it first came out, but I predicted that VW wouldn't keep them in stock, and they couldn't.

Sonic is EXTREMELY popular with college kids, and also are selling well to people who live in congested areas (ie: Los Angeles) who might have gotten a cheap Hyundai until they looked at a Sonic and saw that it has much better interior materials and modern styling.

GM grossly underestimated the public's acceptance of cars this small (and in all fairness, Ford also did the same thing). But with everyone counting pennies these days and $4 per gallon plus per fuel, this is a fast growing segment.