(July 1, 2012) DETROIT — The Chevrolet Spark, a mini-car currently sold in 100 markets worldwide, will debut in the U.S. later this year with new features specifically targeted to appeal to the urban millennial market.     

“We listened to what young people said they wanted in a car. Our engineers tuned and equipped the Chevrolet Spark specifically for first-time buyers and city dwellers in North America,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Global Marketing. “Spark is the perfect urban car because we’ve made it easy to drive, easy to park and easy to own.”



To tackle the challenges of urban driving environments, several Spark features are tailored to North American consumers, including:

    • Giving the Spark the ability to conquer steep inclines and declines with Hill Start Assist and equipping the Spark with a sixth sense with Panic Brake Assist – both standard on Spark and new to the mini-car segment in North America. Hill Start Assist aids drivers in cities known for hilly terrain – such as San Francisco – by holding the vehicle in place while the driver switches from the brake pedal to the gas. Panic Brake Assist detects situations where emergency breaking is needed and automatically engages maximum braking force.
   
    • Squeezing Spark into the tightest of parking spaces with a length of only 144 inches and 63 inches wide, which is 37 inches shorter and 8 inches narrower than the Chevy Cruze.
   
     • Connecting Spark owners to their friends, music, videos and photos with a radio that features a seven-inch diagonal color touch screen equipped with the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, which provides users with access to Pandora and Stitcher, Bluetooth and navigation. MyLink also makes it possible to connect a smartphone or other USB device to play movies, display pictures and download contacts for hands-free calling, allowing for a full in-vehicle media experience.