Why the 2016 Spark May Remind Fans of a Previous Chevy Model

There’s plenty of anticipation for the upcoming 2016 Chevy Spark. Previous models had been commended for their entertaining ride, but engineers looked to add an air of “sophistication” to the new model.

“At its core, the new Spark is still the fun, agile urban car that made the first-generation model so popular, but it delivers that fun driving experience with greater sophistication,” said Sam Basile, executive chief engineer. “And while it’s a truly global car, it is targeted for more developed vehicle markets, allowing engineers to focus more precisely on the materials and technologies that resonate with customers in those markets.”

While the brand and the engineers certainly did a lot to improve the upcoming Spark, we’re sure they didn’t intend for their vehicle to resemble another Chevy subcompact from the 1980s. To learn what former vehicle resembles the 2016 Chevy Spark, continue reading below…

In 1985, the brand began marketing their upcoming Chevy Sprint, a subcompact based on Japan’s Suzuki Cultus. Originally only sold on the West Coast, the vehicle eventually hit all United States Chevy dealerships in 1986, and it hit Canada (as the Pontiac Firefly) soon after. Ironically, the Chevy Spark is built in South Korea by General Motors Korea, and it’s inspired by another Asian vehicle, the Daewoo Matiz. The vehicle also goes by another name in other countries: the Opel Adam (noticing the connections?).

As John Inama of TFLCar.com notes, the two vehicles are actually very similar in regards to size and dimensions. The wheelbase (92.3 inches for the Sprint, 93.9 inches for the Spark), length (148.4 inches, 143.1 inches), width (60.2 inches, 62.8 inches), and height (53.1 inches, 58.4 inches) were remarkably close, as were the interior dimensions. Passenger volume has only increased from 78.3-cubic-feet to 83-cubic-feet, and the maximum cargo volume has also only seen a slight increase (from 20.2-cubic-feet to 27.2-cubic-feet).

Understandably, there are several differences when it comes to the vehicle’s engine and power. The Sprint Plus’ 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine may have been adequate for 1986, although the 48 horsepower and 57 pounds-feet of torque would have left a lot to be desired. The engine has obviously been revamped, as the 1.4-liter four-cylinder unit can now deliver 98 horsepower and 94 pounds-feet of torque. There’s also a discrepancy in the fuel economy (14 mpg city/9 mpg highway on the Sprint, 44 mpg city/50 mpg highway in the Spark), although we could certainly attribute that to improved technology. One aspect that did carry over was the brand’s use of a five-speed manual transmission.

The Sprint offered several exclusive features and amenities, like an “upshift light” that indicated the best speed to shift gears, as well as a “new” air conditioning unit. Meanwhile, the basic Spark offers traction and stability control, antilock brakes, and an advanced stereo system. Furthermore, while the Sprint only offered four available colors (Red, Silver Metallic, Blue Metallic, and Light Brown Metallic), the new Spark offers ten potential paint options (Salsa, Lime, Electric Blue, Silver Ice, Summit White, Kalamata, Toasted Marshmallow, Splash, Titanium, and Black Granite).

The resemblances certainly aren’t a bad thing, as the Sprint Plus was actually an impressive and dependable vehicle. Of course, we have much higher hopes for the upcoming 2016 Spark, and we’re not even talking about the changes coming to the nameplate. Instead, we’re discussing the improved interior, stylish exterior, and fuel efficient engine. While the Plus was a beloved model, we’ll take the 2016 Spark any day of the week.