Holden Barina Spark 2010 News

An all-electric Holden Spark - nee Barina Spark - has made its US debut as a production-ready car with plans for sale in North America and across the pond in emission-conscious Europe. But Australia may not miss out. The Spark EV could become Holden's second electric car - after the Volt that debuts here next year - within three years. Holden spokesperson Kate Lonsdale says "we haven't dismissed the Spark EV". "We'll see how it performs in other markets before making a decision. Our focus is on Volt at the moment. We will continue to watch it (Spark EV) before making a decision." In a statement, Chevrolet says the Spark EV "will be sold in limited quantities in select US and global markets starting in 2013". Chevrolet's global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles, Jim Federico, says the car "offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option" "It complements Chevrolet's growing range of electrified vehicles, including the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist technology." The Spark EV will use feedback from trial electric vehicles such as the Sail EV in China, the Beat EV in India and Cruze EV in Korea. "Our global demo fleets continue to provide insight into the needs of electric vehicle customers living in urban environments," says Federico. "The Spark EV is another step in Chevrolet's plan to provide customers with a variety of electrification solutions to address the lifestyle and transportation needs of people around the world." The Spark EV will use a nanophosphate lithium-ion battery pack powering an electric motor with a peak power output of  85kW. However, for durability the motor is rated at a sustainable 75kW. Batteries are from A123 Systems in the US that also supplies similar units for the Fisker Karma electric saloon. The Spark EV is expected to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 18.

Sonic is the new name chosen for the Holden Barina in the USA and the four-door sedan is unveiled at the Detroit motor show to highlight a production switch to an American factory. It's a sign that small cars will be big business in the USA inside five years, as well as proof that General Motors is going global at the bottom end of the business. Sonic will not be used as a name in Australia with the Barina badge to continue on both the new sedan and hatch, a pairing that will sit above the existing Barina Spark. The Barina hatch was first displayed at the Paris motor show last year and the sedan - as the Sonic - starred in Detroit with looks that point to a more upmarket approach to GM's small cars. "Sonic is a statement of what can be expected of this foundational brand in years to come," says Mark Reuss, the head of Chevrolet and former Holden boss who unveils the car as part of Chevy's 100th birthday celebrations. That approach will be reflected in the price, as the new Barina pair will have a $15,000-ish starting sticker, well up from the basic Barina Spark at $12,490. "This is Barina and the smaller version is Barina Spark," says Jonathan Rose, spokesman for GM Holden. "We're getting the sedan and hatch. The hatch will be later this year, around October, and the sedan about this time next year. The cars are coming from Korea. The US will build theirs locally." There is some impressive stuff in the Spark - yet to be confirmed for Barina - including 10 airbags and a sports suspension system tuned by the team behind Chevrolet's blaster car, the Corvette. Both cars will come with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, unlike the Spark that is currently only sold as a manual. GM claims more rear-seat space than the Ford Fiesta and best-in-class boot space for the Barina sedan, as well as youth-essential features such as Bluetooth USB connectivity. The spirit of the SS Commodore could be tapped for a high-performance Barina. Chevrolet has a Sonic with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine that makes 102 kiloWatts and a dress-up pack that is being considered for Australia. It is called the Z Spec is only billed as a concept car in Detroit but is clearly intended to put some punch into the Sonic is a country where small cars are still not particularly popular. GM Holden admits it can see potential in a Z Spec version of the Barina but is not making any commitment. "The Z Spec is a concept. No decision has been made on whether it will be introduced in Australia. We'll be sure to assess it," says Jonathan Rose.

The 66TDI Comfortline, priced from $22,350 (over the $19,850 CCOTY-winning petrol 77TSI Comfortline) saw off a strong challenge from Toyota's Camry Hybrid to seal a remarkable double for a brand whose Golf 118TSI won the 2009 CCOTY.The small South African-made hatchback got home with 31 points over the $36,990 Camry sedan, the first petrol-electric hybrid made in Australia, which scored 28.  The other challengers were both Holdens: the Korean-made Barina Spark city car, and the Commodore E85.Four of the Best Green Car's nine judges posted the Polo as their first choice, ensuring the narrow win.Judges were asked to consider the following these criteria:- Fuel consumption- Type of fuel and cost/availability- CO2 emissions- Impact on gross emissions (i.e. the net reduction in CO2 balanced against the expected sales of the vehicle)- Value of car- Safety of car- Technology of car- Function (including achievement of intended use, handling, performance)Aside from being the most frugal car in terms of fuel consumption, the Polo was felt by most to best satisfy all these stiff requirements.  Running VW's newest small capacity turbo diesel, the 1.6 TDI puts out 66kW (as its model name conveys) and an extremely useful 230Nm from 1750-2500 rpm. This low down torque gives the little hatch the assertive punch of a bigger engine and enables economical cruising.The five speed manual version uses as little as 4.0 litres per 100km in open road conditions and 5.8 in the city for a hybrid-challenging 4.7 litres in combined use.  The optional seven speed DSG adds $2500 to the purchase price, reduces combined fuel use to 4.6 litres while adding the convenience of an automatic transmission.Equally important in the context of the Best Green Car, the Polo TDI's emissions are a low 124 grams of Co2 per kilometre, 121 with DSG.  While priced above the most cars of its class, the new Polo has greater technical sophistication and badge desirability, while in terms of function it is almost as roomy as a Mark IV Golf of the 1990s.As a driving experience, it's shaded by its petrol sibling, which also runs only a little less lean at 5.5L/100km, but the TDI runs on diesel rather than comparatively expensive premium unleaded petrol and its 45-litre tank will require less frequent refilling.Judge Neil Dowling sees it was a "case of proven diesel technology fighting upstarts with hybrid power," noting that the Polo has a "particulate filter to get hydrocarbon emissions right down".Says Stuart Martin: "Volkswagen's new Polo might not be the cheapest contender in the Best Green Car field but experience says it's a first-rate package - the diesel engine's numbers are tough to ignore."Karla Pincott goes further: "The little VW shows that you don't have to sacrifice style, safety - or even driving dynamics - on the altar of greener fuel figures."But it was a near-run thing.  The Camry Hybrid found favour with guest judge, former rally ace and safety advocate, Ed Ordynski, who approves its combination of "remarkable fuel efficiency with strong performance, outstanding refinement and high safety levels and that efficiency gets better, the heavier the heavier the traffic".Carsguide managing editor Ged Bulmer was: "pleasantly surprised," by the Camry Hybrid, which is "better balanced, more sure-footed and a superior drive to its non-hybrid siblings"."As the first Australian-built hybrid it also represents an important dawn for local manufacturing of a technology that will only going to become more widespread," Bulmer says.Not that the others found no favour, Mark Hinchliffe saying the $12,490 Barina Spark is "the right frugal car for our times" and a "complete package with safety features such as six airbags and keen pricing".

The Spark, still to be confirmed but most likely to become a price-leading Barina in Australia next year, only manages a four-star score in the Euro NCAP tests.  It's not a bad result, but the NCAP benchmark now  — in Australia, Europe and Japan — is a five-star score.The Spark only misses five stars because ESP is not fitted as standard in Europe, although that is unlikely to be a problem in Australia as Victoria forces all makers to fit stability control on vehicles sold in the state from next year.The list of five-star NCAP successes grows through the latest testing to include the Mazda3 and Mercedes-Benz E Class already on sale as well as the BMW X1, Citroen DS3 and Peugeot 5008 expected here next year.The Holden Cruze, which already has a five-star tick thanks to ANCAP testing locally, is confirmed with five stars after crashes with a Chevrolet-badged left-hand drive model. And GM was praised by Euro NCAP for its overall safety work.  "The company has bounced back with two cars that have a commendable level of safety performance," says Euro NCAP chief, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, commenting on the Cruze and the latest baby Astra.Cars not sold in Australia to make the five-star hit list are the Infiniti FX, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Opel Astra and Volkswagen Scirocco while the Toyota Urban Cruiser, a Europe-only model, trailed the pack with a lacklustre three-star result. "The result from Toyota is disappointing, but in 2010, we predict further results like these as Euro NCAP’s next stage of the rating scheme kicks in and requirements become even tougher," says van Ratingen.Euro NCAP is pushing hard with testing, rating both seats and head restrains for whiplast protection as well as including a score for safety assistance systems. "The Citroën DS3, Infiniti FX, Peugeot 5008 and the Mercedes GLK have driver controlled speed limitation systems fitted as standard or soon to be introduced as standard. These systems greatly assist the driver in maintaining the safest speed according to the driving environment," says van Ratingen.