Chevrolet’s Small
Car Momentum Drives SEMA Concepts
Sonic
Z-Spec 1 concept
DETROIT – Chevrolet’s
small cars are racking up big sales in 2012 and the bowtie brand will
explore their wilder sides at the SEMA Show this year with a stable of
stylized Spark, Sonic and Cruze concepts. The cars demonstrate the
possibilities for customers who want a more personalized driving
experience.
Chevrolet previewed the
concept vehicles ahead of the Oct. 30 opening of the SEMA Show, the
annual automotive aftermarket extravaganza of styling and performance,
along with the multihued “The Color Run” Spark and “Pink Out” Spark – a
car for a cause.
“With Chevy’s new small
cars attracting young buyers with a taste for customization, Spark,
Sonic and Cruze are the perfect canvasses to express their
personalities,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing.
“The content, colors and performance of each concept is being evaluated
for possible production as Chevrolet continues to seek new ways to give
customers more choices.”
Chevy small car sales were up 97 percent
in September. Sonic recorded 7,525 sales for the month, with sales of
nearly 65,000 year to date through September. Spark, which went on sale
earlier this year in 18 U.S. markets, recorded 2,223 sales in September.
The Cruze compact sedan is one of the country’s best-selling cars, with
more than 180,000 sales through nine months of 2012. That includes
25,787 sales in September.
“The momentum with these small cars
continues to build, as more customers discover their fun-to-drive
spirits and high-value content, including great infotainment options –
such as Sonic and Spark’s MyLink features,” said Perry.
The small-car concept vehicles demonstrate
a range of performance-based styling expressions, including the first
application of Chevrolet’s Z-Spec treatment for Spark with family
traits, such as the mesh grille inserts and graphic accents. The Z-Spec
concept demonstrates a cohesive design with a family of
factory-engineered accessories and the best of the aftermarket under a
single theme.
Z-Spec parts could be purchased
individually to suit customer tastes and budgets. They’re designed for
purchase and installation through Chevrolet dealerships with the option
of installation at purchase and cost being rolled into the customer’s
monthly payments. Z-Spec concepts could spawn limited-edition production
models from Chevrolet.
This year’s Chevy small car SEMA vehicles
include:
Cruze Upscale concept
The Cruze Upscale concept moves the
compact sedan up a few rungs on the luxury ladder with a Burnished
Brandy Metallic exterior and unique exterior appointments. Inside is a
brown leather-trimmed interior.
Sonic Z-Spec 1 concept
This performance-oriented vision of the
Sonic sedan blends the Z-Spec aesthetic with a more capable driving
experience, including a power-enhancing exhaust system and upgraded
brakes. The capability is matched with a custom Synergy Green exterior.
Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 concept
A tuner-inspired concept with the
performance to back up its aggressive stance, the Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 sedan
shows what’s attainable with Chevrolet Performance and GM Accessories
parts, along with select aftermarket components and a dash of color.
Spark Z-Spec concept
The Spark Z-Spec demonstrates a cohesive
and branded package of enhancements drawn from accessories already
available through Chevrolet dealers – giving the cheeky Spark a definite
attitude.
Spark Sinister concept
The aggressive-looking Spark Sinister
concept blends rally-inspired exterior cues with a black appearance for
a night-racing aesthetic that looks at home in the shadows of a city’s
industrial district.
‘The Color Run’ Spark
Chevrolet Spark is the official pace car
of The Color Run – a popular, nationwide series of urban 5K races in
which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different
colors for each kilometer – and it leads the pack in a colorful display
of its own. A custom, multihued graphics package gives the Spark a
post-race appearance while a Chevrolet Accessories ground effects kit
and Z-Spec grille give it a sportier profile. The production 15-inch
split spoke wheels are painted white, but don’t stay that way once
color-dousing participants shower this one-of-a-kind pace car with
colored corn starch along the route. Inside, custom seat with The Color
Run graphics are featured, along with Chevrolet Accessories stainless
steel pedal covers and sill plates.
‘Pink Out’ Spark Cancer Awareness Concept
Chevrolet takes a stand against breast
cancer and supports the American Cancer Society with a Techno Pink Spark
that’s adorned with pink ribbon graphics. It also wears Chevrolet
Accessories ground effects and a Z-spec grille. Inside, pink accent
colors – including a pink suede headliner, pillar trim, instrument panel
trim and accent piping – round out the cause-inspired theme. More
information about American Cancer Society’s breast cancer-fighting
programs is available at www.cancer.org.
