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| Chevrolet
Spark LS |
Broadcast
date : 2nd July 2006 |
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The Spark LS has become a lot
better looking in its face-lift guise, with the headlights
moving away from the old Daewoo-like tear drop shape.
Re-styled tail-lights, a roof-spoiler, and colour-coded wing
mirrors, both of which are electrically adjustable, add a
degree of fashion appeal.
Out on the road, the more-powerful LS is quickly identified by
colour-coded bumpers which make the car look more
substantial too, less like a shopping appliance.
The main reason for paying an extra R14 000 for the Spark LS
is the real-world performance that the one-litre engine
offers. While we missed the distinctive three-cylinder drone
of the Spark L, we were impressed with the 47 kilowatt output
of the four-cylinder.
The Spark LS weighs just 850 kilograms, and its power to mass
ratio sees it outgun most of its rivals in the sub 1,2 litre
category.
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It’s quite capable on the open road, while inside it’s
refreshingly modern. Even the centrally mounted instrument pod
didn’t bug us too much.
A quick action gear-lever and instrumentation that includes an
easy-to-read rev-counter makes hustling the little Spark fun,
although we found the secondary warning light instrument panel
a styling afterthought.
You don’t get leather seats or air-con at this price, but
you do get electric front window winders.
Considering the fact that the car is so light, directional
stability is excellent and the very basic strut-up-front,
beam-axle-rear layout imparts a surprisingly smooth ride over
all road surfaces. There is a degree of body lean, but it’s
all good predictable stuff.
The torque maximum of 87 Newton Metres makes it very drivable,
and Car Magazine notched a 13,8 second 0-100 and 160 km/h
top-speed, which puts it somewhat above shopping car levels.
Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LS
- Engine:
Four-cylinder petrol, 995 cc
- Power: 47 kW @ 5
400 rpm
- Torque: 87 Nm @ 4
200 rpm
- Transmission:
Five-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
- 0-100 km/h: 13,8
seconds (Car Magazine)
- Top speed: 160 km/h
(Car Magazine)
- Fuel consumption:
8,12 litres/100 km (Car Magazine)
- Price: R76 140
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