Chevrolet looks to light a fire under subcompact segment with new Spark

Following up on last week’s announcement of a new Malibu to be shown at the New York auto show, Chevrolet says the second-generation Spark minicar will get its global unveiling at the Seoul auto show at the beginning of April, followed by a North American reveal a day or two later, in New York.

Sporting a sleeker profile and Chevy’s signature design cues, the new Spark promises more sophistication, along with “the youthful whimsy” of the original.

There’s no word of mechanical updates; the current Spark uses a 1.2-litre engine that can be paired with five-speed manual or continuously variable transmissions. Whatever changes Chevrolet does make beyond styling will be aimed at boosting sales: dealers sold 1,577 Sparks in 2014, way down from 2550 the year before.