The Chevrolet Spark EV isn’t the only electric car General Motors is working on. The American motor giant is preparing to launch an EV called Springo in Asian markets. The Springo is the product of a partnership between GM and China’s SAIC Motor Corporation Limited.
So far, all GM and SAIC are releasing are a couple of teaser photos, but don’t expect anything too out of the ordinary when the car is fully revealed. The Springo’s design is reportedly a combination of the Chevy Sail concept from the 2010 Guangzhou Motor Show and the Volt.
Like the Volt, the Springo will be a compact hatchback, probably with the same general shape for aerodynamic efficiency. Volt styling cues are very apparent in the front end, which features the same grille as Chevy’s plug-in hybrid, complete with fake mesh.
GM hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but the Springo will reportedly get its motivation from the same 87 horsepower electric motor as the Spark EV, with electricity coming from a lithium ion battery pack of undetermined size.
The Springo’s maximum range is tentatively being quoted at 93 miles, giving it a significant advantage over the Nissan Leaf (79 miles), Ford Focus Electric (76 miles), and the Coda sedan (88 miles), which is also made in China. Top speed is a less-impressive 80 mph.
The Springo will be unveiled at the 2012 Guangzhou Motor Show, which opens November 23. GM and SAIC plan to put the car on sale in China before the end of the year, and possibly export it to other Asian countries in 2013. The Springo could be sold either as a Chevrolet or under its own brand name.
Pricing will most likely be announced at Guangzhou, but so far the Springo is shaping up to be more of an economy EV than a Tesla Model S competitor. This compact EV probably won’t move the segment forward.
Instead, the Springo will be a volume seller, competing against Nissan, Ford, and possibly GM’s own Chevy Volt. A potential Volt (meaning low) level of fit and finish, and a piddling 87 hp, mean buyers in Europe and America probably won’t be missing the Springo, unless it is extremely cheap.
Thanks for the very public ignorance, Stephen. The Volt has won numerous awards for COY and the one thing almost every reviewer agrees on is the unusually great job on fit and finish. My last two cars were a BMW M3 and an Audi A4 and I’ll take the Volt’s F & F over either, especially the BMW. Far better than my wife’s Prius, too. But I understand, writing for an affiliate of Fox News, facts aren’t your primary concern…
Just because I think the Volt’s interior isn’t good enough for a nearly $40,000 car (don’t have a problem with the rest of the Volt, actually) doesn’t mean I’m part of a right wing conspiracy.
Amusing response. Perhaps you might want to back off the paranoid hysteria on your side before accusing others. I understand that people like you have zero concept about what automotive development costs are, that’s almost always obvious. But perhaps basic math would help in your case.
The Volt costs $41k-$43k base. The electric powertrain alone costs about $15, or $11k more than a standard ICE. So GM should have put Audi-like levels of interior and then tried to sell the car at an even higher price? Yeah, consumers and the right-wing blogging world would have loved that even more than they already do… And, actually, almost every review I’ve read has been very complimentary of the interior. Perhaps not class-leading, but low level on interior?
But you make things even more amusing with a complete lack of knowledge of the Chinese market, what GM is going there, etc…
“This compact EV probably won’t move the segment forward.”
Uh, in what sense. Releasing another pure EV when there are few, in the largest market in the world, where subsidies are huge means nothing… Why, exactly. Is every EV supposed to compete with Tesla’s $80k-$110k cars? How many thousands has Tesla sold thus far again? I’m a big fan of Tesla and I work with them, but comparing a basic EV to be realsed in China to a extremely low-volume $100k car shows a level of ignornce that’s appalling for someone attempting to write for a living.
Please don’t bother to respond, you’ve embarrassed yourself enough and I won’t bother to spend any more time on you and your nonsense.
The simple fact is that the Springo doesn’t offer anything that other pure EVs don’t already have, hence it doesn’t move the segment forward. That’s it. Good day, sir.