General Motor’s recent focus on producing small and fuel efficient cars is well known. Their Chevrolet Beat Concept originally unveiled at the 2007 New York Auto Show has been creating a good bit of curiosity amongst the automotive press who after the Chevrolet Cruze, believe that the company can develop and manufacture desirable and value for money cars to keep afloat and maybe even prosper.

Now, Chevrolet has revealed official pictures of the 2011 Spark which will also go on sale in the U.S by 2011 but would come to the Middle East by 2010 itself. The Spark will essentially replace the Chevrolet Matiz here in the Middle East as well as in other international markets. The new Spark is based on the Beat Concept and will be unveiled in the flesh at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. From the pictures the car looks almost as attractive as the funky concept but the large bisected grille and massive peel back headlamps look excessive. The sharp and taut styling has been thankfully retained. When launched, the new Spark will feature two 4-cylinder petrol engines in 1.0 litre and 1.2 litre displacement. These engines are expected to be extremely frugal with expected combined mileage figures of up to 18 km/l.

The new Spark will feature 5-doors, an overall length of 3,640mm and a 2,375mm wheelbase, which the company says is good enough to seat five adults with some bit of luggage. Despite being a urban hatch Chevrolet has equipped the 2011 Spark with 15 inch wheels, driver and passenger front air bags, front side airbags, roof rail head curtain airbags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control. That is essentially to meet current and future crash safety norms for all the international markets it plans to enter.