The European 2013 Chevrolet Spark debuts in Paris with a familiar design

The Chevrolet Spark has just arrived for the 2013 model year in North American GM dealerships but the subcompact Chevy 5-door has been on sale in Europe for several years now. When GM unveiled the “new” Spark for the 2013 model year in the US, the diminutive Chevy had a unique look from that seen on the pre-existing Spark design used in Europe. However, with the debut of the European 2013 Chevrolet Spark, our friends across the pond now get a Spark with a similar exterior design to the one on sale now in the good ol’ USA.

The most noticeable difference with the 2013 Chevrolet Spark for the European market is the new lower front fascia that now wears a grille opening that runs from one side of the under-bumper area to the other. Integrated into this lower grille opening are a set of redesigned fog lights in chrome housings with a new angular design. For comparison, the 2012 European Spark had a lower grille opening that bowed down to the lower edge of the fascia to create almost a frowning look while the fog lights were independently mounted on the outer edges of the fascia with a round design and significantly less chrome trim. The front end of the 2013 Euro Spark also has headlights with a refreshed layout behind the massive lens.

Out back, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark making its debut this week on the floor of the 2012 Paris Motor Show has a 3rd brake light that is integrated into the high mounted rear spoiler as opposed to the previous models that had the 3rd brake light in the rear window – along with a new lower fascia area that adds a touch of body coloring below the darkened reflector area of the rear bumper.

Finally, the inside of the European 2013 Chevrolet Spark features a bit more storage space thanks to a new center console.

The Euro-spec 2013 Chevrolet Spark is available with two four cylinder gasoline engines: a 1.0L mill producing 68 horsepower and a “larger” 1.2L engine that offers 82 horsepower – 2 less ponies than the 1.2L engine available in the US Spark.

While the Chevrolet Spark available in the US market already featured many of the styling cues that debuted at the ongoing Paris Motor Show, the addition of these American market design elements to the European market draws attention to the automaker’s move to offer the similar versions of the same car around the world – effectively promoting the global vehicle design that both GM and Ford have adopted over the past few years.