With GM’s future becoming bleaker in bleaker, it’s nice to know that they’re still persistent in rekindling their relationship with the car buying public.  While some companies are known for their flagship models carrying them over the red year in year out, sometimes it’s the other product lines that save the day.  While originally suppose to debut during the Detroit Motor Show, the Chevrolet Spark had to take a rain check with it’s eventual date with consumers due to the internal troubles.  Now that Chevy has finally cleared up it’s schedule, it seems the Spark will have a second shot at wooing the public at the Geneva Motor show, and if expecations are halfway met, maybe, just maybe this will be a start of a beautiful relationship.

So what’s the big deal with the diminuitive Chevy Spark anyway?  If you’ve heard of the Chevy’s Beat Concept, then you’ll probably have high hopes for one of the concept’s spawns, which is (duh) the Spark.  Pushed as a fun and trendy compact car, the mini-car is geared toward the budget-weary consumer (both in short term i.e. the car’s inital price and long term i.e. fuel economy) and/or a younger generation that want to have a more personal connection to your car.  Maybe if the Spark came out earlier  it would have probably given the VW New Beetle some competition as Mandy Moore’s ride of choice in her “Candy” music video. Well ok, not really, but what we’re really getting at here is that it’s more “cute” than anything, if not, borderline “girly”.

Looking inside,the Spark is deceptively roomy, but still wants to be identified as a small fry thanks to the motorcycle-ish instrument cluster found in the steering wheel column.  Which works on motorcycles but looks awkwardly bulky in car. The “cute/girlish” factor is even emphasized thanks to the color template and fabrics used, but maybe it’s an isolated case with this parituclar color.  Form-wise, it’s your standard fare interior of any sedan or coupe that isn’t above the mid-end models. Perhaps the biggest plus here is Chevy’s claim that the Spark will have acoustics that are usually found in larger vehicles despite being a mini-car. Other than that, it’s decidedly very Chevy-esque, with a dual cockpit layout still prominent.

Now, you might think that there’s some sort of hatred or animosity towards this cute little package, but to be quite honest, that’s a small issue considering that it the form-factor and positioning of the Spark is pretty tight.  Of course, consumers will just have to wait and see if the Spark deserves a call back and possibly, a potential second date.

[Source: World Car Fans]

It’s nice to see General Motor’s Saab division being optimistic despite being in a bit of pickle.  Hey maybe a new all-wheel drive, diesel engine CUV is the answer? What? You’ve always wondered what ever happened to the good ol’ 9-7x? Seems the Swedish car maker has finally decided to release a platform that will replace the now defunct series.  The question however is, is it too little too late.

Saab fans and auto enthusiast would certainly hope not.  Especially after an interior shot of the Saab’s 2010 9-4x has been circulating around the Intertubes.  Details are sparse, but hey, from what little that’s been seen so far, the 9-4x might be something to look forward to.

[Source: Left Lane News]

There’s an old English idiom that goes “Don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched”.  Seems the European Division of Honda is somewhat guilty of going against conventional knowledge by releasing some promotional images of planned add-ons for the upcoming 2010 Honda Insight.  While the whole of the Honda empire has been pushing their new Eco-Assist system, peddling added accessories that are sold separately is an entirely different thing.  No doubt that the Japanese car maker is taking a bit of a risk with the Insight, and assembling an entire OEM product line may be a bit premature.

But then again, the public is treated to even more sexy shots of the Honda’s green machine, albeit focused on the the Euro add-ons… which does nothing to really enhance the model’s main pitch of fuel efficiency and features that would make Captain Planet and other smug hybrid owners um…. green with envy.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Word on the street is Audi may actually bring back the Q5 Hybrid back in production.  The whispers started in the Detroit Auto Show when an Audi representative was quoted that Audi needs a hybrid release to remain competitive this year.   So why is this significant?  Well, for starters, hybrids are slowly but surely becoming a viable option as more and more car makers are building their own line of hybrids.  Also, more fuel efficient vehicles may be a better investment than say… supercar concepts that may not even see the light of day and are simply money sinks for companies looking for some geeks to oogle that borderline ridiculous concepts.

Either way, the Q5 Hybrid also happens to have a really nice interior.  Well, ok, maybe it’s nothing spectacular, but that’s what so great about compact hybrids like the Prius: nothing fancy, just a smooth and sleek design that shouts out comfort and an enjoyable drive.  Now, if only Audi can do away with those brown accents….

[Source: World Car Fans]

Volvo is probably best known for producing the world’s safest cars, but many may not know that Volvo is the only manufacturer that produces Oeko-Tex Association certified allergy-friendly interiors.  Despite having done so for nearly a decade, the Swedish still feels the need to make this little factoid known to the public.

With an idea that started in 1998 with the S80, the Volvo bigwigs have made it a point that all their vehicles carry textiles that pass the Oeko-Tex standard.  For those not familiar with Oeko-Tex, well basically it’s a bunch of textile testing and research institutions with members coming from both Eurpoe and Japan.

As to how significant this is on market standpoint, an approximate 35-40% of people suffer from an allergy according to Volvo.  Which is probably enough reason to go to great lengths to implement a oft-ignored condition.  Hopefully, awareness of such a demand or need could prompt other car makers to follow suit.

[Source: World Car Fans]

More mileage seems to be the common demand of today’s automotive market.  What with automakers trying to outdo each other with the latest hybrid models while motorists make sure they drive ecologically and fill their tires with the right amount of air. Honda’s latest offering, the Insight is clearly trying to marry both approaches into one neat package, and doing so with style.

Armed with the new Ecological Drive Assist System (or Eco-Assist as Honda likes to call it) at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the gas hybrid Insight provides some virtual assistance to drivers on the stretching those miles beyond gas-saving driving techniques.

The interface at first look, is gorgeous.  But the real magic happens when the driver presses the green ECON button.  Once activated, the system electronically adjusts transmission, engine and the powertrain to configurations that optimize the consumption of fuel.  Even the A/C and brakes get a few enhancements on ECON mode.  Another neat feature is the live feedback provided by ECON mode.  After all, a computer can never really replace a driver’s brain, so it also provides real-time information on how the car is performing mileage-wise, allowing the driver to fit their driving style to fully maximize fuel consumption.

The Eco-Assist equipped  Honda Insight  scheduled for a mid to late first quarter release in 2009.  No news on what other models will be carrying the system, but it’s pretty safe to say that the other players will be looking at how it actually performs in real driving conditions.

[Source: Honda via World of Car Fans]

Perhaps General Motors is looking to cash in on the election craze, and even outdo America by assigning not only the first African-American Design Director, but the first Afro-American female as well.

Or maybe not so much.

Crystal L. Windham, has been named General Motors’ Director of GM North American Passenger Car Design, making her the head honcho in GM’s Global Midsize Car, Global Compact Car, and Global Small Car, and for good reason.

As the lead designer for the Chevy Malibu, which would eventually win “2008 Car of the Year”, Windham isn’t just around to put a feminine touch to GM’s interior design concpets. With a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and Master’s in Business Administration, Ms. Windham certainly has the chops and the qualifications to hopefully turn things around for GM, at least on the creative front.

Ms. Windham is of course aware of her Obama-like designation, and goes on to leave a message of inspiration to other women looking into a career in the male-dominated automotive business.

“A mentor guided me towards automotive design. Without guidance and support from family and co-workers, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I truly love my job- it’s creative, expressive - but it is not easy. Enjoying what you do, however, makes it all worthwhile. I hope other young women will look to what I have done and be inspired to consider automotive design..”

[Source: The Palm Beach Post]

The ARPRO Porous, or something made from it...

Making the rounds for various car interior engineers is the development of the ARPRO Porous material.  While most enthusiast who veer away from the engineering side of things may look on such developments only in passing, the development of such applications is a huge step in providing unparalleled car comfort.

Produced originally in 1980s by JSP, a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed public company, ARPRO is basically a special kind expanded polypropylene that the company offers for various design solutions, mainly on the automotive front.  ARPRO Porous is the company’s latest offering, which focuses on reduced noise, vibration and harshness (or NVH).

According JSP Executives, the potential for the ARPRO Porous material is expected to achieve huge gains in demand in the future, given current trends towards design direction and environmental concerns.  Being 100% recylable is probably one of the main pillars for the JSP’s push for wholesale ARPRO Porous use.  Company tests claim that the material is 10 times more effective in NVH reduction over it’s predecessor while still retaining it’s lightweight and flexible properties.

Only time will tell if the automotive industry is buying the pitch, but will most definitely go way over the head of the average consumer.

[Source: Easier.com]