Apple’s Siri “Intelligent Assistant” Comes to Chevrolet Spark and Sonic LTZ / RS from 2013

The late Jim Morrison sang, “keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel”. These lyrics from The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” would make a perfect match for Apple’s new Siri app that, from early next year, will be available in two of Chevrolet’s city cars.

More specifically, the company announced today that the Spark and Sonic LTZ and RS owners will be able to pair their cars’ standard MyLink infotainment system to Siri, provided, of course, they have an iPhone running Apple’s iOS 6.

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New Chevrolet Spark EV Priced at US$25,000 with Tax Incentives

It’s true that the words “fun” and “electric vehicle” don’t usually feature in the same sentence, especially if the vehicle in question is a city car.

Chevrolet, though, claims that the 2014 Spark EV, which was officially introduced ahead of its world debut at the LA Auto Show tomorrow, offers both one of the best ranges among electric vehicles on sale today and a sub-8.0 seconds 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration time.

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Pure Electric 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Revealed, Accelerates to 60mph in Under 8 Seconds [w/Video]

Electric cars are all about offering a green alternative to fossil fuel-powered models (though, this is debatable if you consider where electricity comes from), but Chevrolet's newly developed Spark EV that was introduced ahead of its world premiere at the LA Auto Show this month, doesn't lack in performance, at least not on paper.

The 2014 Spark EV is driven by an oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor that according to GM's own words, "produces at least 100 kW", which is equal to 134hp or 136PS, and a massive instantaneous torque of around 400 lb.-ft. (542Nm!) with the coaxial drive unit.

Combined with the small footprint of the Spark, this results to a 0-60mph (96km/h) acceleration time less of than eight seconds, always according to GM.

“When our team set out to develop the propulsion system for Spark EV, we knew we had to provide surprising fun-to-drive acceleration with maximum efficiency,” said Spark EV Chief Engineer Chuck Russell.

“What we think customers will enjoy most is how fun Spark EV is to drive; it’s seamless and power is available at every stage of the drive,” Russell added. “This will help us to provide an exciting option for those customers who are looking for an EV that’s as much fun to drive as it is environmentally responsible.”

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GM Says it will have 500,000 Vehicles with Some Form of Electrification on Roads by 2017

There is a greener future lying ahead for General Motors, which plans to have up to 500,000 vehicles on the road with some form of electrification by 2017, according to product chief Mary Barra.

On Wednesday, the company’s top product development executive said GM will focus on electric vehicles, and plug-in and mild hybrids instead of conventional hybrids.

“The plug-in offers a unique opportunity to change the way people commute,” Barra told the reporters attending the GM Electrification Experience in San Francisco. “Plug-based solutions will play a significant role in our technology portfolio going forward.”

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Chevy to Debut Production Spark EV, Showcase New Impala's MyLink at LA Auto Show

If you checked out our list with the world premieres of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, you already know that Chevrolet Spark EV is among them, but today, General Motors made it official.

The plug-in electric version of the Spark city car will be introduced in final production trim in LA before it begins to arrive in dealerships across the U.S. and select global markets in the first half of 2013, with more specific details to be announced.

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Chevrolet's Compact Models to Show Both their Tough and Caring Sides in Las Vegas

From funky to speedy, and from socially responsible to wild, Chevrolet's SEMA Show booth promises to have a little something for everybody.

Today, the bowtie brand revealed its small car plans for the Las Vegas event at the end of the month, where it will be represented by several customized concepts of its Spark, Sonic and Cruze models.

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Chevy to Debut 2013 Spark Facelift, Orlando Turbo and Malibu Diesel at the Paris Auto Show

Besides the world premiere of the new Trax small SUV that we have already shown you, Chevrolet's Paris Motor Show stand will also host the European premieres of the 2013 Spark facelift, and new engine variants of the Orlando MPV and Malibu sedan.

Chevrolet has brought the European market version of the Spark subcompact in line with the North American specification model that just went on sale this year.

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GM Infographic Tells the Global Tale of the New Chevy Spark

As the new Chevrolet Spark hatchback begins to arrive in showrooms across the U.S., General Motors decided to share a second infographic with us about its mini car, which was first launched in South Korea in 2009 having sold more than 600,000 units worldwide up to date.

Whereas the first information graphic concentrated on the Spark's size, this one includes some interesting and some not-so-interesting facts about the car from around the world.

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KBR Motorsport Plays Around with the Chevrolet Spark

The crew from the German tuning firm KBR Motorsport has taken a new interest in the Chevrolet Spark city car presenting an upgrade kit for the five-door hatchback model in Europe.

KBR Motorsport fits the car with a lowering kit from suspension specialist H&R and a new set of 17-inch Barracuda Voltec T6 alloy wheels finished in a matte black shade and shod in 185/35R17 sport tires.

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GM's Spark-o-Graphic Compares America's 1970's Sedans with Today's Small Cars

Back in the 1960s and even more so in the first half of the 1970s, American automakers produced some of the largest mainstream cars ever, before the oil crisis put an end to these dinosaurs of the automobile industry.

General Motors, of course, was no exception. One example is the fifth generation of the Chevrolet Impala that measured a whopping 222.0 inches (5,639 mm) long.

On the occasion of the U.S. launch of its new 2013 Chevrolet Spark, the Detroit carmaker released an info graphic comparing the city car with the average American sedan in the early 1970s.

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Chevrolet Announces Pricing for 2013 Spark, Starts at $12,995

GM is getting ready to enter the small car segment with its new 2013 Spark, which made its North American debut at last November's 2011 LA Auto Show. Today, the Detroit company released pricing ahead of the Spark's market launch later this year.

The small city car will be available with a single engine option, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit producing 85-horses, and in three trim levels starting at $12,995 (including destination) for the LS that gets 15-inch alloys, 10 airbags and an electronic stability control system with traction control and brake assist.

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