Chevrolet tried an imaginative method of drawing our attention to the virtues of their new Spark while we were on the launch last week.
Me and co-driver Tom Webster tackled their challenge to see how quickly we could pack several crates of bananas in the boot, secure three monkeys on the back bench, get in the front and close the doors.
The record time of the day was 34 seconds – we were a full ten seconds off the best time. Watch the video above to see how we got on (apologies for the poor quality, it was filmed on a phone).
Thanks to Chevrolet’s Craig Cheetham who acted as our cameraman.
Poring over the video replay afterwards it’s clear we lost precious seconds by running into each other, and I made matters worse by nearly ripping one of the monkeys’ heads off…
We did a little better in the parallel parking challenge, manoeuvring the little Spark into place in just eight seconds.
But we learned later one of our Italian colleagues had performed the feat in half the time the day before. They must get a lot of practice…
Read our Chevrolet Spark review
by Keith Collantine, expert guide editor
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GM launched Chevrolet Spark in India as a come-back vehicle to the long forgotten Matiz. GM is trying to grab a 10 percent share of the rapidly growing automobile market in India by 2010. Chevrolet Spark will be produced at GM’s Halol factory near Baroda.
The automaker will also consider exporting the Spark, which is a version of the Daewoo Matiz, to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. India’s small-car market makes up the lion’s share of the country’s market for passenger vehicles. The Spark has a more stylish and expensive look in comparison to its predecessor, so that it can compete in the small car segment in the country.
Charlie Williams