General Motors has announced plans to begin selling the new Chevrolet Spark minicar this summer in an attempt to attract buyers who want high MPGs at a low price.
Minicars haven't exactly sold well in America, and many of the domestic automakers have avoided them. However, bolstered by recent upswings in sales of smaller cars, GM plans to bring the Spark to dealerships in the U.S in August. The vehicle has been a hit in many other parts of the world.
"It's been very successful for us around the globe, so the decision was, can we get some incremental sales out of this, can we bring some people into the franchise that we haven't seen in the past? Let's see how it goes," Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of global marketing, told USA Today.
The Spark will go head-to-head with vehicles like the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500. One potential problem for the car will be a downtrend in gasoline prices. The Spark likely would have been an initial success with prices hovering around $4 per gallon, but with costs expected to be closer to $3 per gallon in August, some buyers may shy away from the model.
Drivers don't necessarily have to buy a new car to increase their fuel economy. A car tune up and inflating tires can help drivers keep up their MPGs on their current car at minimal cost.