General motors(GM) india is pressing on with its plans to launch an all-new small car in january 2010 at the auto expo. Based on the M300 platform, this new small car is essentially the next generation spark which will sell alongside the current spark (m200) in the indian market. It’s not clear if the M300 will bear the spark moniker or a different name altogether to avoid confusion with the existing spark. The large sweptback lights look fantastic and so does the round tail-light cluster. The sheet metal with all its creases and kinks gives the M300 a muscular and taut look. The talking point of the design is how the beltline sharply sweeps upwards into the rear door handles that are integrated behind the rear window. This gives the M3000 a sporty, coupe-like look. The generous 2375mm wheel base points to the car but it remains to be seen how it stacks up against the hyundai i10 which is until now, the most spacious A-segment car.

The M300 will initially come with only a 1.2-litre petrol engine for the indian market. It’s essentially the same 1206cc motor currently used in the face-lifted aveo in international markets.  For india the engine capacity will be reduced to 1199cc by slightly reducing the bore(the stroke remains unchanged). This is to meet the norms for small cars. The all-aluminium twin-cam, 16-valve motor produces an estimated 82 bhp, an impressive power output for a 1.2 motor. The M300’s trump card is the yet-to-be-launched 936cc three cylinder diesel engine which will first do duty in the M300.

The pricing is going to be the key to the M300’s success in india and this time around GM india is not going to make the mistake of overpricing its product only to discount it some months later. A high level of localisation will ensure that the M300 is very competitively priced to take on rivals like the i10 and the A-star. Totally this car going to be on indian roads and going to be car of the year.