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GM drops price of Spark EV to $25,995; lease to $139/month

The drive to lower EV prices continues. GM announced today that the base model 2015 Chevy Spark EV 1LT would get a price cut to $25,995. That's $1,500 less than it used to be but the bigger news might be the lowered lease price. Instead of $199 a month, all that Chevy is asking for to get you into an all-electric Spark now is $139 a month (39 months, with no money due at signing), down from the 36-month, $199-a-month lease cost with a $999 down payment. Sadly, the number of states where the Spark EV can be bought is almost as small as the lease payment: the car is available only in California, Oregon and Maryland (well, Maryland won't be ready until the summer). GM is doing more than just lowering the MSRP. On top of the federal and state tax incentives available, GM is offering bonus cash in all three states ($1,000 in California, $1,200 in Maryland, and $3,500 in Oregon). If you're wondering why those numbers vary so much, take a look at the already-available state EV incentives in play: California offers $2,500 and Maryland $2,300. Somehow, they all balance out. If you do some addition with the $7,500 federal tax credit, you see that the Spark EV can be had for $11,000 off the MSRP no matter where you buy. If you qualify for everything, $14,995 is a darn good deal for an EV, especially one as fun as the Spark. Related Video: 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV Repriced to Offer Greater Value As low as $14,995 after full federal and state tax credits and Chevrolet Bonus Cash 2015-04-14 DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today Spark EV 1LT's new manufacturer's suggested retail price would start at $25,995. Depending on an individual's tax situation, the Spark EV is eligible for federal tax credit up to $7,500. "Chevrolet is committed to making EV driving more accessible, affordable and fun" said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet Car and Crossover Marketing. "The Spark EV is already the most efficient – and one of the most affordable – EVs you can buy. 2015 Spark EV customers will benefit from an impressive blend of technology, capability and low cost of ownership, now at an even more impressive price." California and Maryland Spark EV owners may also qualify for a $2,500 California state rebate or $2,300 Maryland excise tax exemption. Additional Chevrolet bonus cash is also available: $1,000 in California, $1,200 in Maryland, and $3,500 in Oregon. After full federal and state tax credits and Chevrolet bonus cash, the Spark EV could be as low as $14,995.

Dodge Challenger outsold Mustang, Camaro in third quarter of 2019

The Dodge Challenger is nearly old enough to start driver's ed in some states, and it doesn't have a firm grasp on the increasingly crucial concept of downsizing, yet it beat the odds to become the most popular American two-door model during the third quarter of 2019. Its ballooning sales figures suggest buyers don't always want the latest, most advanced car they can get their hands on. Dodge sold 18,031 examples of the Challenger during the third quarter of 2019, a shocking 21% increase over the same period in 2018. It's a true muscle car, normally sardined in the same can as the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang, a pair of smaller, nimbler two-doors that are much closer to the historic definition of a pony car. Semantics aside, the Mustang finished on the second spot of the sales podium with 16,823 sales, a 12.3% drop compared to the third quarter of 2018, and the Camaro took third with 12,275 sales, a 15% dip that alarmingly comes in the wake of two redesigns. More specific sales figures aren't available. We don't know what percentage of the sales mix V8s represent, or whether buyers prefer manual or automatic transmissions. The scoreboard looks different when we examine 2019's year-to-date figures. The Mustang takes first place with 55,365 sales, followed by the Challenger at 46,699, and the Camaro at 36,791. While the Challenger's recent ascent is encouraging, it can't mask the fact that two-door models no longer enjoy a favorable tailwind, and the entire segment — not just the American entries — is declining. The aforementioned year-to-date figures are down by 10.1, 11, and 7.6 percent, respectively. The third-quarter statistics revealed a handful of other surprises unrelated to the world of performance. Dodge notably sold three examples of the Dart, a sedan it hasn't built since 2016. That's a 93% drop compared to the 45 units that found a home during the third quarter of 2018.

Is this GM's next electric crossover?

GM made headlines this week when CEO Mary Barra presented the company's electrification and automation plans at the Barclays Global Automotive Conference in New York. "We are committed to a future electric vehicle portfolio that will be profitable," Barra said, which could be taken as a jab at Tesla. In the presentation ( PDF here), though, we see a new vehicle in a slide titled "Leveraging existing BEV platform to expand in near term." The vehicle, seen above, accompanied the captions "New CUV entries" and "two entries by 2020." Is this a sneak preview of an upcoming electric crossover from GM? The image seems too realistic and intentional to be a random placeholder. If this is, indeed, an upcoming battery-electric CUV based on the Bolt, the question remains: Will it be a Chevy or a Buick? It has no visible badging, but it shares DNA from both brands. As Inside EVs points out, though, it does bear a resemblance to the Chevrolet FNR-X concept unveiled in Shanghai earlier this year. With two CUVs on the way, it's not unthinkable that there could be a version for each brand. In addition to this slide, the presentation includes plans for an "All new multi-brand, multi-segment platform" launching in 2021. The all-new modular battery system will cost less than $100 per kWh, providing higher energy density and faster charging. The platform will host at least nine different vehicles, including a compact crossover, seven-seat luxury SUV and a large commercial van. GM has said it will launch 20 new EVs by 2023, and that it targets 1 million EV sales per year by 2026. Many of those sales will be in China. Related Video: