2016 Holden Barina Spark teased

This is the first official look at the next-generation Holden Barina Spark, the most affordable model in the Lion brand's range.

The heavily shadowed shape of the Chevrolet version of the Spark doesn't reveal all but shows enough to confirm a sporty new look for the compact car that which will be adorned with Holden badges when it arrives here in 2016.

Former Holden designer and now GM International vice president of Design, Mike Simcoe, says the new model "has evolved and grown up with the segment."

"The youthful whimsy of the original Spark is still in its genes, but it is conveyed in more traditional proportions that reinforce the customer’s refined expectations," said Simcoe.

Motoring.com.au reckons this is code for "we killed the oversized headlights".

Spark will part of Holden's new model assault that promises to deliver 24 major new vehicle launches by 2020.

Chevrolet says it will conduct a simultaneous reveal of the vehicle at the New York and Seoul motor shows in the US and Korea on April 2 and 3 respectively.

The new Spark will replace Holden's slow-selling Barina Spark micro car, which was introduced here in 2010 and is sourced from Korea. The European version of the new 2016 Spark – dubbed Viva – has already been revealed, which will be very similar except for styling changes.

The new Spark's overall proportions are likely to remain the same as the Viva, so expect a compact city-savvy length of just 3680mm – about 40mm longer than the current Barina Spark.

Weight should also follow suit, at around 940kg.

One drawcard of the new Spark is low fuel consumption. In Europe, the Viva is offered with 1.0-litre three-cylinder non-turbo 55kW petrol engine that sips at a rate of just 4.3L/100km – paired with a manual. CO2 emissions are hybrid-like at 99g/km.

Available in 71 markets across the globe, more than 1.1 million Sparks have found homes since it was introduced as the Beat in India in late 2009. Its biggest markets are South Korea, the United States and Mexico in that order.

Australia accounts for a minuscule proportion of total global sales, something Holden wants to improve upon when the Barina Spark arrives in 2016. The current model recorded just 1257 sales last year (2014) comprehensively beaten by several rivals in the micro car class, such as the Mitsubishi Mirage and Fiat 500 with 6478 and 2995 sales alike.