In response to myself:
I re-read the article and I see that the CVT will be the only automatic available. Not that I would buy a Spark (too small) but I certainly would not buy a 2014 because of the CVT.
The two small Jeeps, Patriot and Compass, will drop the CVT, the only automatic they ever had and use a conventional automatic stating with 2014. The CVT is good for about 60k miles before self destructing. They cannot be repaired, only replaced. As a result I do not trust CVTs.
Fortunately no CVT for Sonics.