2013 Sonic RS  | 2013 Sonic | 2013 Sonic Z-Spec 1 concept | 2013 Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 Concept | 2013 Sonic Dusk |
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MSRP: $13,735-17,235
Invoice: $13,392-16,373
2012 Chevrolet Sonic news, pictures, and information | ||
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Chevrolet Creates Waves With The All-New 2012 Sonic
• Small car wîth aggressive, youthful design in five-door and sedan models• Available Ecotec 1.4L turbo wîth an estimated 138 hp (103 kW)
• Engineered for agile, athletic ride and handling
• Smart connectivity features including MyChevrolet smart phone app
• Only small car built in America
Chevrolet displayed the all-new 2012 Sonic at the North American International Auto Show. Its youthful, aggressive design is backed by turbocharged performance and agile ride and handling, combining to deliver an efficient, fun-to-drive small car.
The Sonic is offered in two body styles: a stylish four-door sedan and a sporty five-door. Each delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space. A variety of connectivity features enhance the driving experience.
'The all-new Chevrolet Sonic blends the practicality of a small car wîth the passion for driving that Chevrolet vehicles like the Corvette are known for,' said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. 'Its combination of great design, fun driving experience and the latest connectivity features create a serious competitor wîth a fun spirit.'
Production of the Sonic begins later in 2011 at the General Motors Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, which received a $545-million investment in upgrades and retooling, and will help restore approximately 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan Detroit area.
'Chevrolet is the only company building a small car in the Únited States,' said Perry. 'We believe the Sonic will bring substance to the §egmènt, wîth progressive styling, performance and value that will change perceptions of what a small car can be in America.'
Sonic's highlights include:
• Available efficient Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine rated at an estimated 138 horsepower (103 kW) – 18 horsepower (14 kW) more than Ford Fiesta – that delivers competitive fuel economy. It's the same engine used in the Chevrolet Cruze in a smaller, lighter package for a greater feeling of performance• Standard Ecotec 1.8L engine paired wîth five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions
• Ecotec 1.4L turbo available wîth a six-speed manual transmission
• Ride and handling tuned by Chevy Corvette engineers; standard electronic power §teering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control wîth rollover sensing
Sedan model offers §egmènt-best trunk capacity that is greater than most compact cars; hatchback and sedan offer better rear-seat roominess than Ford Fiesta. With a rear seat that folds nearly flat, the Sonic hatchback has greater cargo capacity than Fiesta
• Connectivity includes OnStar wîth six months of Turn-by-Turn navigation. (posted on conceptcarz.com) Available features include XM Satellite Radio, ÚSB and Bluetooth functionality and MyChevrolet mobile application wîth OnStar MyLink vehicle connectivity
• Remote start, heated front seats and sunroof, all rarities in the §egmènt
Comprehensive safety features include 10 standard air bags, antilock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and OnStar wîth Automatic Crash Response.
Progressive exterior design
From every angle, Sonic sedan and five-door models convey strength, stability and refinement. A wide, planted stance, wîth wheels-at-the-corners proportions, conveys performance. Progressive, raked body lines suggest movement even when the car is stationary.
Aggressive cues, including fender flares and motorcycle-inspired round headlamps, are blended wîth global design cues – a dual-element grille and round taillamps – for a design instantly recognizable as Chevrolet. The leading edge of the hood forms a character line above the headlamps, which flows in a sleek side profile characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile.
The sedan and five-door models are distinctively different. The five-door carries a tight, two-box shape wîth aggressive, diving feature lines, while the sedan's 'notchback' profile has a more upscale and mature presence. At first glance, the five-door model looks like a three-door hatch because the rear door handles are discreetly located in the 'C'-pillar area. The rear of the five-door continues wîth unconventional details, including exposed, motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps.
Details that reinforce Sonic's quality and attention to detail include chrome grille surrounds and matte black honeycomb grille inserts on all models, while a range of large wheel sizes, including 17-inch alloy wheels, reinforces its sporty demeanor.
Inspired interior
Sonic's cabin complements the motorcycle-inspired exterior wîth a detailed instrument cluster featuring a large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, wîth a large digital speedometer display. Additional interior highlights include:
• The mid-instrument panel surface is available in two colors (dark titanium and brick) and flows seamlessly into the upper doors, wîth premium low-glass finishes
The automatic shift knob has a 'cobra head' design,' while the manual shifter has a chrome-finished knob
• Tubular outboard climate outlets protrude from the instrument panel surface.
The interior includes storage compartments in the center stack and doors. The rear seats fold flat for carrying larger items. Front bucket seats are standard and heated front seats are available.
Cruze-based powertrains
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 1.8 L., 4-cylinder Power: 135 hp Torque: 125 ft-lbs Engine : 1.4 L., 4-cylinder Power: 138 hp Torque: 148 ft-lbs | |
6-speed Manual, 6-speed Automatic | |
The Ecotec 1.4L turbo's power ratings are estimated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance. Premium design elements give the engine world-class smoothness and durability. Features include:
• Low-mass hollow-frame cast iron block
• Dual overhead camshafts wîth variable valve timing
• Chain-driven cams
• Roller-finger camshaft followers
• Piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler
• Variable-flow oil pump
• Electronically controlled thermostat.
The 1.4L's turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility in small vehicles. A reinforced crankshaft and stronger connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine's pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.
The naturally aspirated Ecotec 1.8L engine has many of the same features of the Ecotec 1.4L turbo. It is a compact and durable four-cylinder engine designed for low maintenance, low emissions and fuel efficiency. Its two-stage variable intake manifold allows approximately 90 percent of peak torque to be available from 2,400 rpm to 6,500 rpm. It is estimated at 135 horsepower (101 kW), along wîth 123 lb.-ft. of torque (167 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.
Engineered for agile, athletic ride and handling
The Sonic brings agility and a fun-to-drive feel that is rare in the §egmènt. Engineers who also work on the Corvette tuned the Sonic's confident ride and handling, giving it a more direct and athletic feel, while balancing the vehicle for the broad range of driving conditions in North America.
All models feature a MacPherson strut front suspension wîth coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension – featuring a robust, tubular V-shape beam – wîth gas-charged shocks. The front and rear tracks are identical at 59.4 inches (1,509 mm), for well-planted stability and excellent balance.
Electronic power §teering is standard and features a wear compensator that continually adjusts the system interaction wîth the §teering gear to ensure precise §teering action over the life of the system.
Sonic's body structure is designed to be one of the stiffest in the §egmènt. Its rigidity enabled engineers to tune the ride and handling more precisely. Sonic's unique 'flat top frame' cradle, for example, assures optimal stiffness in the front chassis portion of the vehicle. The rear axle is essentially a straight axle without contour for packaging restraints and reduced noise, vibration and harshness.
A range of wheel sizes is available, including 17-inch wheels and sport tires. Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes are standard, along wîth a four-channel antilock braking system. The four-sensor system – one at each wheel – incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo.Source - Chevrolet
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2012| Comparable Vehicles | |
| Chevrolet Cruze | ($16,725-23,115) |
| Fiat 500 | ($15,500-23,500) |
| Ford Fiesta | ($13,200-17,500) |
| Ford Focus | ($16,270-22,765) |
| Honda Civic | ($15,605-23,355) |
| Honda Fit | ($15,175-19,545) |
| Hyundai Accent | ($12,445-16,795) |
| Hyundai Elantra | ($15,195-20,445) |
| Kia Forte | ($15,200-19,600) |
| Kia Forte 5 Door | ($15,200-19,600) |
| Kia Forte Koup | ($15,200-19,600) |
| Kia Rio | ($13,300-17,700) |
| Kia Rio 3-Door | ($13,400-17,700) |
| Kia Rio5 | ($13,600-17,700) |
| Mazda 3 | ($15,200-24,200) |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | ($15,695-27,995) |
| Nissan Sentra | ($16,060-20,620) |
| Nissan Versa | ($10,995-18,395) |
| Scion iQ | : |
| Suzuki SX4 Sedan | ($13,699-19,799) |
| Toyota Yaris | ($14,115-17,200) |
| Volkswagen Jetta | ($16,495-27,545) |
| Similar Automakers | |
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| Chevrolet: 2011-2020 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Chevrolet History |
| Other models by Chevrolet |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Vehicle Recall Information |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2011 Detroit Auto Show |
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| 2013 Sonic RS | 2013 Sonic | 2013 Sonic Z-Spec 1 concept | 2013 Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 Concept | 2013 Sonic Dusk |
