Chevy Sonic

I guess I've been under a rock or something. Today was the first I've heard of the Chevy Sonic. So it looks like it is a 4 door sedan or a 5 door hatch. 1.6L turbocharged engine with available 6 speed manual. This is the GM version of the Fiesta/Mazda 2 I guess.

What is the scoop on them?

Pretty much. I looked at them a bit at the New York Auto Show this year. Looks promising.

Kinda cool looking in a small hatch way. I "think" I heard that they are still a joint venture with GM and whoever was building the Aveo (brain fart at this moment), but they will be made in the USA. But I could be wrong.

Never heard of them either. Does it look like Sonic the hedgehog or more like on the of the Sonic drive in's waitresses on roller skates?

It was going to be called Aveo. But I guess since they have a poor reputation they changed the name to Sonic to confuse/mislead the consumers. FWIW I do think the Sonic does look like it will be a lot better than the Aveo.

@bravenrace....Wasnt it Daewoo building the Aveo?

failboat wrote: It was going to be called Aveo. But I guess since they have a poor reputation they changed the name to Sonic to confuse/mislead the consumers. @bravenrace....Wasnt it Daewoo building the Aveo?

If you're going to talk BS, back it up.

1.4 turbo, or the same 1.8 available in the Cruze.

The 2012 Sonic is Chevy's replacement for the Aveo, comes in two versions - hatchback and sedan. Full production starts in May 2011. Available 1.4 liter Ecotec turbo offers 138 horsepower w/ manual six-speed transmission. The Sonic is expected to get 42 miles per gallon on the highway. GM says its competition, the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit, are built outside the U.S., so the company touts the Sonic as the only American-made subcompact. Built at Orion Assembly Plant in SE Michigan.

[James Brown] "Can I getta Hotlink!" [/James Brown]

Sorry, I edited after the fact but will quote myself.

failboat wrote: FWIW I do think the Sonic does look like it will be a lot better than the Aveo.

As for the name........It was called the 2011 Aveo RS concept before it was called the Sonic. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q1/chevrolet_aveo_rs_concept-auto_shows

The Spark/Sonic has been on sale in other markets of the world for the better part of a year.

In the U.K., the magazine CAR rated the Spark/Sonic for it's GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY section....the Spark/Sonic got an UGLY. Tho, to be fair, it did better than the Aveo when rated with 3 stars to the Aveo's 2 stars.

from CAR's review:

"......Spark (Sonic) is built on Aveo platform, replaces ancient (Daewoo) Matiz. Cool 'bike dials and edgy design lift it above Hyundai i10.

SPEC SECRET Chevy claims best-in-class safety gear

RANGE 5 door supermini

OUR PICK Must we?

VERDICT Ask daddy for a Fiesta

OR TRY THIS Hyundai i10"

Apparently, only the U.S. will get the 4 door sedan model.

The front makes me thing Dodge Caliber. The squared off rear makes me thing VW Golf. The hidden rear door handles make me think RX-8.

This thing better be better than an Aveo. I had one of those as a rental once. A bit scary on the interstate, of course it was a slushbox, but that thing really couldn't get out of its own way.

Now that I've seen the pic I can see the familial resemblence to the Sonic Hedgehog. It's definitely not in the beauty catagory of the Sonic waitress on roller skates.

Ugly? Pretty dang close.

And as far as talking trash, he's not the only one who heard all the stories about the Daewoo built Aveo blowing engines right and left.

fasted58 wrote:

Chevrolet recently announced that it will be rebranding its subcompact Aveo hatchback and sedan as the "Sonic," noting that some customers had expressed confusion over how to pronounce the unorthodox name.

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

From what I've read, this shares nothing with the original Aveo.

Too bad it's a 4 dr. A subcompact 2 dr. hatch, with 1.4 turbo would be a HUGE hit, at least here.

I prefer hatch cars, but just like the SX4, I think the sedan is a lot better looking than the hatch.

Haters gonna hate, but at least give them credit for selling this

With a turbo in it

GM said: On the outside, the Z-Spec packed Sonic rides can be fitted with contrasting mirror caps and roof spoiler, contrasting upper and lower grille surrounds and a body graphics package, along with 16- and 17-inch painted lightweight rims. In addition to these cosmetic improvements, the Z-Spec package also has ground effects kit that features a front fascia extension, rocker panel extensions, rear fascia extension and silver exhaust tip. Inside the cabin, the Z-Spec pack offers 2012 Sonic owners sporty aluminum pedals set and sill plates.

Wasn't the Sonic featured in Transformers 2?

I think that was the chevrolet spark

I looked at the Sonic at the North American International Auto Show and I thought it looked pretty good. The hatch was better than the sedan IMHO, but then I've always been a fan of hatchbacks.

Lets just hope people dont follow this lead:

ugh

Any weight numbers?

I saw it at South by Southwest and it looks really cool. For an entry level car it sure looked nice!

integraguy wrote: The Spark/Sonic has been on sale in other markets of the world for the better part of a year.

The Sonic and the Spark are NOT the same car. The Spark and Sonic are based on different platforms and the Sonic has not been sold yet. North American versions will be built in the US, the rest of the world's cars will be built in South Korea.

The Aveo I rented out of Raleigh-Durham to go to the 13hr at VIR last year was absolutely a blast on the backroads, and had PLENTY of power. It got around the few semi's that were on that road with ease. I guess it all depends on your pre-conceived notions going in.