2012 Chevrolet Sonic (Aveo replacement)

[Kal-El]

Pretty impressive. The new Yaris has it's work cut out for it.

General Motors has officially yanked back the sheets on the newest sub-compact from Chevrolet, the 2012 Sonic. Just don't call it the Aveo. The five-door hatch and four-door sedan are set to be officially unveiled later today at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, but the Bow Tie brand has been kind enough to share the skinny on this vehicle that's supposed to tango with the likes of the new Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Fiesta. The Sonic will be available with a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, though buyers can opt up for a turbocharged 1.4-liter producing 138 horsepower, which GM underscores is 18 ponies more than the Fiesta. Shifting duties are handled by either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic gearbox.

In fact, it's clear that The General had its sights locked on the Fiesta from the get go. The Sonic hatchback packs more back seat room than its Blue Oval competitor and, with the rear bench folded flat, delivers more cargo room, as well.

GM also put plenty of effort into the suspension by tasking the geometry gurus responsible for the Corvette's mighty grip. Up front, the Sonic benefits from a MacPherson strut design, while a torsion beam handles suspension duties out back.

There's also plenty design-wise to differentiate the Sonic from its homely predecessor, including a more aggressive front fascia with massive headlight arrays. Judging from the photos, the biggest changes are indoors, where a stylish cockpit replaces the bland, bargain plastics of the Aveo.

[DebbyM46227]

I like the 2 door version, it kind of looks like a Soul.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by DebbyM46227

I like the 2 door version, it kind of looks like a Soul.

The hatch is actually a 5 door. The rear handles are hidden. Looks good!

[frownonfun]

is that two door missing handles in the back? looks like it should be a four door.


EDIT:

Originally Posted by Kal-El

The hatch is actually a 5 door. The rear handles are hidden. Looks good!

oh. i see.

[ilikerice]

yea.. i like where the rear door handles are placed behind the back windows. they should have done the same with the front doors also i think like the NSX and new GT-R to have that nice clean smooth look onthe sides

[detroiter]

Still has the flat, "fall on your face" look to the interior. Like it looks sharp but still bland in typical GM fashion, the hatchback version does anyways.

Atleast they didn't pull a Ford/Chrysler and use the same "tic-tac" styled radio that they've been using for the passed 25 years.

I'm interested to see what the price will be on the cars when they come out


It's kind of sad to see Toyota still sitting on their thumbs doing nothing with the Yaris in terms of performance
or real updates. I don't know if Toyota is still stuck on the whole "vanilla, A to B transportation" game or not, but
things are changing around them, if they don't change soon they will be left behind. Performance for the masses
is starting to make a comeback and unless Toyota changes it's old fogey typical buyer concept, I fear for the worse.

[thebarber]

factory f/i ftw

prefer the look of the sedan to the hatch

as 33OH pointed out on MI, its odd that the sedan is a 5 bolt and the hatch is a 4 bolt

[Shinare]

Originally Posted by thebarber

...
as 33OH pointed out on MI, its odd that the sedan is a 5 bolt and the hatch is a 4 bolt

I guess us Americans like doing things the hard/expensive way... heh

Either that or those are just representations of what its going to look like and not actual cars?

PS> Sonic Turbo is only 138HP? and its a 1.4l step down from the standard 1.8l offered? WTF?

[DebbyM46227]

Originally Posted by detroiter

It's kind of sad to see Toyota still sitting on their thumbs doing nothing with the Yaris in terms of performance
or real updates. I don't know if Toyota is still stuck on the whole "vanilla, A to B transportation" game or not, but
things are changing around them, if they don't change soon they will be left behind. Performance for the masses
is starting to make a comeback and unless Toyota changes it's old fogey typical buyer concept, I fear for the worse.

I don't EVER see Yaris commercials on TV either....even when they show all the other models in one ad, the Yaris is missing.

[Kal-El]

BTW, this will be the ONLY small car built in America. Props to GM for doing this. It's nearly impossible to make a small car profitable when built in America.

[Shinare]

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic will be powered by the same powertrains Chevy Cruze is using with great success, including the Ecotec 1.4L turbo and the Ecotec 1.8L. 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 1.8 L engine is estimated at 135 horsepower (101 kW), along with 123 lb.-ft. of torque (167 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.

Really?... going turbo nets you a gain of 3 whole horses?

*facepalm* sometimes I can see why the world thinks us Americans are idiots...

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by Shinare

I guess us Americans like doing things the hard/expensive way... heh

Either that or those are just representations of what its going to look like and not actual cars?

PS> Sonic Turbo is only 138HP? and its a 1.4l step down from the standard 1.8l offered? WTF?

138hp will be the most you can get in the sub-compact class, by far. That is a lot of power in a Yaris sized car. The Yaris is pretty swift with a meager 106hp. How can this be criticized?

[thebarber]

Originally Posted by Shinare

Really?... going turbo nets you a gain of 3 whole horses?

*facepalm* sometimes I can see why the world thinks us Americans are idiots...

turbo also gets you another 25lb-ft of tq...which is available at 1850rpm vs 123tq at 3800 for the n/a engine...

the 1.4L has a small, quick spooling turbo to get more tq.

reviews ive read say the 1.4L feels like a larger engine, but w/ the economy of a 1.4L +/-

hell, id take the factory turbo option, thanks

[brg88tx]

i really like the looks of this little car. the big round headlights make it look a tad more manly for a tiny car. they gotta have good mpg to compete with the new hyundais.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

BTW, this will be the ONLY small car built in America. Props to GM for doing this. It's nearly impossible to make a small car profitable when built in America.

Agreed. I'm impressed and I hope it's a winner for GM.

[thebarber]

btw, gmcanada.com looks like the hatch has a 5 bolt wheel pattern too...

[Yar Is Word]

Thank you, Kal-El, for regularly posting new changes in the automotive industry.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by Yar Is Word

Thank you, Kal-El, for regularly posting new changes in the automotive industry.