Detroit, Michigan – The Aveo is gone. Long live the Sonic! Chevrolet chose the NAIAS to stage the world premiere of its all-new B-segment car – the 2012 Sonic sedan. This follows the launch of the five-door Sonic at the Paris Motor Show last September.
GM took advantage of the international spotlight to showcase the Sonic Z-Spec Concept as well. Similar to the Chevrolet Volt Z-Spec introduced at the last SEMA show in Las Vegas, the prototype highlights the infinite customization possibilities afforded by the Sonic. Some have even suggested that the Z-Spec name could eventually become a new trademark for sportier or tuned up Chevrolet models.
The Sonic will borrow the Cruze's four-cylinder Ecotec engines, namely a 1.8-litre, naturally-aspirated unit producing 135 horsepower and a 1.4-litre turbocharged variant that generates 138 horsepower. Both will be available with a manual gearbox (5 speeds for the former and 6 for the latter) or a 6-speed automatic.
Unlike the Aveo, built at the GM-DAT (formerly Daewoo) assembly plant in Bupyong, South Korea, the Sonic will come from Lake Orion, Michigan. Amazingly, it will be the first sub-compact car manufactured on North American soil since the glorious Chevrolet Vega and Monza of the 1970s.
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic will arrive in Canadian showrooms this upcoming fall. Pricing will be announced in September only, but expect the new model to be competitive in a crowded market segment. A GM Canada spokesman also stated that marketing efforts will focus around major cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, where this type of vehicle is especially popular.
GM took advantage of the international spotlight to showcase the Sonic Z-Spec Concept as well. Similar to the Chevrolet Volt Z-Spec introduced at the last SEMA show in Las Vegas, the prototype highlights the infinite customization possibilities afforded by the Sonic. Some have even suggested that the Z-Spec name could eventually become a new trademark for sportier or tuned up Chevrolet models.
The Sonic will borrow the Cruze's four-cylinder Ecotec engines, namely a 1.8-litre, naturally-aspirated unit producing 135 horsepower and a 1.4-litre turbocharged variant that generates 138 horsepower. Both will be available with a manual gearbox (5 speeds for the former and 6 for the latter) or a 6-speed automatic.
Unlike the Aveo, built at the GM-DAT (formerly Daewoo) assembly plant in Bupyong, South Korea, the Sonic will come from Lake Orion, Michigan. Amazingly, it will be the first sub-compact car manufactured on North American soil since the glorious Chevrolet Vega and Monza of the 1970s.
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic will arrive in Canadian showrooms this upcoming fall. Pricing will be announced in September only, but expect the new model to be competitive in a crowded market segment. A GM Canada spokesman also stated that marketing efforts will focus around major cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, where this type of vehicle is especially popular.
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| Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com |