DETROIT – A hotter Chevrolet Sonic is about to sound off – the
2013 Sonic RS. It goes on sale in late 2012, after making its public
debut at the North American International Auto Show Jan. 14-22.
The new RS amplifies the Sonic’s youthful style and driving
experience with unique exterior and interior features matched with a
138-horsepower (103 kW) Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. Sonic is the only
vehicle in its segment to offer a turbocharged powertrain.
“The new Chevrolet Sonic RS pushes Chevrolet’s performance heritage
in a new direction, for a new generation of drivers,” said Chris Perry,
vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing. “It takes the Sonic’s
great design and latest connectivity features and combines them with a
more performance-oriented look and feel.”
The Sonic RS is offered exclusively in the five-door body style. Chevrolet’s exclusive
MyLink infotainment system is standard. It enables navigation
directions downloaded through a smart phone to be shown on the radio’s
large display, and offers the personalized connectivity of Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio.
Sonic RS exterior features
- New front fascia with new fog lamp design
- New RS-specific grille
- New rear fascia
- New rear spoiler
- New rocker moldings
- Unique mirror cap finish
- Retuned sport exhaust with chrome outlet
- Unique 17-inch five-spoke wheel design
- Lowered and stiffened suspension with performance-tuned dampers
- RS badging.
The more-aggressive look of the Sonic RS is inspired by the concept
that debuted in Detroit in 2010. The Sonic RS will be available in
Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic and Black Granite
Metallic, which is a new exterior color for the 2013 Sonic.
“The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept
and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment,” said John Mack,
design director for the Sonic. “From every angle and every touch point,
it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement – and one
that drives Chevrolet’s performance legacy into its second century.”
One of the most-dramatic cues from the concept carried into the
production model is the Sonic RS’s front fascia, which has a deep air
dam design that enhances the car’s road-hugging stance. Vertical intakes
at the edges of the fascia reinforce the wide, low proportion and house
the fog lamps.
Sonic RS interior features
- New front sport seats
- New sport steering wheel with thicker rim and racing-inspired flat-bottom design
- New shifter knob (manual transmission)
- New aluminum sport pedals
- Specific instrument panel cluster graphics
- RS-specific interior trim color for the instrument panel and door trim inserts.
“Like the exterior, the Sonic RS’s interior looks and feels the part
of a true performance car,” said Mack. “The seats are firm and provide
great lateral support during quick cornering and the feel of the thick,
flat-bottom steering wheel is a feature driving enthusiasts will truly
appreciate.”
The Sonic RS’s interior is a connected environment, with the
Chevrolet MyLink infotainment seven-inch color touch screen radio. This
system allows customers to bring customized music libraries into the
vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access
Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation. Navigation
directions downloaded through a smart phone can be displayed on the
screen and, when the vehicle is stopped, users can project video and
even personal photo albums onto the screen from their phone.
Sonic RS performance
The Sonic RS is powered by a standard Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine that
is rated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) –
and provides an immediate feeling of power that is sustained across the
rpm band, for a greater feeling of performance at lower rpm. It’s
matched with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.
Unique gear ratios for the six-speed manual transmission and unique
final drive ratio for the automatic give the Sonic RS a sportier feel
than non-RS models.
Complementing the segment-exclusive turbocharged powertrain is
MacPherson strut front suspension with 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 – with gas-charged
shocks. The front and rear tracks are identical at 59.4 inches (1,509
mm), for well-planted stability and balance.
The new RS is the only Sonic model offered with four-wheel disc
brakes, which are partnered with a four-channel anti-lock 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.
Electric power steering is standard and features a wear compensator
that continually adjusts the system interaction with the steering gear
to ensure precise steering action over the life of the system.
Sonic lineup at a glance
The Chevrolet Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan
and a five-door, with a starting price of $14,495 (including destination
charge). Each body style delivers class-leading, rear-seat roominess
and cargo space. Vehicle highlights include:
- Standard Ecotec 1.8L engine (non-RS models) paired with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions
- Standard electric power steering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing
- Sedan offers 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 with six months of Turn-by-Turn navigation. Available features include XM Satellite Radio, USB and Bluetooth functionality and MyChevrolet mobile application
- Remote start, heated front seats and sunroof – all rarities in the segment
- Ten standard air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.
Sonic is built at the General Motors’ Orion Assembly Center in
Michigan, which received a $545-million investment in upgrades and
retooling and helped restore approximately 1,000 jobs in the
metropolitan Detroit area.
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a
global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles
in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with
fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality,
expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet
portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro;
dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and
Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Sonic,
Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers
"gas-friendly" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers
42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free
driving and an additional 344 miles of extended gasoline range,
according to EPA estimates. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar
safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar
Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle
Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions
and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.