From the moment the Sonic made its initial splash at SEMA last year, everyone expected big things from this forward-thinking small car. And, in its first full year, it certainly hasn't disappointed. Come on, what hasn't the Sonic done? It's skydived above the Arizona desert, gone bungee jumping, and even performed an epic ramp-to-ramp car kickflip with skateboarding legend, Rob Dyrdek. Oh, and while it was doing all that, it's not so quietly sold 65,000 units so far in 2012!
At last year's SEMA, one of the cars that gave gearheads an inkling of just what was possible for Sonic, was the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Super 4 Concept. Showing off its aggressive lines and mean stance, it wasn't a stretch to picture this car doing hot laps. Well, building on that premise, today Chevrolet proudly announces the Sonic B-Spec concept. Replete with a competition kit for racers to transform their daily-driving Sonic into a dedicated race car, this concept's modifications conform to SCCA and Grand Am series guidelines.
“Sonic B-Spec concept demonstrates the car’s capabilities in the increasingly popular B-Spec subcompact classes in SCCA and Grand Am series,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Sonic’s great balance of power and responsive handling make it a natural on the track – and a formidable competitor.”
According to the release, " Components of the production-intended competition kit on the concept include chassis, suspension and other parts required to transform a production Sonic into a competitive race car:
• Front strut coil-over assemblies and mounts
• Rear shock coil-over assemblies and mounts
• Adjustable front stabilizer bar links
• Rear axle shim kit
• Inlet air restrictor
• Recalibrated ECM and EBCM."
Though Chevrolet is still evaluating the components of the kit, and some parts may change for production, this Luxor Blue concept with Monaco Blue graphics just looks fast!
"Safety features, such as the roll cage, safety seat, window net and racing harnesses, would be sourced separately by the builder. The concept vehicle is shown with a Monaco Blue-painted roll cage, carbon fiber racing seat, five-point safety harness, window safety net, center catch net, quick-release steering wheel/hub system and a fire extinguisher.
Like the other vehicles in B-Spec classes, the Sonic race car concept’s 1.8L engine remains unchanged from its factory specifications, although an air restrictor is employed to equalize its output with other competitors. It is backed by the production five-speed manual transmission."
Folks looking to turn their Sonic into a full-fledged racer can look out for these kits to hit Chevrolet Performance retailers in the first quarter of 2013!
But, you didn't think we were gonna leave out the rest of Sonic's brothers in sisters in the super-cool Chevrolet small car family, did you? No way! In fact, GM's Chris Perry, Vice President of Chevrolet Marketing, had a lot to say about the Sonic, Spark and Cruze:
“With Chevy’s new small cars attracting young buyers with a taste for customization, Spark, Sonic and Cruze are the perfect canvasses to express their personalities. The content, colors and performance of each concept is being evaluated for possible production, as Chevrolet continues to seek new ways to give customers more choices that can be delivered conveniently through their local dealer.”
“The momentum with these small cars continues to build, as more customers discover their fun-to-drive spirits and high-value content, including great infotainment options – such as Sonic and Spark’s MyLink features,” said Perry.
According to the official release, " The small-car concept vehicles demonstrate a range of performance-based styling expressions, including the first application of Chevrolet’s Z-Spec treatment for Spark with family traits, such as the mesh grille inserts and graphic accents. The Z-Spec concept demonstrates a cohesive design with a family of factory-engineered accessories and the best of the aftermarket under a single theme."
This year's Chevy small car SEMA vehicles include:
Cruze Upscale concept:
The Cruze Upscale concept moves the compact sedan up a few rungs on the luxury ladder with a Burnished Brandy Metallic exterior and unique exterior appointments. Inside is a brown leather-trimmed interior. Features include:
• Unique ground effects package with rocker and fascia extensions
• Black Ice bright-accented exterior trim
• Tinted headlamp and fog lamp lenses
• Dark-tinted windows
• Custom 19x8.5-inch aluminum wheels finished in Black Ice
• 225/40ZR19 Bridgestone Potenza S-04 tires
• Seats trimmed in Loft Brown leather
• Loft Brown and DK Atmosphere leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Yellow accent stitching on the seats and steering wheel
• Dark Liquid Palladium high-gloss interior trim plates
• Door panels and instrument panel with Loft Brown and DK Atmosphere leather wraps and DK Atmosphere paint
• Adjustable coil-over suspension kit
• Four-piston front brake calipers with two-piece vented and drilled rotors
• Two-piston rear brake calipers with vented and drilled rotors.
Sonic Z-Spec 1 concept:
This performance-oriented vision of the Sonic sedan blends the Z-Spec aesthetic with a more capable driving experience, including a power-enhancing exhaust system and upgraded brakes. The capability is matched with a custom Synergy Green exterior. Details include:
• Chevrolet licensed accessories Borla exhaust system
• Lowered ride height, with Chevrolet Performance concept suspension kit, including lowering sprints and performance dampers
• Chevrolet Performance concept brake kit, featuring four-piston front disc brake calipers with 16-inch rotors
• Eighteen-inch split-spoke wheel design with Synergy Green insert
• Sonic RS rear spoiler in Ashen Grey
• Ashen Grey Metallic Z-Spec stripe and logos
• Chevrolet Accessories ground effects kit
• Mesh-style upper and lower grilles in Piano Black with Ashen Grey surrounds
• Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel pedals
• Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel sill plates
• Jet Black and Titanium interior with Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel pedal covers and sill plates
• Chevrolet MyLink color touch screen
• Chevrolet licensed accessories Sub and Amp Kit, with KICKER 200-watt DSP amp and 200-watt powered subwoofer.
Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 concept:
A tuner-inspired concept with the performance to back up its aggressive stance, the Sonic Z-Spec 2.5 sedan shows what’s attainable with Chevrolet Performance and GM Accessories parts, along with select aftermarket components and a dash of color. Highlights include:
• Abalone White Tricoat exterior color with Z-Spec graphics
• Unique ground effects package and lower fascia extensions
• Chevrolet Accessories rear spoiler
• Galvano Silver accents on the grille surround, fog lamp bezels door trim and wheels
• Tinted headlamps and fog lamps
• Concept 18x7.5-inch wheels in Galvano Silver with Signal Red edges
• Jet Black leather-trimmed interior with Orange Crust leather inserts and orange accent stitching
• Orange anodized and Piano Black interior trim plates
• Jet Black Leather-, Jet Black Suede- and Orange Suede-wrapped door panels and instrument panel with Orange accent stitching
• Jet Black perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel pedal covers
• Chevrolet MyLInk color touch screen
• Chevrolet licensed accessories Sub and Amp Kit, with KICKER 200-watt DSP amp and 200-watt powered subwoofer
• Lowered ride height, with Chevrolet Performance concept suspension kit, including lowering sprints and performance dampers
• Chevrolet Performance concept brake kit, featuring four-piston front disc brake calipers with 16-inch rotors
• Chevrolet Performance concept single-piston rear brake calipers with Sonic RS rotors
• Chevrolet Performance concept cold-air intake kit
• Chevrolet licensed accessories Borla exhaust system.
Spark Z-Spec concept:
The Spark Z-Spec demonstrates a cohesive and branded package of enhancements drawn from accessories already available through Chevrolet dealers – giving the cheeky Spark a definite attitude. The Salsa Red concept is distinguished from production models with:
• Chevrolet Accessories ground effects kit (body color)
• Chevrolet Accessories Z-spec grille with Carbon Flash-painted surround
• Grille surrounds, headlamp housings, fog lamp bezels, belt moldings and rear diffuser painted Dark Argent
• Z-Spec body graphics in matte black
• Chevrolet Performance licensed front lowering coil-over springs and rear adjustable springs
• Concept 15x6-inch split-spoke wheels in Dark Argent with Salsa Red inserts and tire stripes
• Lowered ride height
• Seats trimmed with Salsa Red inserts
• Front door and instrument panel inserts in Salsa Red
• Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel pedal covers and sill plates
• Chevrolet MyLInk color touch screen.
Spark Sinister concept:
The aggressive-looking Spark Sinister concept blends rally-inspired exterior cues with a black appearance for a night-racing aesthetic that looks at home in the shadows of a city’s industrial district. Its content includes:
• Dramatic body work with bold rocker fairings, a rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets, rear wing spoiler and a front fascia with large air intakes
• Prominent fender flares to cover large, 18x6-inch split-spoke wheels – in Bahia Red – and low-profile performance tires: 205/40ZR18 (front) and 225/40ZR18 (rear)
• Lowered ride height
• Carbon Flash Metallic exterior with Bahia Red accents and matte-black graphics.
‘The Color Run’ Spark:
Chevrolet Spark is the official pace car of The Color Run – a popular, nationwide series of urban 5K races in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors for each kilometer – and it leads the pack in a colorful display of its own. A custom, multihued graphics package gives the Spark a post-race appearance while a Chevrolet Accessories ground effects kit and Z-Spec grille give it a sportier profile. The production 15-inch split spoke wheels are painted white, but don’t stay that way once color-dousing participants shower this one-of-a-kind pace car with colored corn starch along the route. Inside, custom seat with The Color Run graphics are featured, along with Chevrolet Accessories stainless steel pedal covers and sill plates.
‘Pink Out’ Spark Cancer Awareness Concept:
Chevrolet takes a stand against breast cancer and supports the American Cancer Society with a Techno Pink Spark that’s adorned with pink ribbon graphics. It also wears Chevrolet Accessories ground effects and a Z-spec grille. Inside, pink accent colors – including a pink suede headliner, pillar trim, instrument panel trim and accent piping – round out the cause-inspired theme. More information about American Cancer Society’s breast cancer-fighting programs is available at www.cancer.org.