2011 Denver Auto Show: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Featured As Manufacturer Preview

If you have been following us lately you know that the 2011 Denver Auto Show (DAS) is opening tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30^th. This year is a big year for DAS as it has expanded to 500,000 sq. ft. and has features like Camp Jeep, manufacturer ride and drives and electric and plug-in electric hybrid features. Of course, the auto show has a lot of different things to offer including a sneak peak into the 2012 models that will be coming to market. Among those is a car from Chevrolet that you might have heard of—2012 Chevrolet Sonic.

If visions of a little blue hedgehog just flashed into your head don’t worry, you aren’t the only one. It doesn’t help when some of the preview photos are blue. That said the Sonic might seem like a familiar format from Chevrolet and that is because it is basically the Aveo renamed and redesigned. Saying that its predecessor was the Aveo doesn’t mean that the Sonic isn’t leading edge—quite the opposite. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is on the larger side of the b-car segment and directly completes with the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit. In fact, marketing director, Margaret Brooks says, “Don’t call it an Aveo replacement.” This is because the Sonic is a different car top to bottom, grille to taillights.

The Sonic will be powered by a 135-hp and 123 lb ft. of torque 1.8-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine and will be available with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. There will also be a turbo four-cylinder option that will have an available six-speed manual transmission. The Sonic is six-inches shorter than it big brother, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It is also about 500 pounds lighter than the Cruze. All that said, Chevrolet claims that the Sonic will have best in class legroom. Other features will include electronic power steering, Stabilitrak, OnStar, XM radio, USB port, Bluetooth connection, MyChevrolet mobile app, heated front seats and a sunroof. The best part is, you can see the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Denver Auto Show. 

 

Be sure to follow us on Twitter via our handle @allsmallcars. Look for our tweets live from the show floor!

 

[Source: MotorTrend and Denver Auto Show]