So, you dont want to wait around to see what your new 2012 Chevy Sonic will look like? Just hop on the Chevy France website where you can configure the new AVEO and do a 360 degree view. Interestingly enough France has more color options than the proposed USA model, but each color besides white will cost you some extra EURO. Maybe this is a glimpse of what is to come for the American line?
For a little fun here is the CHEVY FRANCE LINK: http://www.chevrolet.fr/la-gamme/nouvelle-aveo/
Also, the same 360 fun can be had down-under with the Holden website where there they call the new Sonic a Holden Barina http://www.holden.com.au/pages/barina-coming-soon
Here is a funky Chevrolet CHINA AVEO site http://aveo.chevrolet.com.cn/#/homepage
A GM Channel Video Report from JAPAN featuring the Sonic http://www.gmjapan.co.jp/channel/2011/vr110813_01.html
Chevrolet KOREA AVEO site http://www.chevrolet.co.kr/cars/avo_index.do
Chevrolet Worldwide Sites AVEO / SONIC Build Options With More Colors and 360 View
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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2012 Chevy Sonic Pop's Up In Dealerships Across US & Sonic Webpage Glitch
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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Starting last week, around August 22 there were a number of posts that started appearing in the google news section from dealerships around the United States showing the new 2012 Chevy Sonic. A few posted some videos, and from what I can see many of the first Sonic's made available to the public have been the base model LS, and so far only in white and silver. On top of those searches for news related information, I also check the Chevy website daily for any updates. That is when today I stumbled upon something interesting, the Sonic homepage had a glitch... Strange. Take a look at the screen-capture from today posted above. One can only assume because this page glitch is not duplicated on any of the other vehicle home pages, that the internal web-managers are preparing to upload some new information. Can you say new Sonic announcement coming soon? In addition to the Chevy website glitch, I reviewed my Sonic Order via GM TRACKING, and I discover yet another strange occurrence where my tracking information had been removed. Now there is a statement that reads I must contact the dealership about my order... Wonder if the Sonic is on the way? Either way, stay tuned to your number one news source for quality SONIC information as it becomes available.
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Image Source: GM INSIDER NEWS
On the official Chevy Sonic Facebook page there is a new discussion board for performance modifications where individuals are asked to voice their opinions on body, wheels, engine, suspension, and interior tuning. Chevy appears to be embracing the personalization of the Sonic, and we shall see what kind of support they toss toward the aftermarket developers.
Like the Official Chevy Sonic Fanpage for current information from Chevy
https://www.facebook.com/chevysonic
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Thats right, GM recently announced how a Chevy Cruze ECO logged a cross-country drive with just over 9,500 miles and averaged 64+ MPG. This should be welcomed news for Sonic fans because the Cruze ECO is coupled with the same 1.4 turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission that is offered as an available option for the 2012 Chevy Sonic model.
The individuals driving the Cruze ECO are MPG experts to say the least and were apart of a special sponsorship from Shell Gasoline called the Smarter Driving Tour. Understandably, the vast majority of commuters out there will not be able to achieve the same kind of results. But these results should serve as a strong benchmark for drivers to know there are real ways to achieve a maximum MPG. To read more about this recent news release please visit GM website, and the Shell website.
GM Website. August 26, 2011. Chevrolet Cruze Eco Averages 64 MPG Over 9,552 Miles. Retrieved August 28, 2011 from: http://www.gm.com/content/gmcom/home/article.content_pages_news_us_en_2011_aug_0826_cruzeeco.gm.html
Shell Website. 2011. Smarter Driving Tour. Retrieved August 28, 2011 from: http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/products_services/on_the_road/smarter_driving/taylors/
The individuals driving the Cruze ECO are MPG experts to say the least and were apart of a special sponsorship from Shell Gasoline called the Smarter Driving Tour. Understandably, the vast majority of commuters out there will not be able to achieve the same kind of results. But these results should serve as a strong benchmark for drivers to know there are real ways to achieve a maximum MPG. To read more about this recent news release please visit GM website, and the Shell website.
GM Website. August 26, 2011. Chevrolet Cruze Eco Averages 64 MPG Over 9,552 Miles. Retrieved August 28, 2011 from: http://www.gm.com/content/gmcom/home/article.content_pages_news_us_en_2011_aug_0826_cruzeeco.gm.html
Shell Website. 2011. Smarter Driving Tour. Retrieved August 28, 2011 from: http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/products_services/on_the_road/smarter_driving/taylors/
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Image Source: EURONCAP
While many here stateside still await the crash test results for the all new 2012 Chevy Sonic, our friends across the big pond have been crashing up the 2011 Chevy Aveo which sports body styling similar to the new Sonic. The European testing results, summary, videos, and images can be seen on the EURONCAP website. A quick search of the www.safercar.gov site at the time of this post did not list any results for the 2012 Chevy Sonic.
For the American Sonic, Chevy announced a number of high quality safety standards such as, 10 airbags, reinforced A and B pillar zones, high strength steel, and welded tubular sections for the door frames. View the GM announcement article here:
http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Aug/0829_sonicsafety
Readers should note, there will obviously be differences between the American and European crash testing authorities, also potential differences between the American and European vehicle models so all information contained in this blog is intended for informational purposes only and was retrieved via web search.
EURO NCAP. 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011 from: http://www.euroncap.com/results/chevrolet/aveo/2011/437.aspx
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Woodward Dream Cruise in Michigan featured a number of vehicles, many of which were Chevy's, and most notably a small pack of 2012 Chevy Sonic's. To see a great image of the Sonic pack driving down the road visit the website here: Sonic Photo
Greenwood, T. Gas-Powered Chevy's Growl Alongside Electric Volts. The Detroit News. August 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011 from: http://detnews.com/article/20110819/AUTO02/108190372/Gas-powered-Chevys-growl-alongside-silent-electric-Volts
Greenwood, T. Gas-Powered Chevy's Growl Alongside Electric Volts. The Detroit News. August 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011 from: http://detnews.com/article/20110819/AUTO02/108190372/Gas-powered-Chevys-growl-alongside-silent-electric-Volts
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Image Source: GREEN AUTOBLOG
Chevy is once again adopting the FAMILY 0 turbo engine as one of the available power-train options for the 2012 Chevy Sonic; also available in the 2010+ Chevy Cruze line. The FAMILY 0 engine was first introduced in an Opel during the mid 90's, of which many variations have followed (1). One of GM's engineer's, Mike Katerberg describes some of the key features of the FAMILY 0 engine such as, VVT, forged connecting rods, piston squirters, timing chain (not belt), and even sodium valves (2). A little history for everyone on the origins of sodium valves. Sodium filled valves were first introduced in aeronautical combustion engines as a means to reduce heat, and patented by engineer, S. D. Heron of the Wright Aeronautical Corporation on May 22, 1928 (3).
(1). Wikipedia. 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from: GM Family 0 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(2). YouTube. Chevrolet Upload, June 30, 2010. Chevrolet Cruze: The Powertrain. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sxmBZpGITE&feature=related
(3). Eugene M. Emme, comp., Aeronautics and Astronautics: An American Chronology of Science and Technology in the Exploration of Space, 1915-1960 (Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1961), pp. 19-26. Retrieved August 25, 2011 from: http://history.nasa.gov/Timeline/1925-29.html
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Image Source: CECCHINI VIDEO INC/AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE
LINK TO VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/28030875
Jennings, J. 2012 Chevy Sonic Accessories. Automobile Magazine / Cecchini Video INC. Retrieved August 23, 2011 from: http://vimeo.com/28030875
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Image Source: TV Broadcast Capture
Today at the NASCAR Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup Race, the pace car honors featured the soon to be released 2012 Chevy Sonic. It is fitting for the Sonic to have this feature because the all new Sonic is being assembled at a production facility located in Michigan. Based on the available models and options it appears the pace car is the LTZ hatchback model.
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It appears that production of the Sonic I ordered is starting to move along. The updated order status now has a detailed order summary, unlike the post from two weeks ago which had no details. Rest assured once the Sonic keys are in hand I will be doing a complete write up and have numerous images and videos. For all of you who have ordered a Sonic, you can access a tracking tool through the GM website here: www.chevrolet.com/ordertracking/
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Image Source: GM Media
GM Media recently added another interesting press release on the 2012 Chevy Sonic. The Sonic will feature a newly introduced technology that will assist drivers of manual transmissions while stopped on an incline. The new technology is called Hill-Hold, and will be activated by a series of sensors which will engage brakes electronically when the car is on a slope (GM MEDIA).
GM Media. August 03, 2011. Retrieved August 08, 2011 from: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/ Pages/news/us/en/2011/Aug/0803_sonichill
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Image Source: Molly McHugh, DigitalTrends
As of August 08, 2011 there still has yet to be any crash test data for the 2012 Chevy Sonic released publicly. A search of the SAFERCAR.GOV website did revel that the Chevy Sonic is now searchable on the site with both the 5 and 4 door models listed. Each of the models showed "Not Rated" for each of the categories, but we can assume the data is getting closer to a release. Just a few days prior, on August 04, 2011, Molly McHugh of DIGITALTRENDS.com posted images of a Chevy Sonic crash test at the Milford Proving Grounds (McHugh, 2012). McHugh was granted access by Chevy to do an article on the first impression of the Sonic where we get a glimpse of a Black Sonic which can be viewed in full here: FIRST IMPRESSION
McHugh, M. Pictures of Chevy Crashing its New Sonic: Frame by Frame Compact Catastrophe. Digital Trends. August 04, 2011. Retrieved August 08, 2011 from: http://www.digitaltrends.com/photogalleries/pictures-of-chevy-crashing-new-sonic/
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