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Chevy was one of the vendors featured at the 2012 ROLEX 24 Hour race at Daytona International Speedway.  One of the vehicles they brought for display was the all new Chevy Sonic Ricky Carmichael Edition.  The satin paint really looks great on the Sonic.  Could consumers potentially start seeing satin paint options on future lines?  Enjoy this photo heavy post of the RC Sonic from the ROLEX event.

Here is an all new commercial from Chevy featuring the Sonic.
Reference:  Chevrolet YouTube Channel.  Chevy Sonic "Scenes" Commercial.  Retrieved January 23, 2012 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nStEELvlvgc

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially released the crash test data and ranking for the 2012 Chevy Sonic hatchback and sedan.  The Sonic earned a 5-star overall safety score for both models.  This is a considerable achievement because in 2011 the NHTSA changed the scoring system to call for stricter safety standards.  The 2012 Chevy Sonic earned a 5-star frontal collision for driver and passenger, and 5-star side collision for both driver and passenger.  The only segment of the NHTSA test of which the Sonic did not earn a 5-star ranking was with the rollover for which the Sonic earned 4-stars.

This latest crash test data is welcomed news for consumers of the subcompact line.  One of the concerns when considering a vehicle of this size would be the performance in a crash.  Overall the Sonic has bested the crash testing of three major agencies around the world.  One of the earliest to release crash test data was the European NCAP, or also known as the EURONCAP.  Next in line was the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS which listed the 2012 Sonic as a TOP SAFETY PICK.


To read the press release from GM and view the NHTSA crash test scores please refer to the references and links below.

References:
(1).  NHTSA Safercar.gov Website.  2012.  5-Star Safety Ratings 2011-Newer Vehicles.  2012 Chevrolet Sonic.  Retrieved January 06, 2012 from:  http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings/2011-Newer+Vehicles/Search-Results?searchtype=model&make=CHEVROLET&model=SONIC&year=2012
(4).  Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) Website.  2011.  2012 Chevrolet Sonic TOP SAFETY PICK Award.  Retrieved January 06, 2012 from: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1559&seriesid=737

A new year brings new Chevy Sonic contests.  The Child and Family Services of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan is holding a raffle for a 2012 Chevy Sonic at the Marquette West Rotary Seafood Festival on August 25, 2012 (1).  According to the website there are two raffle choices, one raffle ticket for $5 or five raffle tickets for $20 both of which can be purchased online (1).  The details state, "you need not be present to win", but at the time of this posting the details do not indicate if the contest is limited to residents of a particular area (1).  If indeed the raffle is open to anyone then this could be an excellent opportunity for participants to support a worthy cause while trying to win a new Sonic!

Raffle Link: http://www.cfsup.org/2012Sonic.html

Reference
(1). Child and Family Services of the Upper Peninsula, Inc Website. 2012. 2012 Chevy Sonic Raffle. Retrieved January 03, 2012 from:  http://www.cfsup.org/2012Sonic.html

There are more than a couple of reports circulating around the web about a pending recall of the all new 2012 Chevy Sonic.  The Wall Street Journal reports a Sonic owner who was having the vehicle serviced was informed of a missing brake pad (1).  This prompted a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be filed (1).  This is the reported reason behind GM recalling Sonic's built between the dates of June 2, 2011 and November 21, 2011, and owners of these Sonic's will be notified by January 14, 2012 for a no charge inspection (1).  It is also important to highlight how Autoweek has reported GM claims the missing brake pads occurred prior to assembly and has no reported injuries from the missing pads (2).


(1). Welsh, J.  GM Recalls Chevy Sonic's for Missing Brake Pads.   The Wall Street Journal: Driver's Seat Blog.  December 31, 2011.  Retrieved December 31, 2011 from: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/12/31/gm-recalls-chevy-sonics-for-missing-brake-pads/ 
(2). Rogers, C.  GM Recalls Chevrolet Sonic Models to Check for Missing Brake Pads.  Automotive News.  December 30, 2011.  Retrieved January 01, 2012 from: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111230/CARNEWS/111239995