Let’s face it; we Americans have rarely created a small car worth considering, we have also rarely built a small car in our own backyard. Case in point: the former Chevy Aveo. While I wouldn’t say the Aveo was abjectly horrible, there was nothing to excite a shopper and it wasn’t cheap enough to compensate. While the Aveo was born out of old-GM’s need to buy every ailing car company around the world (in this case Daewoo), it’s replacement, the new Chevy Sonic, is the only subcompact car currently sold in the United States that’s actually assembled here as well. The platform used by the Sonic is far better traveled than most Americans. GM’s “Gamma II” architecture was designed by GM Korea with considerable input from Opel (as the Opel Corsa will share the platform soon) and re-skinned by Chevrolet. To make the Sonic LTZ Turbo from this multi-national compact car, Chevy dropped a 1.4L turbocharged engine and six-speed manual tranny under the hood. Unlike the Hertz-ready Sonic hatchback Michael Karesh has last year, the Sonic LTZ Turbo is the top-of-the-line Sonic attempting to please those who want a hair more shove and, paradoxically, better fuel economy. Sound like a good start? Let’s see if GM got it right this time.
Categories:
Recent Comments
Gentle Ted - As a Canadian, am opposed to the Governments of both Ontario and Ottawa being involved, Ontario is very “Broke” right now, but do know...
mkirk - I didn’t know it had a civilian offspring. They did kind of let the Marine Corps figure out the particulars…it didn’t end well for several Marines.
mkirk - I knew a guy with a twin turbo LT-1 in a 4th gen Camaro. Have your cake and eat it too! You have to get the tuning right. I had a Mazdaspeed Miata with a...
sirwired - I’ve never understood Hydrogen vehicles at all. They combine the worst parts of both electrical and gasoline vehicles in one...
mkirk - Nuclear subs have a bunch of pumps which do make noise…some more than others. Ours are quiet though. Back in my Navy days it was said...
mkirk - Definitely the most advanced diesel-electric (can one still call this a pig boat?) out there. I like it as an attack boat but the 3 weeks...
mkirk - Good info…thanks.
Defender90 - Yes indeed. It’s a “bitsa” and now has station wagon body with windows in the back – yay modular body work! Over time I’ve had...
Robstar - I wonder how hard a Rocket III engine swap is.
Defender90 - As a quality machine I’d expect the Benz to have non corroding pipework, certainly I can never remember seeing any Benz leaking brake fluid. Or fuel...