- Chevy debuts the sporty Sonic RS at this year's Detroit Auto Show
- The souped-up 5-door hatch has a 138-horsepower 1.4L turbo four-cylinder
- Expected to go on sale in late 2012
As the only vehicle in its class with a turbocharger, the Sonic RS brings Chevrolet's performance heritage to a whole new generation of drivers.
Based upon the Chevy Sonic subcompact, the Sonic RS incorporates a distinctive front fascia, rear spoiler, 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, lowered and stiffened sport suspension, and other sporting tweaks in a five-door hatch.
The Sonic RS is powered by Chevy's Ecotec 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 138 horsepower and 148 foot-pounds of torque. The RS' turbocharged motor has been mated with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic. The RS is differentiated from the standard Sonic with a unique axle ratio for both the automatic and manual transmissions for a sportier driving feel.
Chevrolet will be selling the Sonic RS in four colors: Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Grey Metallic, and Black Granite Metallic, the last of which is exclusive to the 2013 Sonic line.
The sporting feel of the Sonic RS continues inside the cabin. The Sonic RS features front sport seats, sport steering wheel, new shifter knob, sport pedals, and an RS-specific interior trim. Chevrolet will also include its MyLink infotainment seven-inch color touch screen radio as standard on the Sonic RS making the 2013 Sonic RS sporty, practical, and tech savvy.
What it means to you: the Sonic RS makes harnessing the power of Chevrolet's performance heritage more affordable.
