Exterior
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS offers a fresh and more aggressive look than what we’ve come to know from the little hatchback. The front fascia of the car offers some similarities to the concept version that we saw at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, particularly the deep air dam design that enhances the car’s road-hugging stance. Vertical intakes at the edges of the fascia reinforce the wide, low proportion and house the new fog lamp design while a new RS-specific grille, new rocker moldings, and a unique mirror cap finish add to the car’s sporty profile.
Other notable modifications given to the Sonic RS include a choice of four different color finishes – Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic, and Black Granite Metallic – a new rear spoiler, a retuned sport exhaust with a chrome outlet, RS badging, and a new set of 17″ five-spoke wheels.
“The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment,” said John Mack, design director for the Sonic. “From every angle and every touch point, it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement – and one that drives Chevrolet’s performance legacy into its second century.”
Interior
Just like the exterior, the Sonic RS’ interior comes with plenty of new additions, emphasizing a connected environment featuring Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system. Featuring a seven-inch color touch-screen radio, the MyLink system allows customers to bring customized music libraries into the vehicle and use their smart phones and Bluetooth connectivity to access Pandora and Stitcher Internet radio and navigation.
On a more aesthetic level, the Sonic RS’ interior also comes with new front sport seats, a new sport steering wheel with a thicker rim and a racing-inspired flat-bottom design, new aluminum sport pedals, a specific instrument panel cluster graphics, and an RS-specific interior trim color for the instrument panel and door trim inserts.
Performance
The Chevrolet Sonic RS is powered by a standard Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo engine that is rated at 138 horsepower and 148 lb/ft of torque, providing an immediate feeling of power that is sustained across the rpm band for a greater feeling of performance at a lower rpm. The engine is then mated to a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.
A unique feature to the Sonic RS is that it’s the only Sonic model that carries four-wheel disc brakes, which are partnered with a four-channel anti-lock braking system. This system incorporates electronic brake force distribution and balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of the car’s passengers and its corresponding cargo.
Pricing
No word yet on the exact pricing of the Chevrolet Sonic RS, but you can expect it to be somewhere in the neighborhood north of $16,000. That price is relative to the standard model’s price of $14,495.
Competition
Don’t be fooled by the Sonic RS’ sporty name; this car is unique because of all the aesthetic and aerodynamic enhancements done to it. Performance numbers of the car are the same as that of a standard Sonic so it’s best to be aware of that when you’re interested in the car.
Having said that, the Sonic RS is a much more dynamic-looking car than most of its competitors, including that of the Toyota Yaris, the Honda Fit, and the Nissan Versa.
gallery: 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS
