Chevrolet Sonic Falls Into Dusk

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

October 25, 2012

Chevrolet is showing the dark side of the Sonic with the new Dusk. Originally shown as a concept last year at SEMA, Chevrolet is showing off a production model that will be in dealerships in 2014.

The Dusk package is available on the Sonic sedan and adds ground effects, a rear spoiler, 18-inch aluminum wheels in a Pearl Nickel finish, and several matte exterior-trim pieces, including the upper and lower grilles, door handle inserts and rear license plate trim.

Inside, there are Jet Black leather-trimmed seats with suede accents and Mojave tan inserts. The Mojave color is also used in the accent stitching along with tan door panels and instrument panel accents.Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system with touchscreen is also included.

Those who were hoping for a power bump will be disappointed The Sonic Dusk will stick with the 1.4 turbo-four producing 138 HP and 148 lb-ft of torque.

Source: GM

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.com or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet today announced production of the Sonic Dusk sedan, designed to bring a higher degree of sophistication and refinement to the subcompact segment. The production intent Sonic Dusk will be displayed at the SEMA Show, opening Oct. 30 in Las Vegas and leads a diverse range of stylized Chevy small cars.

“Just like we’ve done with Corvettes and Camaros, we’re taking another one of our core products and adapting it to our customers’ lifestyles,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “The reaction to the Sonic Dusk concept last year was overwhelmingly positive and proved customers are interested in a more-refined subcompact. We’re moving quickly to bring Sonic Dusk to Chevrolet showrooms.”

The SEMA show vehicle features a production-intent package with ground effects, a rear spoiler and large, 18-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. Sophisticated touches lend the Ashen Grey Sonic Dusk a refined, contemporary aesthetic. The upper and lower grilles, door handle inserts and rear license plate trim are finished with a matte appearance, while stainless steel lower window moldings add an upscale accent to the body.

Inside, Sonic Dusk features Jet Black leather-trimmed seats with suede accents and Mojave tan inserts. Mojave accent stitching and tan-color door panel and instrument panel accents were designed to enhance the cabin’s ambience. It is also equipped with Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, which integrates a smartphone and stored media – via Bluetooth, plug-in outlet or USB – with the radio.

“With a year under our belt, we’ve learned our Sonic sedan buyers are looking at exterior styling as a key purchase driver,” said Cristi Landy, marketing director of Chevrolet small cars. “While the RS hatchback is our sporty interpretation of Sonic, Dusk is a sophisticated, well contented option – both unique to this segment. It’s all about choices and personalization.”

Sonic Dusk is powered by the Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged engine, rated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance. The engine is mated with a six-speed transmission – and production models offer a six-speed manual or automatic.

The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is positioned between the all-new Spark and the Cruze in Chevy’s small car portfolio. As the only subcompact built in America, Sonic comes with a segment-leading 10 standard air bags and leads in interior roominess. The performance-inspired Sonic RS hits dealerships in late 2012 and features Chevrolet’s exclusive infotainment system MyLink , with a seven-inch color touch screen radio capable of displaying smartphone-based music, videos, photos and contacts for hands-free calling. To learn more about Sonic, visit the Chevy Sonic Facebook page, follow on Twitter at @ChevyLife or check out letsdothis.com.