"New" RS Photos

[BenSteiner]

I'm not sure if anyone seen them before or not, but somehow I ended up on Chevrolet's website and spotted these pictures of the RS I haven't seen before.

This photo shows the rear end of the RS with its new exhaust design. Also a gray version of the RS
What do you think? Yay or Nay?

This photo shows the interior, the only difference I see is of course the seats, the touchscreen and some glossy black plastic parts (around shift knob).

I myself, wouldn't upgrade to the RS since I'm planning on getting the custom radio dash part with a touchscreen of my choice installed pretty soon. And I also wanted to get some Sparco racing seats. The only two things I like better about the RS is that they got rid of the black bar on the grille (hopefully they won't change it) and the fog lights design. But then again I'm planning on a custom fog light design already and I personally don't like the hatchback.

 

[Eric Smit]

I have a feeling that the black bar will make a reappearance when production comes around.


-Eric Smit

 

[BenSteiner]

@Eric –*I think so too. Can we blame the states that have to have the front license plate? I don't understand why someone can't invent some kind of clips that are robust enough to hold a license plate in place and easily clip on the grille somehow if needed.

 

[theenico]

Look really hard at the photo. The bar is gone, but the grill has no more open area than it did before. It kind of has to otherwise the welded on bumper crossmember/reinforcement would be visible.

I'm 99.9% sure that's the production RS grill.

 

[Eric Smit]

Side note, does everybody put their key in oriented with buttons up? I do the opposite, with buttons down/towards me, but every service I get when I pick up my car the key is the way it is in the picture.


-Eric Smit

 

[BenSteiner]

Side note, does everybody put their key in oriented with buttons up? I do the opposite, with buttons down/towards me, but every service I get when I pick up my car the key is the way it is in the picture.


-Eric Smit

My wife insists doing it like that, with the buttons up. I'm not sure if there is a difference. Or what the pros and cons are about it.

 

[Eric Smit]

My wife insists doing it like that, with the buttons up. I'm not sure if there is a difference. Or what the pros and cons are about it.

When I hold the remote in my hand, I have it so my thumb is pressing the buttons. Then I just put the key in oriented the same way. It seems like it takes an extra effort to put it in that way.


-Eric Smit

 

[CoHPhasor]

@Eric –*I think so too. Can we blame the states that have to have the front license plate? I don't understand why someone can't invent some kind of clips that are robust enough to hold a license plate in place and easily clip on the grille somehow if needed.

You wouldnt even need clips.
You could have some mount points BEHIND the mesh that would standoff and hold it in place.

It's RIDICULOUS that they screw mounts into the fascia.
Morons!

ps, BenSteiner, dont forget the flat-bottom steering wheel ;-)

 

[laborsmith]

The picture also shows the Alacantara like seat inserts. What it does not pick up is the red stitching that contrasts with the black.


.I like the exhaust tip but I will need to hear the RS exhaust to decide if I like it enough to stay OEM. I suspect I will not.

I haven't noticed any captured test fleet RS Sonics around here but hope to as I am hoping the grill shown in these pictures will be the grill in the regular production version.

And since I am not a fan of sedans (I did own one once, a 1980 AMC Eagle - read AWD Concord) I am quite content Chevy will not be offering a RS sedan.

Laborsmith

 

[Johnny Alien]

Look really hard at the photo. The bar is gone, but the grill has no more open area than it did before. It kind of has to otherwise the welded on bumper crossmember/reinforcement would be visible.

I'm 99.9% sure that's the production RS grill.

Yep. Take a look at the Spark, it is the same way. There is some sort of closed off part behind the open grill. I assume they can use that to help with the plate attachment.

 

[d.p]

i bet the cap of that shift knob falls off lo
l

 

[J T]

Look really hard at the photo. The bar is gone, but the grill has no more open area than it did before. It kind of has to otherwise the welded on bumper crossmember/reinforcement would be visible.

Actually, I don't believe it would be any more visible than the bright aluminum radiator that is highly visible at times through the lower part of the grill. Plus, that cross member is painted black, as well as being about 2" back from the grill, so it would blend right in behind it.

All things considered, I'd rather slightly see a small black bar in back of the grill than that piece of cheap looking crap in front of it.

Open area or not (if you're referring to open "behind" it), it still looks better not having the plastic "mustache" there.

 

[J T]

When I hold the remote in my hand, I have it so my thumb is pressing the buttons. Then I just put the key in oriented the same way. It seems like it takes an extra effort to put it in that way.

Same here. The key goes in the hole the same direction as when I'm holding it to press the button to flip the key out. That's the way I'm naturally holding it in my hand. I agree, it takes extra effort to flip the key around. Who does that?

 

[Luv2xlr8]

^^^I do. lol I love those seats.

 

[J T]

^^^I do. lol

So, you take the key fob out of your pocket, push the button to flip the key out before inserting it, but first you flip it over before insertion? Or do you twist your wrist around in an unnatural way to get it to go in?

 

[Luv2xlr8]

LOL i see what you did there.....i don't know, i just have it always facing up to push the button to flip the key and insert it.

Since we are talking about this, i know tomorrow the first thing i'm going to do is try the other way. lol

 

[J T]

LOL i see what you did there.....i don't know, i just have it always facing up to push the button to flip the key and insert it.

Since we are talking about this, i know tomorrow the first thing i'm going to do is try the other way. lol

You're a good sport...I was just messin' with ya.

 

[LS1notFOUND]

I'm planning to attach some rally style lights to the black solid portion of the grilll at some point, Z71 sonic eventually

 

[J T]

ps, BenSteiner, dont forget the flat-bottom steering wheel ;-)

I wouldn't like that at all. I steer with my legs quite a bit, and having that flat bottom would make it tougher to reach the wheel.

 

[theenico]

Actually, I don't believe it would be any more visible than the bright aluminum radiator that is highly visible at times through the lower part of the grill. Plus, that cross member is painted black, as well as being about 2" back from the grill, so it would blend right in behind it.

All things considered, I'd rather slightly see a small black bar in back of the grill than that piece of cheap looking crap in front of it.

Open area or not (if you're referring to open "behind" it), it still looks better not having the plastic "mustache" there.

Actually, that cross member is neither small nor painted black. It's painted whatever color the car is painted since it's welded on before the car goes through paint at the factory. The one exception would be if you bought a black car.

Additionally, that bright aluminum radiator you see through the lower grill on a 1.4T is actually the intercooler.

Regardless of all that, the RS grill is, in my opinion, more attractive than the regular mustachioed grill.