Well - I think Ford has the right idea.

[Scot]

LeftLaneNews Mobile Version

Bringing "affordable" performance cars to market. Don't get me wrong - GM has plenty of performance cars, but nothing small or with the potential this has.

:sadbanana:

 

[$ub$onic]

I have been liking where ford has been going.

I am generally a ford person anyways but the latest styling on their smaller cars is awesome.

I also like the idea of the turbo i4 in the mustang

 

[Stew]

Nice. Also that is the fastback/hatchback profile I like, not so much the more vertical squared off back end of a lot of hatchbacks including the Sonic. I'm not trying to get a debate started about hatchback body styles, just commenting that I like!

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Nice. Also that is the fastback/hatchback profile I like, not so much the more vertical squared off back end of a lot of hatchbacks including the Sonic. I'm not trying to get a debate started about hatchback body styles, just commenting that I like!

Well I think the vertical looks better aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand GO! JK

I have been saying that GM needs something like a Special Vehicles Team to get cranking on special models for years!!!! Ford always has this special vehicle or that and all GM does is make standard offerings and they hold onto that RS/SS moniker and never really do a thing with it lately.

 

[Swordsmith]

30 grand, still a Focus under everything, with a bigger and therefore likely more gas guzzling engine. I can't say I am interested at all.

I do wish Chevy would come out with an SS version of the Sonic, instead of the "mostly just style" RS, but then again I am probably happier with my heavily modified LT; I got into it for under 17K and only throw more money at it when I am feeling flush.

The right direction, though, to me, is more fuel efficiency combined with more performance. The Spark is wrong, because it is less fuel efficient (except in a nearly exclusively city environment) and has far less performance (86 hp, really?). But the RS is also wrong because it also is less efficient and doesn't offer more performance except perhaps at low gears and in tight cornering.

The Sonic HB is also a much better cargo vehicle than that Focus, or than most cars in its class (the Focus is the next class up, so it's doubly amusing that the Sonic fits so much more of my cargo inside). A fastback, really? I hope it at least doesn't get as dirty as the rear end of the Sonic!

 

[ChrisJ]

I have been liking where ford has been going.

I am generally a ford person anyways but the latest styling on their smaller cars is awesome.

I also like the idea of the turbo i4 in the mustang

Kinda like the 1980s turbo coupe tbird?


Overall I agree with Swordsmith.

 

[laborsmith]

The GM Special Vehicle Team unit was dissolved as part of bankruptcy though it lives but not as a formal unit.

I would like to know if the 2017 model year Sonic (remember the generational change was pushed from 2016 model tear) which should have the new 1.6T will have a two door fastback hatchback. I am betting it will and if any Sonic will carry the SS badge, it will be the one.


Laborsmith

 

[Natesriv]

Ford has had the edge on small car performance, second only to the GTI I'd say.

GM just doesn't invest the time to do it right. The Sonic is awesome, I sure hope GEN II is too, and not watered down.

The new Cruze is coming out, so this is old hat, but Chevy could have brought this over, put a decent turbo in it, limited slip, etc... and had a winner.

 

[Preloader]

I still can't hop on the Focus ST bandwagon. I think the performance is great, I'm just not a Ford guy.

When the focus was first introduced it wasn't a sporty type, just like the Sonic. They've probably been playing with the idea and development of a high horsepower version for at least ten years. And the Focus has been one of Fords greatest successes, sale numbers-wise. So they definitely have the wiggle room to play with sports editions.

GM will eventually respond, but it probably won't be for a while. The Sonic is not exactly taking the eco segment by storm......

 

[CheapFuneral]

I'm not a ford guy for sure, but I have to say there is now a reason for them to out sell gm. They are on the ball. Focus st, fiesta st, turbo 4 mustang, twin turbo Taurus, raptor, bronco. They have a killer line up. Where is the 2.0 code 130r? The 1.6 sonic? Which is still underpowered when compared to the focus. They could remake the grand national and get some fans. A full size 2d blazer would be nice. They do have the ***y diesel canyon/coloado coming next year. But they are becoming over priced and boring.

 

[ZimSquad]

Ford has had the edge on small car performance, second only to the GTI I'd say.

GM just doesn't invest the time to do it right. The Sonic is awesome, I sure hope GEN II is too, and not watered down.

The new Cruze is coming out, so this is old hat, but Chevy could have brought this over, put a decent turbo in it, limited slip, etc... and had a winner.

i thought the sonic is GEN II ??

 

[CheapFuneral]

i thought the sonic is GEN II ??

It's based off the aveo but as the sonic were gen 1

 

[Hdmanny]

People forget that Ford had a Mustang with a 4 turbo 30 years ago. I always wonder why Ford or any other company never continued to develope the v4s they used in European cars. They would be smaller, lighter and besides running smoother make more power.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

People forget that Ford had a Mustang with a 4 turbo 30 years ago. I always wonder why Ford or any other company never continued to develope the v4s they used in European cars. They would be smaller, lighter and besides running smoother make more power.

I think they were the SVO mustangs that had the 4cyl turbos and Merkur-XR4ti. Those turbo manifolds were straight swap ins in our Honda DOHC's back in the late 90's. I'm soo old lol

 

[CheapFuneral]

That's true, but turbos back then weren't what they are today. A guy I went to school with had the i4turbo t bird. About 4 of them actually because he was a horrible driver and kept wrecking them. Anyway they weren't all that fast when compared to the ho5.0.

 

[Larrymer]

If that thing is really $30k and not $35-40k like I think it will be, it will probably sell decently. And no way in hell I'd pay $35k+ for a Focus.

 

[laborsmith]

The nature of the grand national rumors make it clear there will be several versions very soon.

The DI 1.6T in the Sonic would compete with the Fiesta ST. It looks like the one year delay for the next gen Sonic may be why the Sonic does not have it now.


Laborsmith

 

[Scot]

GM just doesn't invest the time to do it right. The Sonic is awesome, I sure hope GEN II is too, and not watered down.

I disagree - they do - just not here!
Opel OPC lineup

Eye candy

 

[Natesriv]

I disagree - they do - just not here!
Opel OPC lineup

Eye candy

This is true...

However, good old GM USA imported a previous Astra as a Saturn. I went to drive one...so slow it hurt... SLOOOOWWWWWW

Why the F would GM decide to import the car with the smallest engine in the lineup... ? I'd have bought an Astra in a second had it had a real engine.

 

[ChrisJ]

The fact is a high performance small car probably isn't going to sell well.

I'd be willing to bet quite a bit that more Sonics have sold than Golf Rs. Why? $17K vs $35K.

When someone spends $35K they typically expect a larger car. I don't, personally I'd like a quieter, smoother riding Sonic and could see blowing $20K on it or so. I still want my 40MPG and if you can throw in a little extra power in with that it'd be cool.

I don't want more power while sacrificing gas mileage though and the majority of people out there probably think the same in such a car.