Chevrolet Sonic gets funky at NYIAS with Z-Spec Accessories

Chevrolet has just introduced the first Z-Spec accessories for the new 2012 Sonic, a youth-oriented, high-mileage small car scheduled to hit the streets this fall. The Sonic Z-Spec portfolio – on display starting next week at the New York International Auto Show – includes accent packages with contrasting-color exterior elements and graphics expressing the car's fun-loving character.

Exterior accessories include ground effects, exhaust tip, spoiler, mirror caps, grille surrounds, graphics and 16 or 17-inch painted alloy wheels. Inside you can select Interior aluminum sport pedals and sill plates. All will be available by the end of 2011.

The Sonic’s combination of a youthful design with an agile ride can be equipped with an efficient, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, expected to get something like 40 mpg on the highway.

"The new Z-Spec accessories reinforce Sonic's fun, youthful spirit," said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. "Customization is particularly important with the customers we believe will gravitate toward the Sonic, and we want to help them make their vehicle look exactly the way they want as easily as possible."

The Z-Spec accessories will initially include body-color ground effects, contrasting mirror caps and roof spoiler, contrasting upper and lower grille surrounds and a body graphics package, which includes a front fascia extension, rocker panel extensions and rear fascia extension plus a silver exhaust tip.

Z-Spec also includes color accent packages in Black Out or White Out. These packages, which will be displayed on vehicles at the New York Auto Show, feature black accents on a Summit White Sonic and Summit White accents on an Inferno Orange Sonic.

"Sonic is a great canvas for customization, and Z-Spec offers a cohesive design with a family of factory-engineered accessories and graphics," said Scheidt.

Z-Spec parts can be purchased individually, to suit customer tastes and budgets, or as a complete package. When the parts are purchased with the Sonic and installed by the dealer, the cost is included in their monthly payments.

Additional accessories will be available for the Sonic, such as chrome mirror caps and door handles as well as cargo nets and trunk trays. Additional graphics packages are also forthcoming.

The Sonics that will be displayed at NYIAS share traits with the Z-Spec concept versions of the Cruze, Spark and Volt, which were revealed at the 2010 SEMA show. Each wore ground effects kits, rear spoilers and Z-Spec-specific grilles and graphics.

At a glance
The Sonic comes in two body styles, a sedan and a flirtatious five-door. Each delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo capacity and has a variety of optional mobile apps.

The basic Sonic has an efficient, Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine with an estimated 138 horsepower (18 horsepower more than Ford Fiesta) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque, between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm.

An optional Ecotec 1.8L engine, paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, delivers an estimated 135 horsepower and 123 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm.

The Sonic will be fabricated at the assembly center in Orion Township, Mich., making it the only subcompact to be built in the United States.