by Brad Anderson
- New Sonic launches as SUV with flex-fuel hybrid powertrain.
- Teaser shows taillights similar to those on Equinox EV.
- SUV rides on same platform as Brazil’s Onix hatchback.
It’s been half a decade since the pint-sized Chevrolet Sonic disappeared from showrooms, and now, the name is set to make a return. Only this time, the Sonic isn’t coming back as a sedan or hatchback. Instead, it’s taking on an entirely new form, a compact SUV built specifically for the Brazilian market.
Chevrolet has begun teasing the reborn Sonic through a series of images shared on its Brazilian website and social channels. There’s not much official information to go on yet, but the visuals give us a pretty clear sense of the direction.
Read: Chevy Has A New SUV For Budget Buyers But Not Everyone Gets It
The new Sonic looks quite compact from the side, with a tapered rear window and roof rails. Another teaser of the SUV’s rear end reveals LED taillights very similar to those found on the Equinox EV. Sitting between them is a black bowtie badge.
Word is that the new Sonic has been designed and developed entirely in Brazil, using the same platform as the Chevy Onix. That hatchback once held the title of Brazil’s best-selling car, which gives this SUV a solid starting point in terms of familiarity and practicality.
According to GM South America president Santiago Chamorro, “The Sonic revives a global Chevrolet name, now reinterpreted for a new generation of vehicles that expresses innovation and modernity.”
He added that the model will fill a gap in Chevy’s lineup by entering “a strategic segment, not yet explored by the brand, that of coupe SUVs.”
Little is known about what will power the new Sonic, but GM Authority reports it will debut with a new flex-fuel hybrid powertrain. While it won’t be powerful, it should be efficient. There’s no word on whether or not it will be sold in other South American markets, or if it will remain a Brazilian exclusive.
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