A sneak peek at the upcoming Chevrolet Sonic

MANILA, Philippines - On our second-to-the-last-day in Bangkok, Chevrolet granted us a sneak peek of the upcoming new Sonic subcompact sedan which will wage war against the Toyota Vios, Ford Fiesta, Honda City, and Hyundai Accent.

Launched in the US, Canada, Japan, Middle East and Europe last year, the Sonic quickly gained traction in these major markets, thanks to its strikingly chiseled exterior backed by an equally peppy performance and responsive handling.

I’ve seen the Sonic in photos, but in the flesh, it looks refreshingly upscale for a car of its compact size. The exposed quad headlamps look purposeful and give it a BMW-like stare. Pronounced wheel arches further convey agility and sleekness and promise a provocatively fun-to-drive experience.

The sophistication continues inside the Sonic with Chevrolet’s signature dual-cockpit theme first seen in the iconic Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro. An Integrated Center Stack (ICS) keeps the driver up-to-date with the car’s operations, while providing additional information on the car’s infotainment and HVAC (Heat, Ventilation and Air-conditioning) controls.

Highlighting the dynamic interior is a motorcycle-inspired instrument cluster—similar to the Chevy Spark’s—featuring a large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, with a large digital speedometer display.

Almost 60 percent of the Sonic’s body structure as well as the four-mount hydroformed engine cradle, use high-strength steel. At the very heart of Sonic’s fun-to-drive appeal is its Body Frame Integral (BFI) structure. This tight, stiff foundation, with main underbody rails running continuously from front to rear, provides drivers with a heightened sense of solidity and stability.

The total package of the BFI structure, along with steering, suspension and braking systems, delivers outstanding handling characteristics that fully connect the driver to the road. The structure is also designed to absorb crash energy, which helps keep the impact from harming its occupants.

Powertrain, drivetrain and other technical specs will be revealed near the Sonic’s Philippine launch date, slated later this year. (Let’s hope the 1.4-liter Turbo model makes its way here. Now that’s a 7.8-second-0-to-100-kph pocket rocket!)