Where in the world is the 2012 Sonic?? (And Aveo, and Barina?)

[MetroMPG]

Just out of curiosity, I've been keeping tabs on where the next generation (2012 and later) car is being called "Aveo", where it's a "Sonic", and oh, where it's a Barina

So far, I've seen...



Sonic

• U.S.A.
• Canada
• South Africa (source)
• Japan (source)
• Middle East (source)
• Philippines (source)

Aveo

• U.K.
• Mexico (source)
• South Korea (source)
• China (source)

Barina (Holden)

• Australia
• New Zealand

[DailyDriverMark]

I want to get a green Sonic, and change the "Sonic" nameplate on the back to "Chronic"...

[MetroMPG]

Pitch it to GM as a model to go along side the "Z-spec". The Chronic Sonic.

---

Read an article that's a bit ambiguous about what the car will be called in South America, and whether it's called Sonic or Aveo in Mexico...

General Motors de Mexico, the country's largest automaker, said in a statement that the manufacturing space ... at its plant in the northern city of Ramos Arizpe ... will be used to make the Sonic.

GM said it will initially manufacture the Sonic exclusively for the Mexican market. Starting in 2012, however, the Ramos Arizpe plant will begin making that subcompact model for markets in Central and South America.

We're currently importing the Sonic from GM's Bupyeong plant in South Korea

source: GM to halt production of Chevy model in Mexico

[petrified.rabbit]

that also go to contradict a previous statement the gm made about michigan supplying the car for the world market.

I bet if you look at the "name" lines, they coincide with where the car is called aveo or sonic. By only having the "sonic" manufactured in michigan, aveo everywhere else, i guess they keep their "promise"

[Shibbs]

Bwahahaha, that's funny.

Someone in Michigan keep their promise???

[Steve B]

Here in Turkey (europe/asia, depending where you live) it's called the Yeni Aveo, (turkish for new Aveo). The old one will still be marketed for this year as the "Classic Aveo", and be phased out once stocks are depleted at the dealers. My new 2012 Aveo is produced at GM Korea in Inchon.

[MetroMPG]

Interesting. In India, you can still buy the "classic" Aveo too - "Aveo UVA".

[JPD]

Here in Thailand the Sonic prices have just been announced with deliveries due to start in August. Extremely disappointing; all models come with 1.4 engines, (no turbo or 1.8 like the US) and the transmission choices are only 5-speed manual or 6-speed auto - no 6-speed manual. Whereas the US Sonic comes with 10 airbags as standard, in Thailand even the range topping LTZ has only 2 front airbags. Chevy also missed a trick with fuel compatibility - E85 is becoming more widespread now and gives tax breaks to manufactures but the Sonic is only E20 compatible. I admire the Sonic's styling but I won't be trading in my 1.4 Aveo. The Sonic will replace all 1.4 and 1.6 Aveos but Chevy will continue to sell the 1.6 Aveos that are factory fitted with Compressed Natural Gas systems.

[petrified.rabbit]

JPD, what is your E85 made from? I have found out that brazilian E85 is sugar cane based, and is a much more efficient process than using corn. I am just wondering what Thailand is producing e85 from?

Also, no diesel sonic coming to your area? is diesel a viable option in thailand?

[JPD]

Yes, there's no diesel Sonic in Thailand, which is a shame as diesel is subsidized and cheaper than gas (E10, E20). Ethanol is produced from cassava and sugar cane - you're right, cane produces double the volume of ethanol per hectare than corn because only the kernels can be used. Next-generation processing will change this and I think we'll see more of this cellulosic development in Thailand, like using bagasse and rice-husks. The government pledge to pay way over market prices for rice so has built a huge surplus while market prices have fallen and other countries have increased their export output.