Chevrolet Sonic Gets Sporty With Z-Spec Accessories

When one thinks of “compact tuner cars” most enthusiasts think, “lowered Honda Civic with a massive tail pipe.”  Asian imports are cheap to own and inexpensive to modify. General Motors has never really been a player in this market, but they’re trying to change that with their own line of Z-Spec accessories.

Z-spec parts are designed specifically for the new Chevrolet Sonic, a subcompact coming to market later this year. The Sonic will be available as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Power will come from two versions of the GM Ecotech petrol engine: a standard 1.8-liter producing 135 horsepower (101 kW) & 123 lb/ft of torque or an optional 1.4-liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower (103 kW) & 148 lb/ft of torque (200 Nm), slightly out powering it’s closest rival, the Ford Fiesta. The turbo lump is said to offer 40 miles per gallon. Both engines can be mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. 

For now, the Z-Spec catalog is all show and no go.  There are no engine performance parts; no shift kit, no suspension parts and no performance exhaust system.  What you can buy is a choice of graphics packages that complement the Z-Spec body kit, which includes: a roof spoiler, mirror caps, extensions for the front & rear fascia, rocker panels and a silver exhaust tip.  The graphics package come in “Black Out” or “White Out” with optional 16” or 17” painted alloy wheels.  

Z-Spec accessories will be sold though the Chevrolet dealer network. Sonic owners will have the option to buy the parts individually or as a total package. The Z-Spec parts program is designed to allow dealer installation on new car, the cost of which can then be rolled into the financing or outright purchase price of a new Sonic. 

Whether or not a body kit and graphics package is enough to lure the youth market into Chevrolet dealerships is the multi-million dollar marketing question.