As the only subcompact built in America, Sonic comes with segment-leading 10 standard air bags and leads in interior roominess. The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is one of the segment’s best sellers and is positioned between the all-new Spark and the popular Cruze to round out Chevy’s small car portfolio. The Sonic B-Spec competition kit is anticipated to go on sale in the first quarter of 2013 through Chevrolet Performance retailers. It is backed by the production five-speed manual transmission. Like the other vehicles in B-Spec classes, the Sonic race car concept’s 1.8L engine remains unchanged from its factory specifications, although an air restrictor is employed to equalize its output with other competitors. The concept vehicle is shown with a Monaco Blue-painted roll cage, carbon fiber racing seat, five-point safety harness, window safety net, center catch net, quick-release steering wheel/hub system and a fire extinguisher. Safety features, such as the roll cage, safety seat, window net and racing harnesses, would be sourced separately by the builder. Through such development and validation testing, engineers ran the Sonic B Spec through the equivalent of a season’s worth of racing, ensuring it is not only a fast race car, but one that will hold up to the rigors of competition. Much of the Sonic B-Spec kit’s evaluation has come at road courses around the United States, including Virginia International Raceway and the most recent testing session at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama. The Luxor Blue concept vehicle – accented with Monaco Blue graphics – also shows lightweight 15x7-inch racing wheels wrapped with complementing racing tires. Rear shock coil-over assemblies and mounts.Front strut coil-over assemblies and mounts.Components of the production-intended competition kit on the concept include chassis, suspension and other parts required to transform a production Sonic into a competitive race car: “Sonic’s great balance of power and responsive handling make it a natural on the track – and a formidable competitor.”Ĭonforming to series guidelines, the Sonic B-Spec concept’s modifications are limited to safety features and chassis/suspension enhancements designed for the rigors of racing. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Sonic B-Spec concept demonstrates the car’s capabilities in the increasingly popular B-Spec subcompact classes in several racing series,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. It previews a competition kit for racers to help them convert a street-going Sonic into a dedicated race car. – Acclaimed for its balanced handling and sporty driving experience, Chevrolet Sonic has been transformed by Chevrolet Performance for the track as a B-Spec race car concept. We wanted to get out and see if we could break the draft and get away…I ran four or five laps at 100 percent and then put it back to 90 percent and cruised with it.ORLANDO, Fla. Reflecting on his win Buttermore said “It was pretty smooth…Everything went according to the plan that we had. Prior to winning his titles, Buttermore claimed second and third place honors at the runoffs.īuttermore averaged 99.505mph while leading all 13 laps over the Corvette-heavy field. Third place went to Tim Hund in a Dodge Viper. En route to the victory, Buttermore, from Wixom, MI, beat out the 2007 National Champ, Andrew Aquilante, who was behind the wheel of a Mustang Boss 302. The black number 52 Corvette in its Hoosier/Carbotech/Stoptech livery started on the pole, lead every lap around the 4 mile 14-turn track, and won by 21.611 seconds. Buttermore recently piloted his Corvette to his 2nd consecutive Touring 1 National Championship during the SCCA runoffs at Road America. Now make that the 2 –time defending National Champion. Back in May we told you about John Buttermore, the Lead Development Engineer on the Chevy Sonic program who also just happens to be the defending SCCA Touring 1 National Champion.
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