GM, OTE launches 2012 Chevrolet Sonic in Oman

The new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic was unveiled in Oman by General Motors (GM) and OTE Group recently.  GM officials said that the new Sonic is designed to be a successful car in the highly competitive small car market and is available as a five-door hatch and a sedan. Abdallah Madhoun, sales business manager – Oman and Qatar at GM Middle East Operations, said, “This is the perfect car for those who care for a compact vehicle that provides a sporty drive with sleek designs and fuel efficiency.”

Cyrus Vevaina, managing director, OTE Group, said, “OTE Group is proud to be associated with a global automotive giant and has constantly strived to provide its customers quality customer care and best in-class ownership experience.” A press release said that a 1.6lt gasoline engine gives the Sonic strong acceleration characteristics and an immediate feeling of performance during low-speed driving.

It will be the first Chevrolet small car to sport a six-speed automatic transmission. One principal advantage is the positioning of the gear sets, which have been placed on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline. The benefits that result from this modification are a shorter powertrain, a lower hood line and increased interior space, the release said.

It also stated that the hatchback’s rear door pull handles are positioned in the upper section of the door, creating a coupe-like appearance. The hatchback’s tail lamps have no lens cover, while the sedan’s rear lamps are enveloped by a dual element lens. The sedan is 360mm longer than the hatchback, version which is 4039mm in length.

All wheels feature Chevrolet’s five-spoke design and are available in 15in steel and 16in painted aluminium. The instrument cluster incorporates a round speedometer and a digital LCD readout.