Chevy Announces Sonic Accessory Plan

Chevrolet will continue its Z-Spec accessory offerings this fall for the launch of its new Sonic subcompact, targeted at young buyers.

“Customization is particularly important with the customers we believe will gravitate toward the Sonic, and we want to help them make their vehicle look exactly the way they want as easily as possible,” Rick Scheidt, vice president-Chevrolet marketing, says in a statement.

The Z-Spec offerings include a body-color ground-effects kit, complete with a silver-tip exhaust, contrasting upper and lower grille surrounds and different-colored mirror cap and roof spoiler.

Also available are 16- and 17-in. painted alloy wheels, and aluminum pedals and sill plates for the car’s interior.

Sonics with Z-Spec “Color Out” packages – black accents on a white Sonic and white accents on an orange Sonics – will be on display at next week’s New York auto show.

The ’12 Sonic, equipped with a 1.4L turbocharged gas engine, arrives this fall in a crowded but booming segment.

Small-car sales were up 20.9% in the first quarter, Ward’s data shows, thanks to the Ford Fiesta’s 20,000-plus incremental units.

Z-Spec ‘Color Out package.

The Sonic’s predecessor, the Chevy Aveo, has been one of the slower-selling models among U.S. subcompacts in recent years. It sales rank fourth among the nine models in the segment. The Nissan Versa is No.1.