Chevrolet's new Sonic hatch and sedan models have at last made their US market debut this week, bringing its one step closer to its Australian launch as the new 2012 Holden Barina.

Known in the US market until recently as the Chevrolet Aveo, the new Barina is expected to go on sale in Australia, replacing the current fifth-generation Barina - at which time it will be nearly six years old.

Targeting the Ford Fiesta and the new Hyundai Elantra - as it will in Australia - the Sonic is powered by a 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Power figures have not been released, although its output will likely be greater than the 76kW and 145Nm of the current Barina's 1.6 litre engine.

A turbocharged 1.4 litre engine will also be available, producing 103kW - which GM points out is 14kW greater than the Ford's range-topping 89kW Fiesta Zetec.

Unlike the Fiesta range, no diesel engines have been announced for the US-market Sonic, although European (and possibly Australian) are expected to feature diesel options. These will include include two versions of a new 1.3 litre turbodiesel with a Start/Stop system, producing 55kW and 67kW respectively.

Australian specifications have yet to be revealed, and while the 1.8 litre engine is the likely offering, it is unclear if Holden will look to compete with the top-shelf Fiesta model.

As with its smaller sibling in the Barina Spark, suspension in the new Barina is managed by MacPherson type struts up front, and a torsion beam arrangement at the rear.

The Sonic/Barina is the first GM model developed on the Gamma II platform, a a version of the Fiat-GM developed Gamma/SCCS platform used most recently by the Opel Corsa, Opel Meriva and Alfa Romeo MiTo.

GM says buyers can look forward to a car tuned to European standards, with "a ride and handling ratio that combines comfort with responsiveness."

Standard safety features across the range will include Electronic power steering (EPS), Electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS brakes.

Australia

The new Barina is expected to make its Australian debut in September.

Related Content

• Holden Barina reviews | news
  
• Holden Barina Spark reviews | news
  

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• reply ” like !

  

  MattJ says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  So this will be the new Korean built Daewoo Barina right?
  • reply ” like !

    

    MotorMouth says,
    2 years ago

    1 like

    Did you not bother reading the article? It will be built on the same platform as the Opel Corsa and Alfa Romeo MiTo. i.e. German engineered, just like the Cruze. I'd much rather have a car built by Sth Koreans, who have an excellent work culture, than one built by Belgians, as the last Astra was, or by Thais, as most new Fords will soon be, or by Zulus, as most BMW and Mercedes-Benz models sold here are. In fact, German engineered and Sth Korean made sounds like the best possible combination to me.
    Seriously, this whole Daewoo thing is beyond pathetic when you look at where a lot of cars are made. That's why companies like Renault are leveraging Sth Korea for models like the Koleos, over other low-cost options like Turkey (where the new Megane is made).
• reply ” like !

  

  charles says,
  2 years ago

  It looks ridiculous, that front end looks way too big for the rest of the car.
• reply ” like !

  Matthew Werner says,
  2 years ago

  The ugly streak started by the Spark continues....
• reply ” like !

  

  Super Mattthew says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  I reckon the sedan looks bloody awesome. Or at the very least, miles better than the hatch.
  • reply ” like !

    Iwan Schana says,
    2 years ago

    Yes, "bloody awesome"... for a Daewoo! Groan...
    • reply ” like !

      

      Super Mattthew says,
      2 years ago

      1 like

      Why do you people keep banging on about the Daewoo factor? It was developed globally and will simply be manufactured by Daewoo. It's not as though it is literally nothing more than a rebadged Daewoo, designed and built on the philosophies of the Daewoo of 10 years ago. The company has undergone huge tooling and expertise changes since it came into GM hands.
      • reply ” like !

        

        ads266 says,
        2 years ago

        Because it was, according to Holden, 'Home-roomed' in Korea @ GM-DAT (General Motors - Daewoo Auto Technology). It was designed by Holden in Australia but the rest of the development was done by Daewoo. Also, this car has to be cheaper than the Corsa for their European 2-tier strategy to work so it is an inferior car. The Astra and Cruze are built on the same platform but the Cruze is cheapened down so it will sit below Astra. One example is the Cruze has no Independent Rear Suspension and the Astra does. Holden did the biggest 'con' in Australian history by re-badging old Daewoo's and selling them as Holden's. I use to be an extremely loyal Holden customer till this happened but will not be fooled by crap. (I used to take break-down calls for Holden and there Korean stuff is not good quality, ask any Captiva owner if their engine light has come on) I really want to get an Opel when they launch next year but don't want to give GM the satisfaction after how they treated us for the last 5 years. Poor effort Holden.
• reply ” like !

  Mark Bentley says,
  2 years ago

  There is something odd about the look of the car. Still it looks better than the current car.
• reply ” like !

  

  Beno says,
  2 years ago

  the front end looks like a lancer and from the b pillar back the hatch looks like the kia soul!
  
  when will GM create something original AND good looking???
• reply ” like !

  

  MotorMouth says,
  2 years ago

  Are your eyes painted on? The sedan looks like a mini-Cruze, only without the Cruze's ugly headlight clusters. The hatch is more utilitarian looking and it might struggle against competitors like Fiesta and Mazda2, unless Holden can get the pricing and packaging right. The interior looks great for the class, right up there with Fiesta.
  • reply ” like !

    

    Devil's Advocate says,
    2 years ago

    1 like

    It has a Holden badge, that is all it needs to sell...