Monday, 29 April 2013 09:56
Putting On Some Bulk | 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 1.4L Notchback LTZ 6AT
Words and photos by Jose Carlo R. Sapera
Do you still remember the old Chevrolet Aveo? If your answer is no, we don't blame you. That's because the sedan and hatchback versions, yes there are two, looked miles apart. Besides the obviously missing trunk, the five-door version had a a completely different front end, which gave the nameplate a bit of an identity crisis. Although both were good to drive and had the looks to match, it sadly wan't one of the popular subcompacts of its time.
To give it a second chance at life, the bow-tie-brand rebooted the nameplate and renamed it as the Sonic. It's packed with better styling, more features, and most importantly, identical designs for the hatchback and notchback versions. In case you're wondering, they now call it a notchback and not a sedan because the trunk is shaped more like a notch.
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Subcompact
Thursday, 11 April 2013 10:46
Chevrolet's new 2013 Spark glimmers at AVID Innovation Congress
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos by Jose Carlo R. Sapera
After spending three years in the market, the Spark is sadly starting to lose its sparkle. Newer micro cars have emerged in the past few months that have outshined it. So, like what any other car manufacturer would do, they've given it a quick facelift to make it new again. We've first saw photos of the 2013 Spark as early as 2011, but at last, it's here. This, boys and girls, is the new 2013 Chevrolet Spark that made its debut at the recently-concluded AVID Innovation Congress.
The new facelift has changed the front and rear ends ever so slightly, but as they say, the devil is in the details.
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Newly Launched
Monday, 21 January 2013 07:22
COTY 2012 - 2013 Test Fest Day 7: Big, small, and everything in between
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua and author
On a regular day, we'd have around 8 to 10 cars to drive at the Qualitative Testing for the 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P). But this was no regular day. Last January 12, 2013, the boys and girls of the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) found themselves face-to-face with 17 shiny new cars and they had to drive every single one of them. Though the experience was fun, we were all left battered and bruised by the day's end. Still, we got to drive big, small, and everything in between.
The smallest of the bunch were all four variants of the all-new Mirage from Mitsubishi. Following on its trail are the trio of Chevrolet Sonics, in both hatchback and notchback (sedan) forms. Then there were the heavyweights. Chevrolet brought three Colorados with 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains; Foton stepped up with their own all-new Thunder 4x2 and 4x4; and Mitsubishi fielded their 3.0L V6-equipped Montero Sport. But I guess it goes without saying that the crème de la crème were from newcomer Peugeot, who brought their entire line-up: the 3008 crossover, 5008 mpv, 508 sedan, and RCZ sports coupe.
Published in
Car of the Year
Thursday, 17 January 2013 09:27
Chevrolet is letting you drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray C7 for FREE... in GT5 (w/ video)
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos and video courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
A camouflaged prototype of the next generation Corvette C7 has been available for download since November 2012. And since then, nearly 500,000 fans of Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) have done just that so they can race this new American muscle on track before the real deal hits showrooms near the end of 2013. But now that the world has seen the Corvette Stingray C7 in all its glory at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the powers that be at Chevrolet and Polyphony Digital Inc. (developers of the Gran Turismo franchise) worked together to deliver the closest thing anyone can get to driving the latest 'Vette.
The best part is, it's a free download, since January 15 2013, at the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 for anyone who owns the game.
Published in
Games
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 10:03
Detroit: 2014 marks the return of the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos courtesy of General Motors Corporation
It's been a while since the world has last seen a new Corvette; exactly eight years have passed since the C6 (6th gen) was introduced. Since then, the competition has upped the ante and introduced their own interpretation of the ultimate American muscle car (see SRT Viper). However, just as the very first Corvette (C1) changed the scene 60 years ago, so does the latest all-new 2014 C7 Corvette. And on the 50th anniversary of the legendary C2 Corvette, they've resurrected a historical badge from the Corvette's long colorful history and christened this the Stingray.
Published in
Newly Launched
Monday, 14 January 2013 08:11
New Year, New Motto: Chevrolet will ‘Find New Roads’
Words by Jade Lu
When big, successful companies have been in the business for over a century and catering to more than a hundred countries worldwide, it’s not a wonder that new exciting paths must be paved to reach their loyal patrons and create ties to a new audience.
So at the dawn of 2013, American trailblazer Chevrolet gave their company’s direction a little spark to help the brand traverse through its worldwide audience. Chevy vows to ‘Find New Roads’ to better reach and expand its 140-country market.
Published in
Industry Update
Wednesday, 09 January 2013 10:19
COTY 2012 - 2013 Test Fest Day 6: Take us away
Words by Jade Lu | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua and Christopher Kho
If there was one thing the Kotse.com crew looked forward to when the New Year started, it was this. On the very first Saturday of 2013, the boys and girls of the Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) gathered at the Eton Centris parking lot for the sixth round of the 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) Test Fest.
The first models on the chopping block for 2013 looked like they were ready to take us a long, long way from home. We’d be ready to take these fine examples on a road trip at the drop of a hat. Chevrolet was first to arrive with the Trailblazer LTZ 4x4 A/T and the Orlando LT A/T. Toyota sent us the Avanza 1.3E, Avanza 1.5G, Prius C, and Camry 2.5V. Hyundai’s dynamic duo of the Sonata 2.0 GLS 6AT Limited and Tucson Theta II T2.0 Limited 4WD left us all wondering what new treats these models have in store.
Published in
Car of the Year
Monday, 10 December 2012 06:12
Started with a spark, going with a surge, This is the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV
Words by Jade Lu | Photos courtesy of General Motors North America
The Chevrolet Volt has already convinced a considerable lot of American car owners that electric is the way to go. But as far as gasoline power is concerned, the Spark was equally impressive, boasting a mileage of up to 22 kilometers to the liter. But just recently, General Motors North America released what is mechanically the lovechild between the two green machines: the 2014 Spark EV.
The Spark EV follows the footsteps of the Volt, which has already proven the capabilities of its electric motor and battery. A very proud Mark Reuss, President of General Motors North America, said, “The Volt and now the Spark EV show that Chevrolet not only knows EVs better than anyone else, we also know how to help customers get the most out of their EV experience.”
Published in
Newly Launched
Friday, 07 December 2012 08:59
Christmas comes early! Chevrolet bundles an iPad Mini for every Sonic you buy
Are you still wondering what to get yourself for Christmas? Why not an all-new Chevrolet Sonic? Now available in the Philippines in both hatchback and sedan versions, Chevrolet Philippines is bundling a brand new Apple iPad Mini (16 GB Wifi) with every purchase on or before December 31, 2012.
All 19 Chevrolet dealerships nationwide are in with this promo, so you can get your brand-new Sonic and iPad Mini no matter where you live. And in case you're wondering, there's no hidden ifs, ands or buts in this promo. You get your iPad Mini no matter which of the four available Sonic variants you choose to buy.
Published in
Contest and Promos
Friday, 07 December 2012 06:48
JD Power finds the Chevy Sonic as most APEAL-ing subcompact in US
Words by Christopher Kho
Hands down, the all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is currently the most APEAL-ing subcompact in the US - that's according to J.D. Power's 2012 US Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) study.
The win speaks a lot about the Sonic's attributes. Apparently, new vehicle buyers in North America are beginning to find smaller cars just as appealing as larger ones they previously owned. The study shows that today's subcompact and compact cars are just as “APEAL-ing” as midsized cars four years ago. And the biggest factor associated with this trend is the better fuel economy offered by these new small cars. Runner-ups for the category were the Fiat 500 and Ford Fiesta.
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News
