We’ve brought up this discussion in the past: Ford Performance vehicle sales continue to run circles around General Motors, and more specifically, Chevrolet. Ford saw a segment ripe for a shake up, and introduced the Ford Focus ST, Fiesta ST, and the even hotter Focus RS to compliment the Ford Mustang range.
While Chevrolet originally felt the addition of a turbocharged four-cylinder powered Camaro would cover the “fast and furious” crowd, sales haven’t skewed in that direction. Now, Ford will retract one of its beloved ST models as it announced the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST will not be offered in North America. Ditto for the entire Fiesta range, according to Ford Authority.
So, we ask, does this leave a ripe opportunity for Chevrolet? A hypothetical answer to the Fiesta ST would be a hot Chevrolet Sonic hatchback. However, with Sonic sales spiraling downward—thanks to the Chevrolet Trax—we highly doubt GM sees the Sonic as a source of potential investment. On a broader scale, American aren’t really in love with sub-compact cars to begin with.
Still, we will say it again, we truly believe Chevrolet is missing out on an important segment by lacking a truly affordable performance vehicle. Those interested in the Fiesta ST were met with a mere $22,015 starting price. No, it wasn’t optioned out to very luxurious, but it still packed 197 horsepower in a small, incredibly fun package.
We won’t get our hopes up, but an affordable Chevrolet with performance in mind seems like a no-brainer.
Comments
I’d personally love to see a Chevy Sonic GT, same styling, but with the Turbo-4 from the Chevy Malibu. That’ll get a 3klb~ curb weight vehicle moving fast. While still offering great MPG. The Sonic is highly loved by its owners, and it’s begging for attention. It’s a very personable vehicle, and it stands out from other cars on the street. Mod it, do whatever. New Air Intake, Better Flowing Exhaust, and you’ve got yourself a 200hp+ car right there, that has GREAT MPG, and storage.
Yes, a great opportunity, but I would be shocked if it happens… GM hasn’t had a car in this market since 2009… training a generation of entry performance buyers to go elsewhere.
That’s a good thing to see a Sonic SS with a 1.6 220 hp but also a Cruze SS with the 2.0 275 hp at least if not 300hp.
Might note Ford is leaving the segment because they are not making money on the ST. GM getting in with the already stagnant Sonicis going to change what?
The small CUV is decimating the small car segments.
FWD performance is a small segment and difficult at best even sold globally.
Make it AWD and then it gets expensive.
If I were to invest I would do a Trax with a performance edge.
The same for a real FNR-X with a real performance edge.
The investment in the Sonic is just going to be wasted on a short lived model.
The only real FWD Chevy worth investing is the Cruze. Hatch but they would be lucky to move 15k units
I don’t see it happening. GM has steered clear of this segment since ’09 with the turbo’d Cobalt SS. I’d love to see a Cruze SS to the tune of ~275hp, options like Recaro seats, Brembo brakes, suspension upgrades, dealer installed Stage kits, etc., all for a starting price of ~$24k. It would be a cheap way for younger people to get into the performance market.
Well…while we’re at it…why not a Malibu 2dr coupe with a twin turbocharged V6. I’d look at that. However, again, the General doesn’t seem to be in that market either.
Mid-sized coupes are a dead market (outside the premium German models). Honda was the last holdout and the new Accord is 4-door only.
This story is partly correct – the NEW (redesigned) 2018 Fiesta ST won’t come to the U.S., but the current-gen Fiesta ST WILL be here as a 2018 model.
The Bolt EV beats the Fiesta ST in acceleration and features, but not on price (and not seats). Potentially, a smaller battery version could compete on price.
I’m afraid GM is becoming Toyota. With the exception of the Camaro and Corvette everything else is BORING! I dislike the Camaro styling and the Vette just isn’t practical or affordable for me. The SS would have been perfect if it would have been $8k cheaper but GM killed it. What I’d love to drive is a Cruze hatch with the LTG, a six speed and upgraded suspension.
I agree, I would buy a Cruze hatch with 250 plus HP and a manual trans. My daily driver is a 2009 Cobalt SS Sedan with stage 2 and is a great little car, but it has almost 90,000 miles and I would be ready to upgrade if there was something to upgrade to. I don’t want to go away from a Chevrolet if possible.
The GM Chev Impala still the forgotten vehicle that has gotten many awards and GM P/R isn’t using them.
No, Impalas in GM or Dealer ads
Guys I love coupes, I love performance because that is the industry I make my living in. But the reality of the market is not tuned into cars and even less with performance cars.
Yes Chevy is working to be more like Toyota and boring. Why? Because Toyota is selling what sells and what got them to be the largest automaker and one of the most profitable.
I hate to say this but it is true.
A Cruze SS, a Impala SS, Malibu SS coupe even a Sonic SS would be great but they will not sell enough of them to pay the cost of development.
The market for cars like these models need to be global to turn the needed volume and even then it is not without risk of failure like the ST.
The RS is a great car but look st how few are selling and the price of $40k plus. The Honda and GTI are mid 30k by the time you get the good options.
The Camaro and Mustang sale are dropping and the race to global sale is on to save the models. Ford will be shutting down Mustang production along with 4 other cars use to slow sales.
Performance was $25k 9 years ago with the Cobalt SS. My HHR SS was $28k sticker in 08.
There is no cheap real performance out there and not much is coming.
A new kind of CUV performance may be feasible due to the larger volumes they sell. Also trucks could do much like the ZR2 and Raptor.
I expect GM to usher a performance full size in the next truck and we will see more in the mid size Chevy line.
I in no way Blaine GM for not going full in on cars when no one is seeing growth. The public drives sales and demand.
The truth is you could give the Impala every award out there and market the crap out of it and sales would see little to no gain. Sad as it really is a great car but people don’t want cars.
Just look at the G8 and SS both were far from sell outs even with very limited imports.
Everyone says I would buy that but they are either some of the few or just lying when the true numbers come out. That leave a company reluctant to spend billions to bring new similar models and losing money.
Note to even do a car like the Cruze SS would take millions to bring to market and odds are good they would never sell enough to make the money back.
We all need to take more kids rides in performance cars and get them out of the family CUV to know what GTA really feels like.
Sometimes GM surprises it’s customers with some low-volume, performance models that are never going to make the company money and may actually cost them money. The ’14-’15 Z/28 comes to mind. A $75k track monster, that can now be found on the market for ~$45k. Less than 2,000 were made and can now be had for a $30k discount.
Same goes for the Chevy SS. A rebadged Holden, shipped here to fill the void left by the G8 GXP and produced in very limited quantities. Sometimes the Gods shine upon us performance junkies.
What I don’t get is these ridiculous Redline models. Standard cars/trucks with black wheels and red stripes. What the Hell is that? No performance of any kind, just some cheap vinyl graphics. Laughable at best if it weren’t so sad and pitiful. 🙁
I hope to see a few more performance based models come to GM showrooms soon.
Pontiac is dead, Chevrolet becomes boring except the Camaro, Corvette and the Colorado ZR2. In my opinion, GM should build next Impala on the Alpha 2 with an SS variant with a biturbo V6 or a V8, a Malibu SS with a bi turbo V6 and a Cruze SS with the 2.0 300 hp. Finally, GM can build a Sonic SS with the 1.6 220 hp.
It’s a dream but why not, keep dreaming.
Chevy Spark sales had gone into a death spiral; but this news of Ford abandoning this segment might be the encouragement General Motors needs to spend some money to freshen the Spark because one has to think if GM kills off the Spark, it would give the market segment to Kia.
The small Kia will die the same death to small CUV models.
There is no segment for small cars in any volume in this country.
I guess I can understand why most car companies don’t want to produce performance cars (too small of a niche). It’s difficult for me (us) to come to grips with it. I’ve always loved them. 2-dr coupes….I’m 6’3″ and that’s about the only thing I can comfortably get into and out of….except SUV with more chair like seats. My current ride is a 2008 VW R32. It was the only performance car I could afford at the time. Not really interested in BMW. Guess I’m preaching to the choir….sure wish the manufacturers would grant our wishes.
You know I’d just be happy if they’d at least offer an engine and suspension up grade on the Cruze hatch. Sorry, 153 hp ain’t gonna get me in the showroom. And no I’m not interested in an oil burner.