New Chevrolet Onix RS To Expand Presence In South America

Following its regional debut in Colombia last March, the new Chevrolet Onix RS will begin to expand its presence in South America during the last four months of the year. Several sources familiar with the matter have informed us that General Motors is preparing to introduce the Onix RS in several southern countries of the continent, starting with Brazil next month – by far the largest automotive market in the region.

Interestingly, the company began marketing the Chevrolet Onix RS in smaller South American countries first instead of Brazil, which also represents the main manufacturing hub of the successful global subcompact car. Currently, the new sporty variant of the Onix is only sold in Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador, but after hitting the Brazilian market, the Onix RS will head to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Peru.

The new Chevrolet Onix RS, which was first seen through an image leak late last year, is the most aggressively styled variant of the second-generation model and is only offered in five-door hatchback configuration. Since this variant of the Onix is manufactured exclusively at the GM Gravataí plant in Brazil, it is highly unlikely that this new RS version will be marketed outside of South America for now.

As such, the Onix RS stands out for its aggressive design made up of styling elements that give it a modern look and accentuate its sporty character. It stands out from the rest of the lineup thanks to a front grille with a mesh-like pattern, black trim and headlight clusters, 16-inch alloy wheels, an aerodynamic body kit as well as a black roof and bow tie emblems.

This exclusive exterior appearance is combined with a specific cabin, dressed up entirely in black with contrasting red air vent bezel accenting and seat stitching. In addition, the interior of the Onix RS includes new upholstery with more elaborate materials as well as sporty trim on both the steering wheel and the center console.

As we previously reported, the Chevrolet Onix RS only boasts styling upgrades and does not include mechanical changes compared to other variants of the vehicle offered in South America. As such, the Onix RS keeps the 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder engine that develops 115 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. Obviously, this version is only offered with a manual transmission, which features five or six speeds depending on the country in which it’s marketed.

1.0L I-3 Turbo engine

The new Chevrolet Onix RS will be gradually introduced in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Peru as one of the first 2021 model-year versions of the second-generation model. Subscribe to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Chevrolet Onix news, Chevrolet news and ongoing GM news coverage.