The Chevrolet Sonic is scheduled to receive a mild hybrid system version in the 2028 lineup. This update will feature the 48-volt MHEV system, which was developed by General Motors in collaboration with the Chinese company SAIC. The news was reported by the website Autos Segredos.
A reader of the aforementioned website captured images of a camouflaged Sonic prototype in a shopping center parking lot located in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul. This location is in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre and near Gravataí, where the vehicle is manufactured. According to the publication, the camouflage covering does not hide aesthetic modifications, but the car was circulating equipped with the new electrified setup.
This change represents an alteration in the initial planning. The Sonic was launched this year without any electrification components. Initially, GM planned to introduce the 48-volt system in models produced in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo. For this, the factory received an additional investment of R$ 3.5 billion designated for adapting production lines for electrified vehicles. Besides the Sonic, the Tracker and Montana models are also planned to incorporate this technology in the 2028 lineup.
The MHEV system does not operate in a purely electric mode. It uses a compact electric motor that assumes the functions of a starter motor and alternator, generating 10.8 hp and 4 kgfm. This auxiliary capacity is mainly activated during accelerations, recoveries, and overtaking, which helps reduce the demand on the combustion engine during peak demand moments.
The energy required for the system is recovered during braking, being stored in a 48-volt battery instead of being lost as heat. The technological package also includes start-stop functionality and electronic charge management, which optimizes the performance of the electrical components according to usage conditions. This solution is expected to bring an average fuel consumption saving of about 10%.
In the specific case of the Sonic, this setup will work together with the 1.0 turbo flex engine of 115 hp and 18.9 kgfm. The methodology used is similar to that employed by Fiat, Peugeot, and Jeep in their mild hybrids in the Brazilian market, but there is an important distinction: the mentioned models operate with a 12-volt architecture, while the GM system adopts the 48-volt architecture, allowing for greater electrical support.
The urgency of this change is driven by competition. Rival vehicles to the Sonic in the compact SUV segment have implemented some level of electrification, and Chevrolet did not have any hybrid model in line in the country until 2026. GM has set a goal to electrify its entire Brazilian lineup by 2030, a strategy that also includes the development of plug-in hybrids.
Derived from the Onix and produced in Gravataí, the Sonic is positioned between the hatchback and the Tracker. The 2028 version should be presented to the public throughout 2027, maintaining the same design as the current model.