An LS V8 In A Chevrolet Sonic Is Brilliant Rally Madness
A rally team has fitted a 430bhp LS V8 to the smallest car Chevrolet makes – and then fully prepared it for rallying.
The 6.2-litre LS3 crate engine, which sells for about $8000 (£6350) in ready-to-run guise, has been slotted into the middle of the tiny Sonic, framed by a full roll cage and a pair of lightweight rally-spec bucket seats.
It’s the bonkers baby of PMR Motorsports, a rally team based in the US. Huge wheel arches cover a vastly widened track at both ends. The suspension is lifted, upgraded to PMR’s spec and fitted with rally-appropriate wheels and off-road tyres.
It has been built to compete in the American Rally Association race series, the US’s flagship domestic rally competition. These mods aren’t just for show; they’re designed to help the Sonic become a winner.
It will sure as hell be quick enough to win. The V8’s 430bhp is backed up by 425lb ft and permanent all-wheel drive, making this the meanest, fastest Sonic ever, unless someone even crazier of whom we’re not aware has gone one step further.
The new gigantic mouth-grille gulps down all the air the cooling system needs while we can turn the ‘Murica up to 11 thanks to a 3D-effect stars and stripes on the roof. There’s also a vast tailgate spoiler that could double as a superb snow shovel if ever you were stuck. This Sonic may be a bit unhinged, but we love every inch of it.
Comments
I knew i saw somethong similar
First Aston Martin now Chevy? Ford, pleeeease drop the 5.2 Voodoo into the Fiesta. You know you want to
That has actually been done, but the basis was a WRC fiesta instead of a roadgoing one
People will literally swap any engine into any car. What’s next? A Detroit 6-71 in a Tesla?
cummins in a tesla roadster
I wondered what would happen if I LS swapped my Chevy Volt, It would be perfect if the ICE would roar with the howl of a V8 when I turn on the gas engine, I’m sure it would confuse many.
Theoretically this would boost power to the drivetrain with a proper tune but unsure how much work it would need, But people LS-swapped a Prius so it should be feasible.
Put a Supercharger on there an youve got even more power
That’s amazing lol
430bhp isn’t a lot from a big heavy 6.2L V8. You would expect a much higher power to weight ratio in a race/rally car. I can’t see how this can be very competitive.
Still cool though and looks good fun.
It’s a OHV relatively old V8, what did you expect
The LS motors are acturally lighter than the Porsche flat sixes of the same year so they are really not all that heavy
Also, keeping it stock will help it stay reliable and they probably have a power to weight restriction in their class
What are you talking about? LS engines are actually quite light for their size. Its not the 70s anymore.
How many times do we have to teach you this lesson young man???
This is why rally is so awesome, they take an extremely trash car with many unnecessary gadgets in it and they transform it into a lean, mean, race winning machine. Very pleasant to see.
Chevrolet Sanic
Give it to Ken Block for some gymkhana vids :)
Ford feista tho
Hmmm I am going to do a V8 swap for the Fiesta WRC on Forza Horizon 4