Sonic LT Hatchback
shown in Summit White with
available dealer-installed body
kit, graphics and other accessories.
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JOHN BUTTERMORE
LEAD DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER
When Lead Development Engineer John Buttermore gets behind the wheel
of a Corvette, he’s bringing years of track experience into every curve and
straightaway. So it came as no surprise that Buttermore would channel the
same passion into developing the all-new Sonic.
“Road racing has been a hobby for years, and our team expends a lot
of effort tuning our Corvette to get the best performance. Working on
Sonic is no different. You have a set of components and you do your best
to maximize their performance.”
As part of a group of engineers that drove cross-country to test the
sedan and hatchback, Buttermore saw his share of challenges: “Whether
it’s coming down or climbing those twisting mountain roads, Sonic was
planted, secure. When you’re driving down roads with no guardrail on
the side, it’s good to have a car that’s confident, responsive and just very
rewarding to drive.”
If Buttermore could describe Sonic in one word, it would be “fun.”
“We have a lot of selling points on safety and fuel economy,
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which are
sensible reasons to own a car, but at the end of the day, you spend a lot
of time in your car. We want everyone to enjoy that time. And fun is the
best way to describe that feeling.”
It’s been a long road, but this is one launch Buttermore is really looking
forward to. “What’s rewarding about doing this is seeing all the triumphs,
all the effort that goes into developing a vehicle and then seeing it all come
together. We were very confident that these cars would perform well and
they did. But what’s more rewarding is seeing it in person. You come with
high expectations and then you get to look at what the cars can do, and
point and say, ‘We did that.’ There’s nothing like it.”
IT EARNED THESE STRIPES
1Shown with graphics from an independent supplier and is not covered by the GM New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. GM is not responsible for the safety or quality of third-party supplier alterations. Go to
www.chevroletgraphics.com for more details. 2EPA-estimated 29 MPG city/40 highway with available
1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission.
