An LS V8 In A Chevrolet Sonic Is Brilliant Rally Madness

In finest big engine, tiny car fashion, PMR Motorsports has blended a small-block LS V8 with the pint-sized Chevrolet Sonic hatchback
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.

So... where do YOU want to see our Chevrolet Sonic LS3 AWD run in 2019?

Posted by PMR Motorsport on Wednesday, December 12, 2018

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.

An LS V8 In A Chevrolet Sonic Is Brilliant Rally Madness

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.

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Comments

Anonymous

I knew i saw somethong similar

12/14/2018 - 10:30 |
76 | 2
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

First Aston Martin now Chevy? Ford, pleeeease drop the 5.2 Voodoo into the Fiesta. You know you want to

12/14/2018 - 10:43 |
48 | 0

That has actually been done, but the basis was a WRC fiesta instead of a roadgoing one

12/14/2018 - 11:03 |
2 | 0
Destroya

People will literally swap any engine into any car. What’s next? A Detroit 6-71 in a Tesla?

12/14/2018 - 11:24 |
4 | 0

cummins in a tesla roadster

12/14/2018 - 11:59 |
22 | 0

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.

12/15/2018 - 01:30 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Put a Supercharger on there an youve got even more power

12/14/2018 - 11:50 |
4 | 0
RWB Dude

That’s amazing lol

12/14/2018 - 11:53 |
0 | 0
Wheel Nuts

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.

12/14/2018 - 12:05 |
2 | 12

It’s a OHV relatively old V8, what did you expect

12/14/2018 - 12:33 |
4 | 0
Simon Wyatt (four arm squad)

In reply to by Wheel Nuts

The LS motors are acturally lighter than the Porsche flat sixes of the same year so they are really not all that heavy

12/14/2018 - 12:41 |
16 | 0

Also, keeping it stock will help it stay reliable and they probably have a power to weight restriction in their class

12/14/2018 - 12:57 |
2 | 0

What are you talking about? LS engines are actually quite light for their size. Its not the 70s anymore.

12/14/2018 - 14:09 |
4 | 0

How many times do we have to teach you this lesson young man???

12/14/2018 - 17:42 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

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.

12/14/2018 - 16:02 |
6 | 0
Dirty Harry

Chevrolet Sanic

12/14/2018 - 19:32 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Give it to Ken Block for some gymkhana vids :)

12/14/2018 - 19:33 |
2 | 0
Track Broseff

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Ford feista tho

12/14/2018 - 21:08 |
0 | 0
Basith Penna-Hakkim

Hmmm I am going to do a V8 swap for the Fiesta WRC on Forza Horizon 4

12/14/2018 - 20:19 |
0 | 0