8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                               ------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 17, 2001

                             SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                     1-13395             56-201079
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission        (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                     File Number)       Identification No.)

5401 E. Independence Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina                                     28212
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (704) 532-3320

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



Item 5.           Other Events.

         A copy of the press release dated January 17, 2001 is attached to this
current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.           Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
                  and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits.

Exhibit Number                                Description
- --------------                                -----------

99.1                                 Press Release dated January 17, 2001.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Date:    January 17, 2001        /s/ Theodore M. Wright
                                 --------------------------------------------
                                       By:      Theodore M. Wright
                                       Its:     Chief Financial Officer, Vice
                                                President and Treasurer

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                            [Sonic Logo appears here]
                           5401 E. Independence Blvd.
                               Charlotte, NC 28212
                        704-532-3320; 704-536-5116 (Fax)

       SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS
                          AND REVISED OUTLOOK FOR 2001

Charlotte, NC (January 17, 2001) - Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH) announced
today preliminary sales of $1.5 billion for the three months ended December 31,
2000. This represents an increase of approximately 25% compared to sales of
approximately $1.2 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 1999. Preliminary
same store sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2000 declined approximately
2%. Preliminary sales for the year ended December 31, 2000 of $6.1 billion
represented an increase of approximately 79% compared to sales of $3.4 billion
for the year ended December 31, 1999.

Fourth Quarter Results
- ----------------------
The Company estimates that its fourth quarter 2000 diluted earnings per share
will be in the range of $0.29 to $0.31. This will result in diluted earnings per
share for the year ended December 31, 2000 in the range of $1.70 to $1.72
compared to previously announced Company estimates of between $1.84 to $1.87.
Sonic will report actual fourth quarter 2000 results on February 26, 2001.

Calendar 2001 Outlook
- ---------------------
O. Bruton Smith, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "The
abrupt slowdown in new vehicle sales of domestic manufacturers' brands has
negatively impacted both sales volume and margins. Because of this rapid
slowdown, many of our dealerships currently have excess new vehicle inventory
and have over invested in promotion. We have taken aggressive action to correct
these conditions and expect to be in a more favorable position by the end of the
first quarter of 2001. Assuming continuation of current industry trends and no
additional acquisitions, we are now targeting earnings per share for the first
quarter of 2001 of $0.22 to $0.24 and earnings per share for the year ending
December 31, 2001 of $1.43 to $1.47."

About Sonic Automotive, Inc.
- ----------------------------
Sonic  Automotive,  Inc. is the second largest  automotive  retailer in the
United States  operating 168 franchises and 30 collision repair centers.  Sonic
can be reached on the Web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with
respect to targeted or anticipated revenue and profit and earnings per share
growth. There are many factors that affect management's views about future
events and trends of the Company's business. These factors involve risk and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially
from management's view, including without limitation, economic conditions, risks
associated with acquisitions and the risk factors described in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed on January 5, 2001. The Company does
not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.

MANAGEMENT WILL BE HOLDING A CONFERENCE CALL ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2001 AT
4:15 P.M. EASTERN TIME TO REVIEW THESE PRELIMINARY RESULTS. DIAL 888-318-6429,
SECURITY CODE: SONIC. REPLAY AVAILABLE TWO HOURS AFTER CALL TAKES PLACE AND
AVAILABLE FOR SEVEN DAYS. TO ACCESS, DIAL 800-858-5309; ACCESS CODE: 40031; PASS
CODE: 11501.

Contact:   Theodore M. Wright, Chief Financial Officer of Sonic Automotive, Inc.
           (704) 532-3347
           J. Todd Atenhan, Investor Relations of Sonic Automotive, Inc.
           (888) 766-4218.
           Internet Address:  www.sonicautomotive.com