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2008 Chevy Cobalt with 260HP turbo 2.0L

F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Coming in at 260 HP / 260 lb-ft, the SS/TC gains a full 55 horses over the now-defunct SS/SC. Power, of course, is sourced from the same 2.0L direct-injected, turbocharged, intercooled sledgehammer found under the bonnets of the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Red Line, and forthcoming Chevy HHR SS. The GM Performance Division was tasked with making sure the improved Cobalt SS is well-sorted, and John Heinricy and company dialed in the FE5 sport suspension on the undulating twists and turns of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The result, says GM, is a track-capable suspension that's still comfortable on the street, and which helps mitigate FWD performance foibles like torque steer.
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http://www.autoblog.com/2007/1...obalt-ss-bows-at-sema/

Now I don't like the wheels and they could've done something to make it more aggressive looking (functional hood scoop anyone?), but kudos to GM for spreading a good powerplant around.

Important details:

*260HP/260TQ turbo, direct injected 2.0L I-4
*5-speed w/3.82:1 axle, available limited slip diff
*18" wheels wearing 225/40 summer tires
*12.4" front, 11.5" rear Brembo's
*0.9g skid pad
*0-60 in 5.7s

Pending price and gas mileage (interested to see the curb weight as well), this will be a nice little pocket rocket. Let's hope they can keep the price a few grand below the MS3 - that will be a bargain.

Discuss
 
The SC Cobalt SS was a great piece of machinery. It was underrated from the factory at 205HP and Stage II upgrades from GM installed was only $800 which pumped the engine up to near 250HP.

The car also handled great as it comes with a factory LSD. On a road course they outran Mustang GT's and completely spanked the Civic SI in every category.


The TC Cobalt SS will be a monster!


 
Fuel economy should the same as the turbo solstice/sky, maybe a bit better if it weighs less then 2900lbs.
Glad gm is spreading the love with the lnf engine, first the solstice/sky then the hhr and now the cobalt. Hopefully gm will release some staged upgrades as no one has been able to fully crack the ecm in solstice gxp.
 
Agree with the OP about the wheels...the ones on the SC Cobalt looked better. If the price is right and this thing handles better than the Caliber SRT-4, then it should provide some healthy competition for the Mazdaspeed3.
 
Interesting. I think GM is on a roll now. I hope the Saturn Astra gets a version of this engine too.
I'd still take the Mazdaspeed3 due to fully independent suspension. May not matter on a smooth track, but on the types of mountain roads I like to unleash my car on, IRS just feels way more planted and secure than beam in corners with less than perfect pavement.
 
Thank god, hopefully this will drop the prices for the SS SC so I can pick one up, do $800 in mods and have an almost identically quick car.
 
I like the rear vented discs, but I don't like the 18" wheels. Hopefully they offer an option for smaller ones and a lower stance.

The worst part of the Cobalt SS Supercharged for me was the clutch. The thing had so little travel and zero feel (less travel and feel than my TSX, and way less than my SRT-4). Hopefully that has been improved as well.

With that being said, sounds like a great upgrade to the existing model!
 
Nothing is wrong with 18's for everyday driving, but since this is the pocket rocket model, smaller wheels allow for a lower stance, less unsprung weight and cheaper tires 😉
 
True, 18" tires are more expensive. The wheel size isn't the only factor in ride height and given it is a factory option, it won't make the ride higher than previous models. Look at the pic - plenty good stance.
 
Originally posted by: helpme
Nothing is wrong with 18's for everyday driving, but since this is the pocket rocket model, smaller wheels allow for a lower stance, less unsprung weight and cheaper tires 😉
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Wheel size does not affect ride height. Total tire diameter affects ride height and changing that will throw off your gearing and speedometer anyway so almost no one does it anyway. As for unsprung weight, that is true which is why many racing associations run anywhere from 13-15" rims, you just need enough to clear the brakes, beyond that, its deadweight.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: helpme
Nothing is wrong with 18's for everyday driving, but since this is the pocket rocket model, smaller wheels allow for a lower stance, less unsprung weight and cheaper tires 😉
Click to expand...

Wheel size does not affect ride height. Total tire diameter affects ride height and changing that will throw off your gearing and speedometer anyway so almost no one does it anyway. As for unsprung weight, that is true which is why many racing associations run anywhere from 13-15" rims, you just need enough to clear the brakes, beyond that, its deadweight.
Click to expand...

Well, if they decided to ship with smaller wheels, they could have used the same aspect ratio tires, and altered the final drive to match the current ratios with the 18" and tire aspect ratios.

If it shipped with 16" wheels and the same aspect ratio tires, GM could have lowered it more to make up for the difference.

Since this is their pocket rocket model, performance matters more than blinging bigger wheels 😉 Of course, some may disagree.
 
18" wheels on a modern car aren't bling. If you put a 16" wheel on that car with a low aspect ratio and lowered the car to match it, the damn thing would be slammed. Not to mention the only cars that come with 16" wheels today are econo-cars, base models of cars like Accord and every other damn car under $30K. The moment you get to a higher tier trim level, they have 17"+ wheels.

GM did right by including these standard - stop nickel & diming people on shit.
 
Allright allright, we're just having a discussion on wheel options here, no need to get worked up over it.

We both already know it's going to be a great car, that's why we're arguing over small stuff like wheel/tire sizes! There's nothing else to haggle each other over 😉
 
I'm not worked up and I'm not trying to be rude, but you're wrong on all points. It is a good performance choice and good for the market. Now most companies do offer various wheel sizes on a mode, but I have a feeling that this car is just a stop-gap in the sport compact market. This platform is pretty old and GM has lots of new stuff coming. So it wouldn't make sense to offer extensive options, it sounds like the only option is the limited slip diff and maybe some small interior features.

I can't wait to see official pricing of this.
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
18" wheels on a modern car aren't bling. If you put a 16" wheel on that car with a low aspect ratio and lowered the car to match it, the damn thing would be slammed. Not to mention the only cars that come with 16" wheels today are econo-cars, base models of cars like Accord and every other damn car under $30K. The moment you get to a higher tier trim level, they have 17"+ wheels.

GM did right by including these standard - stop nickel & diming people on shit.
Click to expand...

The only issue with 18" wheels on a force-fed Cavalier are that people who buy this car, besides getting a nice engine, probably want a cheap/efficient ride. After a few months of burning rubber racing from stoplight to stoplight they will be in for sticker-shock when shopping for 18" V/Z rated shoes. If this car is targeted towards the SRT-4 market then we are probably looking at younger (more aggressive) drivers.
 
I once had trouble trying to convince a few people how bad ass the Ecotec engine is. I guess I should stop talking to ricers? I am not sure about the chassis, as I have not actually driven a newer Cavalier, or Cobalt. I do pray it is not as bad as the old Cavaliers...
 
Originally posted by: foghorn67
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
meh...great engine and power ratings, but I agree that it's not aggressive enough.
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I think you guys miss the idea of sleeper muscle cars.
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Cobalt =! muscle car

I see no problem with the car myself (rims are a little meh but whatever). I personally won't get one, not my type. Those who do, please don't rice it out... 😉
 
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
The SC Cobalt SS was a great piece of machinery. It was underrated from the factory at 205HP and Stage II upgrades from GM installed was only $800 which pumped the engine up to near 250HP.

The car also handled great as it comes with a factory LSD. On a road course they outran Mustang GT's and completely spanked the Civic SI in every category.


The TC Cobalt SS will be a FWD monster!
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FIXED
 


Looks like a Lancer coupe with a Nissan Maxima front end bolted on, and some Hyundai Tiburon in the genetics somewhere...

That thing looks foul 😉

 
I think you guys miss the idea of sleeper muscle cars.
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sorry, but a fwd with 2 liters is anything but a muscle car.
I like the rear vented discs
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why would you need vented disks, on the rear brakes, when the front tires are bearing the most load?

looks like it may be ok, but i don't like the idea of having a cheap high powered car for the younger crowd. too many of the FNF guys. hopefully it wont be a disappointment in handling.
 
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