Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Encyclopedia
The Cobalt SS is a line of three sport compact
versions of the Chevrolet Cobalt
built on the General Motors
Delta platform
at Lordstown
Assembly
in Ohio
, United States
. Featuring two boosted
and intercooled
inline-4
Ecotec engines, as well as a third naturally aspirated engine, the line was GM's first foray into the tuner market.
The car launched with a 205 hp supercharged
2.0 L engine in late 2004 as a 2005 model, paired with the F35
Manual transmission
of GM Europe
. The following year, a naturally aspirated 1SS model equipped with GM's new 2.4 L,171 hp engine was added; it had both automatic and manual transmission options. After three model years the supercharged car was discontinued, but a second 2.0 L engine exclusively mated to the F35, with power upped to 260 hp by way of a turbocharger
, revived the Cobalt SS in the second quarter of 2008 (See timeline).
The powertrain of the Cobalt SS received generally positive reviews, especially the turbocharged version, but the car was criticized for poor interior quality and exterior styling that was too reminiscent of its predecessor, the Cavalier
. Reports surfaced in May 2009 that General Motors planned to eliminate the Cobalt SS as soon as December 2009, but they proved to be untrue. Production continued, but ordering options for late 2010 models were limited, and production of all Cobalts ended in June 2010. The car has been replaced by the European-developed and Korean-designed Cruze
, but a high performance version to directly replace the Cobalt SS has not yet been announced, nor any possible powertrains.
. It was available as a Supercharged coupe only.
The naturally aspirated 2.4 L LE5 engine was the next SS to launch in late 2005 as a 2006 model, available as both a coupe and sedan for the duration of its run. However in late 2007, at the same time the announcement cancelling the SS Supercharged was made, GM also announced that the 2.4 L would be renamed "Cobalt Sport", rendering Chevrolet without a Cobalt SS for the first half of the 2008 model year. The 2.0 L LNF turbocharged Cobalt was the last to launch in the second quarter of 2008; initially available only as a coupe until a sedan option was offered for the 2009 model year but again deleted for 2010 after less than 500 were produced.
All three models of the Cobalt SS feature four wheel, anti-lock
disc brake
s. Compared to the base Cobalt, the SS has lower front and rear fascias for a more aggressive look with integrated foglamps, side rocker moldings, interior accents, and a chrome exhaust tip. Exclusive to the 2.0 L Cobalt are a titanium-faced sport analogue cluster with a 160 mph (260 km/h) speedometer
, an A-pillar mounted boost gauge, reclining front bucket seats with two-tone leather-appointed seating surfaces, vertical adjusting head restraints and driver-side lumbar and height adjusters, and a sport-tuned FE5 suspension with a 24 mm front stabilizer bar and 22 mm rear stabilizer bar.
M62 Roots type supercharger
and air-to-liquid intercooler
. The engine makes 205 hp at 5600 rpm and 200 lbft at 4400 rpm. 18-inch broad-spoke wheels with P215/45R18 summer Pirelli
tires are standard. Optional for the LSJ was a performance package coded G85 that added Recaro
bucket seats and a limited slip differential
(LSD). LSD was optional for 2005 models (performance package came with LSD) and was standard in 2006 + models. The G85 option continues in the LNF Cobalt, but adds only the LSD. The car has become notable for a high profile spoiler that was standard in 2005, but optional from 2007 when a lower profile spoiler used on all other Cobalt coupes became an option.
GM offers dealer-installed performance upgrade packages called "stage kits" that are covered by factory warranty.
The Stage 1 kit consists of new fuel injectors and a reprogram of the ECU
, and yields up to a 30 hp improvement. The Stage 2 kit consists of new fuel injectors and the same reprogram with a smaller serpentine belt and pulley for the supercharger, producing a 47 hp improvement and 30 lbft of torque. Both stage 1 and 2 kits increase the engine redline to 7,000 rpm. The Stage 3 kit consists of a smaller, 76 mm (3 in) supercharger pulley, a 2-pass intercooler end plate and a customizable replacement ECU. The Stage 3 ECU allows for the use of a 50-shot of nitrous, 100 octane fuel and an adjustable redline from 6,750 to 8,000 rpm. Stage 3 produces 248 hp using 93 octane fuel, up to 260 hp using 100 octane fuel, and much higher power with nitrous. Stage 3 is for track use only, and to emphasize this, air conditioning is disabled with the Stage 3 ECU.
A problem frequently encountered with the car, due to a combination of its high torque, front drive, and short first gear is wheel hop, wheelspin
and a general lack of traction. The GM Performance Division
later tried to rectify these problems in the turbocharged car by providing wider, stickier tires and stronger axle
s.
The LSJ engine did not meet emissions requirements for the 2008 model year, and General Motors' contract with Eaton had expired. The non-supercharged 2.4 L Cobalt SS also lost its Super Sport designation for the 2008 model year and was renamed "Sport". However, in fall 2007, a more powerful Cobalt SS was announced for the second quarter of 2008. The car would be equipped with the 2.0 L, turbocharged, direct injected
, VVT
, LNF Ecotec engine, making 260 hp at 5300 rpm and 260 lbft at 2000 rpm, and remain mated to the F35 5-speed manual transmission. The engine had been introduced in a rear wheel drive
application for the 2007 GM Kappa platform
, which includes the Saturn Sky
, Pontiac Solstice
, and Opel GT
.
Also new for the 2008 SS were SS-embroidered sport seats with suede-like UltraLux inserts, several new exterior colors, and wider 18 inches (457.2 mm) forged, split-spoke wheels with P225/40R18 Continental AG
tires, reminiscent of those offered for the Chevrolet Corvette C6
. The car's electronics are also new, and along with greater assist in poor traction conditions, add a "no-lift-shift" feature which allows the driver to maintain turbocharger boost during upshifts. During a no-lift-shift, the driver shifts normally by depressing the clutch, but the accelerator pedal is held wide open
. Also new is "launch control", which feathers the throttle at roughly 4800 rpm until engagement of the clutch, allowing more consistent launches in competitive situations. To use the feature the driver presses twice on the traction control button which first turns off traction control, and then notifies the driver through the Driver's Information Center that the launch control of Competitive Mode has been enabled. However, turbocharged Cobalt owners have found that better times can be achieved while racing when the car is manually launched. These features help propel the car from 0 to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) in a class-leading 5.5 seconds, and a quarter mile time of 13.9 seconds at 102.5 mph (165 km/h).
New for 2009 is the aforementioned four-door sedan option, as well as an optional "reconfigurable performance display" (RPD) for the coupe only. The $295 option replaces the boost gauge in the A-pillar, and allows the driver manipulation of traction control, stability control, and the engagement of Competition Mode, as well as information regarding the car's engine torque and horsepower, g-force, boost, wideband air fuel ratio, barometric pressure, temperature, and battery voltage. For 2010, RPD is standard, as is a power sunroof. The red/ebony and grey/ebony interior color options are also dropped, as is the turbocharged sedan.
A stage 1 kit which raises power to 280 hp and 320 lbft was made available in October 2009 after several delays. The kit can be installed by the owner of the car, but final alteration of the vehicle's engine control unit
must take place at a GM dealer.
, making 171 hp at 5,600 rpm and 163 lbft at 5000 rpm, later upped to 167 lbft at 4500 rpm. The LE5 engine was new for 2006 and was introduced on both the FWD Delta platform and RWD Kappa platform
. For the 2006 and 2007 model years the car was called SS, or "1SS", but was replaced with the moniker "Cobalt Sport" for 2008 with the anticipated introduction of the turbocharged super sport car later on in the model year. For the first time, a 4-speed automatic transmission was offered, the 4T45
. The 5-speed manual is also different from the Cobalt SS Supercharged, it is the Getrag F23 transmission
with different ratios that is offered for the 2.2 L L61 engine in the Cobalt LS and LT.
Other changes over the supercharged car are notable but not drastic; 17-inch broad-spoke wheels with narrower P205/50R17 all-season Pirelli
tires are standard, as is the low profile spoiler. 2.4 L and 2.2 L Sport Package Cobalts have a 140 mph (220 km/h) speedometer with optional white face gauges. The car rides on the FE3 suspension, superior and more sport-tuned to that of base Cobalts but less refined than the FE5 on the supercharged and turbocharged cars. Brakes on the 2.4L naturally aspirated and supercharged model are identical, but the turbocharged model receives an upgraded Brembo braking system The front and rear bumpers are the same, but the front lacks a lip accessory and the bottom of the rear fascia is slightly different. With the negligible exception of exterior styling and some interior trims, the vehicle is identical to the Pontiac G5 GT
.
and the Subaru WRX
, that SS badge seems to lose some of its luster." The F35 transmission has also been deemed inferior to that in the newest of generation of Honda
's Civic Si
. Critics also disliked the heavy wheels which negatively affected handling, as well as the spoiler which obstructed rearward visibility. Speaking of the high profile aero wing, automotive journalist Alexandra Straub said, "the deck-lid spoiler was directly in my line-of-sight when looking out of the rearview mirror. It's almost like it cut everything in half." Some Cobalt SS owners have traded spoilers with lower trim owners to obtain a less aggressive look, or traded the entire trunklid with Cobalt LS owners, for whom a rear spoiler is merely optional. The naturally aspirated Cobalt SS has been seen as an improvement over the base models with its slightly more potent 2.4 L engine, but notably inferior to the supercharged car.
The powertrain of the 2008 turbocharged Cobalt SS received rave reviews. John Neff of Autoblog said, "The GM Performance Division completely reworked the Cobalt SS for 2008, swapping in a more powerful turbocharged engine, upgrading the rest of the mechanicals, and tweaking the entire package on the world's most demanding race tracks, including the famed Nürburgring in Germany. The result is – and we're not kidding here – the most impressive performance car to wear a bow-tie badge on sale today." Journalists were impressed with the performance of the car in relation to the price; Neff added that the "2009 Cobalt SS Turbo is freakishly good at going fast and the best bang-for-the-buck value below $30,000." Ron Kiino of Motor Trend
said, "at only $22,995, the SS could stand for Super Steal." The MSRP
was raised to $24,095 for the 2009 model year.
The Nürburgring
-tuned suspension gives the SS some of the best handling characteristics of any General Motors front wheel drive vehicle, and the suspension is stiffer and more refined than the supercharged car. Since the interior is hardly changed other than the seats, those criticisms remain. Of the interior in the turbocharged sedan, Car and Driver
said it "is constructed primarily of plastics cheap enough to be rejected from a Chinese toy factory; the Tata Nano
probably has a fancier parking-brake lever." The new Cobalt was the winner in its price class (under $30,000) of Car and Driver's 2008 Lightning Lap competition at Virginia International Raceway
, beating lap times of several cars in the $30,000-$60,000 class, including the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
Sport compact
A sport compact is a high-performance version of a compact car or a subcompact car. They are typically are front engined, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive coupés, sedans, or hatchbacks driven by a straight-4 gasoline engine. Performance-oriented sport compacts generally focus on improving...
versions of the Chevrolet Cobalt
Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The Cobalt replaced both the Cavalier and the Prizm as Chevrolet's compact car....
built on the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Delta platform
GM Delta platform
Delta was General Motors' compact front-wheel drive automobile and crossover SUV platform, a successor to the GM T platform; it also replaced GM J platform and the Z platform used by the Saturn S-Series. The platform debuted in the 2003 Saturn Ion. Vehicles of this platform generally carry the...
at Lordstown
Lordstown, Ohio
Lordstown is a village in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Assembly
Lordstown Assembly
The Lordstown Complex is a General Motors automobile factory in Lordstown, Ohio comprising three facilities: Vehicle Assembly, Metal Center, and Paint Shop. The plant opened in 1966. Lordstown currently builds the global Chevrolet Cruze compact car....
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Featuring two boosted
Forced induction
Forced induction is the process of compressing air on the intake of an internal combustion engine . A forced induction engine uses a gas compressor to increase the pressure, temperature and density of the air...
and intercooled
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
inline-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
Ecotec engines, as well as a third naturally aspirated engine, the line was GM's first foray into the tuner market.
The car launched with a 205 hp supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
2.0 L engine in late 2004 as a 2005 model, paired with the F35
F35 (MU3) transmission
The F35 is a Saab-designed five-speed manual transaxle built in Saab’s Gothenburg, Sweden, powertrain plant. This extensively tested manual transmission was originally introduced in the 1984 Saab 9000, and today it is used in the Saab 9-3 and 9-5, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and various GM/Opel transverse...
Manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
of GM Europe
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. The following year, a naturally aspirated 1SS model equipped with GM's new 2.4 L,171 hp engine was added; it had both automatic and manual transmission options. After three model years the supercharged car was discontinued, but a second 2.0 L engine exclusively mated to the F35, with power upped to 260 hp by way of a turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, revived the Cobalt SS in the second quarter of 2008 (See timeline).
The powertrain of the Cobalt SS received generally positive reviews, especially the turbocharged version, but the car was criticized for poor interior quality and exterior styling that was too reminiscent of its predecessor, the Cavalier
Chevrolet Cavalier
The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact automobile produced from 1982 to 2005 by General Motors. Built on the company's J platform, the Cavalier was one of the best-selling cars in the United States throughout its life.- Predecessors :...
. Reports surfaced in May 2009 that General Motors planned to eliminate the Cobalt SS as soon as December 2009, but they proved to be untrue. Production continued, but ordering options for late 2010 models were limited, and production of all Cobalts ended in June 2010. The car has been replaced by the European-developed and Korean-designed Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, but a high performance version to directly replace the Cobalt SS has not yet been announced, nor any possible powertrains.
Overview
Of the five engines General Motors has placed in the Cobalt since its launch, three have been designated SS. The first was launched in 2004 as a 2005 model with a new powertrain that had debuted one year earlier on the Saturn ION Red LineSaturn ION
The Saturn Ion was a compact car sold by the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors between the 2003 and 2007 model years. It used the GM Delta platform. The Ion replaced the Saturn S-Series in 2003,...
. It was available as a Supercharged coupe only.
The naturally aspirated 2.4 L LE5 engine was the next SS to launch in late 2005 as a 2006 model, available as both a coupe and sedan for the duration of its run. However in late 2007, at the same time the announcement cancelling the SS Supercharged was made, GM also announced that the 2.4 L would be renamed "Cobalt Sport", rendering Chevrolet without a Cobalt SS for the first half of the 2008 model year. The 2.0 L LNF turbocharged Cobalt was the last to launch in the second quarter of 2008; initially available only as a coupe until a sedan option was offered for the 2009 model year but again deleted for 2010 after less than 500 were produced.
All three models of the Cobalt SS feature four wheel, anti-lock
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s. Compared to the base Cobalt, the SS has lower front and rear fascias for a more aggressive look with integrated foglamps, side rocker moldings, interior accents, and a chrome exhaust tip. Exclusive to the 2.0 L Cobalt are a titanium-faced sport analogue cluster with a 160 mph (260 km/h) speedometer
Speedometer
A speedometer is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a land vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the 1900s, and as standard equipment from about 1910 onwards. Speedometers for other vehicles have specific names...
, an A-pillar mounted boost gauge, reclining front bucket seats with two-tone leather-appointed seating surfaces, vertical adjusting head restraints and driver-side lumbar and height adjusters, and a sport-tuned FE5 suspension with a 24 mm front stabilizer bar and 22 mm rear stabilizer bar.
SS Supercharged
Available as a coupe only, the SS Supercharged featured the 2.0 L LSJ Ecotec engine with an EatonEaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation is a global diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment;...
M62 Roots type supercharger
Roots type supercharger
The Roots type supercharger or Roots blower is a positive displacement lobe pump which operates by pumping fluids with a pair of meshing lobes not unlike a set of stretched gears. Fluid is trapped in pockets surrounding the lobes and carried from the intake side to the exhaust...
and air-to-liquid intercooler
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
. The engine makes 205 hp at 5600 rpm and 200 lbft at 4400 rpm. 18-inch broad-spoke wheels with P215/45R18 summer Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
tires are standard. Optional for the LSJ was a performance package coded G85 that added Recaro
Recaro
RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats...
bucket seats and a limited slip differential
Limited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
(LSD). LSD was optional for 2005 models (performance package came with LSD) and was standard in 2006 + models. The G85 option continues in the LNF Cobalt, but adds only the LSD. The car has become notable for a high profile spoiler that was standard in 2005, but optional from 2007 when a lower profile spoiler used on all other Cobalt coupes became an option.
The Stage 1 kit consists of new fuel injectors and a reprogram of the ECU
Engine control unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
, and yields up to a 30 hp improvement. The Stage 2 kit consists of new fuel injectors and the same reprogram with a smaller serpentine belt and pulley for the supercharger, producing a 47 hp improvement and 30 lbft of torque. Both stage 1 and 2 kits increase the engine redline to 7,000 rpm. The Stage 3 kit consists of a smaller, 76 mm (3 in) supercharger pulley, a 2-pass intercooler end plate and a customizable replacement ECU. The Stage 3 ECU allows for the use of a 50-shot of nitrous, 100 octane fuel and an adjustable redline from 6,750 to 8,000 rpm. Stage 3 produces 248 hp using 93 octane fuel, up to 260 hp using 100 octane fuel, and much higher power with nitrous. Stage 3 is for track use only, and to emphasize this, air conditioning is disabled with the Stage 3 ECU.
A problem frequently encountered with the car, due to a combination of its high torque, front drive, and short first gear is wheel hop, wheelspin
Wheelspin
A wheelspin, occurs when the force delivered to the tire tread exceeds that of available tread-to-surface friction and one or more tires lose traction.Standard differentials always apply equal torque to each wheel...
and a general lack of traction. The GM Performance Division
GM Performance Division
GM Performance Division is a division within General Motors that is responsible for developing performance vehicles for the various brands of GM. Its creations include the Super Sport vehicles from Chevrolet, the V-series from Cadillac, the GXP series from Pontiac, and the Red Line series from...
later tried to rectify these problems in the turbocharged car by providing wider, stickier tires and stronger axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
s.
SS Turbocharged
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
, VVT
Variable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
, LNF Ecotec engine, making 260 hp at 5300 rpm and 260 lbft at 2000 rpm, and remain mated to the F35 5-speed manual transmission. The engine had been introduced in a rear wheel drive
Automobile layout
In automotive design, the automobile layout describes where on the vehicle the engine and drive wheels are found. Many different combinations of engine location and driven wheels are found in practice, and the location of each is dependent on the application the vehicle will be used for...
application for the 2007 GM Kappa platform
GM Kappa platform
Kappa was General Motors' subcompact rear-wheel drive automobile platform for roadster applications. The architecture debuted in the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky, and ended production in 2009....
, which includes the Saturn Sky
Saturn Sky
The Saturn Sky was the only roadster from the Saturn marque of American automaker General Motors, and was initially released in the first quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It uses the Kappa automobile platform shared with the Pontiac Solstice and Opel GT...
, Pontiac Solstice
Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice is a small sports car from the Pontiac division of General Motors. Introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Solstice roadster began production in Wilmington, Delaware, starting in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year. The exterior styling of the...
, and Opel GT
Opel GT
The Opel GT is a two-seat sports car first presented as a styling exercise in 1965 at the Paris and Frankfurt motor shows, and introduced as a production model late in 1968 by Opel, a German subsidiary of General Motors...
.
Also new for the 2008 SS were SS-embroidered sport seats with suede-like UltraLux inserts, several new exterior colors, and wider 18 inches (457.2 mm) forged, split-spoke wheels with P225/40R18 Continental AG
Continental AG
Continental AG, internally often called Conti for short, is a worldwide leading German manufacturer of tires, brake systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachographs and other parts for the automotive and transport industries. The company is based in Hanover, Germany...
tires, reminiscent of those offered for the Chevrolet Corvette C6
Chevrolet Corvette C6
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 2005 model year. The current generation Corvette is the first with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model...
. The car's electronics are also new, and along with greater assist in poor traction conditions, add a "no-lift-shift" feature which allows the driver to maintain turbocharger boost during upshifts. During a no-lift-shift, the driver shifts normally by depressing the clutch, but the accelerator pedal is held wide open
Wide open throttle
Wide open throttle refers to an internal combustion engine's maximum intake of air and fuel that occurs when the throttle plates inside the carburettor or throttle body are "wide open", providing the least resistance to the incoming air...
. Also new is "launch control", which feathers the throttle at roughly 4800 rpm until engagement of the clutch, allowing more consistent launches in competitive situations. To use the feature the driver presses twice on the traction control button which first turns off traction control, and then notifies the driver through the Driver's Information Center that the launch control of Competitive Mode has been enabled. However, turbocharged Cobalt owners have found that better times can be achieved while racing when the car is manually launched. These features help propel the car from 0 to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) in a class-leading 5.5 seconds, and a quarter mile time of 13.9 seconds at 102.5 mph (165 km/h).
New for 2009 is the aforementioned four-door sedan option, as well as an optional "reconfigurable performance display" (RPD) for the coupe only. The $295 option replaces the boost gauge in the A-pillar, and allows the driver manipulation of traction control, stability control, and the engagement of Competition Mode, as well as information regarding the car's engine torque and horsepower, g-force, boost, wideband air fuel ratio, barometric pressure, temperature, and battery voltage. For 2010, RPD is standard, as is a power sunroof. The red/ebony and grey/ebony interior color options are also dropped, as is the turbocharged sedan.
A stage 1 kit which raises power to 280 hp and 320 lbft was made available in October 2009 after several delays. The kit can be installed by the owner of the car, but final alteration of the vehicle's engine control unit
Engine control unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
must take place at a GM dealer.
SS Naturally aspirated
Chevrolet introduced a naturally aspirated Cobalt SS in the fall of 2005, as a 2006 model available as both a coupe and sedan. It featured the 2.4 L LE5 Ecotec engine with variable valve timingVariable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
, making 171 hp at 5,600 rpm and 163 lbft at 5000 rpm, later upped to 167 lbft at 4500 rpm. The LE5 engine was new for 2006 and was introduced on both the FWD Delta platform and RWD Kappa platform
GM Kappa platform
Kappa was General Motors' subcompact rear-wheel drive automobile platform for roadster applications. The architecture debuted in the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky, and ended production in 2009....
. For the 2006 and 2007 model years the car was called SS, or "1SS", but was replaced with the moniker "Cobalt Sport" for 2008 with the anticipated introduction of the turbocharged super sport car later on in the model year. For the first time, a 4-speed automatic transmission was offered, the 4T45
GM 4T40 transmission
The 4T40-E and 4T45-E are a series of automatic transaxles from General Motors. Designed for transverse engine configurations, the series includes 4 forward gears...
. The 5-speed manual is also different from the Cobalt SS Supercharged, it is the Getrag F23 transmission
Getrag F23 transmission
The F23 is a five-speed manual transmission manufactured by Getrag in Italy. It is designed for transverse engine applications, primarily by General Motors. It can handle torque inputs of up to .In the U.S...
with different ratios that is offered for the 2.2 L L61 engine in the Cobalt LS and LT.
Other changes over the supercharged car are notable but not drastic; 17-inch broad-spoke wheels with narrower P205/50R17 all-season Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
tires are standard, as is the low profile spoiler. 2.4 L and 2.2 L Sport Package Cobalts have a 140 mph (220 km/h) speedometer with optional white face gauges. The car rides on the FE3 suspension, superior and more sport-tuned to that of base Cobalts but less refined than the FE5 on the supercharged and turbocharged cars. Brakes on the 2.4L naturally aspirated and supercharged model are identical, but the turbocharged model receives an upgraded Brembo braking system The front and rear bumpers are the same, but the front lacks a lip accessory and the bottom of the rear fascia is slightly different. With the negligible exception of exterior styling and some interior trims, the vehicle is identical to the Pontiac G5 GT
Pontiac G5
The Pontiac G5 is a rebadged Chevrolet Cobalt compact car that was marketed by the Pontiac division of General Motors. It was first introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year. For 2005 and early 2006, this car was known as the Pontiac Pursuit in the Canadian market, and G5 Pursuit during mid-2006. ...
.
Reception
Reviews of the supercharged Cobalt SS were generally positive. While critics had harsh words for the Cavalier, the supercharged Cobalt was seen as an improvement, and a worthy first entry for GM into the tuner market. However, the general fit and finish was poor, and power levels were not up to par with other competitors. Journalist Thom Blackett said, "When compared with more contemporary cars including the Dodge Neon SRT-4Dodge SRT-4
The Dodge SRT-4 is a sport compact car manufactured by Dodge from 2003-2005. A turbocharged variant of the Neon, the car was developed by DaimlerChrysler's in house PVO tuner group. PVO was officially renamed SRT in 2004. The "4" in the SRT-4's name denotes the number of cylinders of the engine...
and the Subaru WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
The Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza, an all-wheel drive, four-door passenger vehicle. It is available as a sedan or wagon....
, that SS badge seems to lose some of its luster." The F35 transmission has also been deemed inferior to that in the newest of generation of Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
's Civic Si
Honda Civic Si
The Honda Civic Si is a sport compact / hot hatch version of the Civic built by the Japanese automaker Honda. The Si trim, which stands for "Sport Injected," was introduced for the third generation of Honda Civics in both Japan and North America...
. Critics also disliked the heavy wheels which negatively affected handling, as well as the spoiler which obstructed rearward visibility. Speaking of the high profile aero wing, automotive journalist Alexandra Straub said, "the deck-lid spoiler was directly in my line-of-sight when looking out of the rearview mirror. It's almost like it cut everything in half." Some Cobalt SS owners have traded spoilers with lower trim owners to obtain a less aggressive look, or traded the entire trunklid with Cobalt LS owners, for whom a rear spoiler is merely optional. The naturally aspirated Cobalt SS has been seen as an improvement over the base models with its slightly more potent 2.4 L engine, but notably inferior to the supercharged car.
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
said, "at only $22,995, the SS could stand for Super Steal." The MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
was raised to $24,095 for the 2009 model year.
The Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
-tuned suspension gives the SS some of the best handling characteristics of any General Motors front wheel drive vehicle, and the suspension is stiffer and more refined than the supercharged car. Since the interior is hardly changed other than the seats, those criticisms remain. Of the interior in the turbocharged sedan, Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
said it "is constructed primarily of plastics cheap enough to be rejected from a Chinese toy factory; the Tata Nano
Tata Nano
The Tata Nano is an inexpensive, rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by the Indian company Tata Motors and is aimed primarily at the Indian domestic market....
probably has a fancier parking-brake lever." The new Cobalt was the winner in its price class (under $30,000) of Car and Driver's 2008 Lightning Lap competition at Virginia International Raceway
Virginia International Raceway
The Virginia International Raceway is a road course located in the community of Alton, Virginia near Danville, Virginia. It is found less than a half-mile from the North Carolina/Virginia border just outside Milton, North Carolina on the banks of the Dan River...
, beating lap times of several cars in the $30,000-$60,000 class, including the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.