2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo Pricing

[timberwoof]

I can see torque steer being a problem though. Just like the SRT-4.

Didn't Mazda fix alot of the torque steer on the speed 3 by replacing the drive axles with beefer ones?

[Cliff8928]

The torque steer shouldn't be too bad if they use a fixed intermediate shaft with equal length driveshafts. And non-existent with the limited slip.

[Cormaster]

Bout time! Weird that they aren't updating it in any other way than the powertrain, but i'm glad to see its back in the lineup. I honestly hadn't seen anything confirmed other than the SS being dropped from the lineup. Should be an awesome car to drive!

[williamGT]

The 2008 Cobalt SS S/C is no longer....And now I know...I want one also 260HP in a 2900LB car, sweet

[Codlax]

nice looking car but i would like to see one without the spoiler

[GregFarz78]

no price...I'm guessing 25k+

GM would be smart not to price themselves out of the market but I guess we'll have to wait and see

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by williamGT

The 2008 Cobalt SS S/C is no longer....And now I know...I want one also 260HP in a 2900LB car, sweet

Werd, my old G6 GTP had 260 horsies- it was quick, but hefty... that little car should be in the low/mid 5's for 0-60, and maybe... low 14's in the quarter?

[bigbenSC]

Originally Posted by GregFarz78

no price...I'm guessing 25k+

GM would be smart not to price themselves out of the market but I guess we'll have to wait and see

I say $23,000 to start. That would put it right inline with the WRX, SRT-4, and MS 3.

[Exodus]

Still reminds me of Hondas bastard step child...
+ for the engine gains
— for the fugly body design

[nascarnate326]

Originally Posted by williamGT

The 2008 Cobalt SS S/C is no longer....And now I know...I want one also 260HP in a 2900LB car, sweet

2008 SS/SC never was, the SS/SC was a 2005-2007 car, with 07 getting the new steering wheel.

So if this comes out as a 2009, that means there will have been a 1 year gap, and it also comes out near the Camaro. V6 Camaro, or Turbo 4 cyl....hmmmm

Hopefully this will send the prices of used SS/SC's down in time for my spring car purchase. 2900 with either motor would be fun as hell.

[GregFarz78]

Originally Posted by bigbengt67

I say $23,000 to start. That would put it right inline with the WRX, SRT-4, and MS 3.

that would be a reasonable price

[williamGT]

Originally Posted by notsoaveragej0e

that little car should be in the low/mid 5's for 0-60, and maybe... low 14's in the quarter?

5.7 sec 0-60 same as the Grand Prix GXP

[cavingman]

trans swap from this powertrain in the future for my redline + brakes

[atc3434]

Originally Posted by timberwoof

I can see torque steer being a problem though. Just like the SRT-4.

Didn't Mazda fix alot of the torque steer on the speed 3 by replacing the drive axles with beefer ones?

Mazda is limiting power in 1st and 2nd gear with computer tuning. I'm sure GM will be doing some of that as well...

I want one.

[Rich]

nice. kind of surprised they didnt do any changes to the body. should be a sweet ride though if they price it right.

[Panacea]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/28/o...-bows-at-sema/

TURBOCHARGED CHEVROLET COBALT SS GIVES A BOOST OF FUN TO THE COMPACT SEGMENT

LAS VEGAS – Celebrating the performance community that comprises SEMA, Chevrolet used the annual convention of all things high-performance to announce the 2008 Cobalt SS coupe. True to its legendary moniker, the Cobalt SS delivers a balance of track-proven performance capability, driving refinement and premium features – along with an undeniably fun and youthful character.

Developed by GM Performance Division (GMPD) and powered by a 260-horsepower (194 kW) turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L Ecotec engine, the Cobalt SS delivers 55 horses (41 kW) more than the previous Cobalt SS Supercharged, and its driving experience was validated on racetracks throughout North America and Europe, including Germany's legendary Nürburgring circuit.


"The Cobalt SS is the very essence of Chevrolet's fun spirit and serious performance," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "The horsepower will put a permanent smile on your face and you'll find yourself wanting to turn around and zip through your favorite stretch of twisty roads again."

The Cobalt SS coupe arrives in dealerships in the second quarter of 2008. A Cobalt SS sedan, with all of the same high-performance features of the coupe, follows a couple of months later.

Maximum performance – on the street or track
The Cobalt SS was developed by GM Performance Division (GMPD), with a team of engineers and designers dedicated to crafting high-performance vehicles. It features powertrain and chassis enhancements that are similar to the new HHR SS, but with larger Brembo brakes, a slightly "taller" final-drive ratio and other variances that emphasize the Cobalt SS's pure performance ethic, as well as maximize its competitiveness on the track.

Engineered to offer more than merely a turbocharged rush of power, an all-new FE5 Sport suspension was developed and includes specific stabilizer bars, spring rates and damper tuning – all designed to complement the high-output turbocharged powertrain and mitigate afflictions such as torque steer. Driver-selectable modes help maximize performance whether on the street or track. The unique "no-lift shift" feature enables manual-transmission-equipped models to achieve the best acceleration time via an algorithm in the engine controller.

Ensuring the car stops as confidently as it accelerates and corners are four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS. The front brakes are from Brembo and have a performance-oriented fixed-caliper design, which resist fade better than floating caliper designs; the rear discs are vented for better heat dissipation. Along with these high-performance attributes, the Cobalt SS comes standard with a host of safety features, including the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and side-impact air bags.

With its balanced tuning, the Cobalt SS delivers a quick 0-60 time of approximately 5.7 seconds – thanks to the manual transmission's "no-lift shift" feature – and a sports car-like maximum lateral grip of 0.9 g. This combination enabled the Cobalt SS to set a new class record while circulating the famed Nürburgring racing circuit, posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes.


Unmistakable style
The Cobalt SS is distinguished on the exterior with several unique features, including a distinctive, air dam-style front fascia with integrated projector-beam fog lamps. The new fascia's grille and the Cobalt's upper grille sport a new, SS-specific diamond-mesh appearance.

SS-specific rockers and badging adorn the body sides, while a standard deck lid spoiler adds the requisite sporty touch to the rear of the car. The standard spoiler can be replaced with an optional high wing-style aero enhancement that gives the Cobalt SS the look of a racecar. Also at the rear is a prominent, bright-tip exhaust outlet.

Large, five-spoke 18-inch polished forged aluminum wheels and performance tires are standard and are tailored with the specific body enhancements to give the Cobalt SS a lower, performance-oriented stance – while also showing off the large Brembo front brake calipers. They're mounted on 225/40-series summer tires. Likewise, the available exterior colors enhance the sporty nature of the vehicle. They include Victory Red, Black, Ultra Silver Metallic, Imperial Blue, Rally Yellow, Sport Red Tintcoat and White.

Like the exterior, the interior is unique to the Cobalt SS, including SS-embroidered sport seats with suede-like UltraLux inserts, a specific gauge cluster, an A-pillar-mounted turbo boost gauge and a new shifter arrangement. Three interior color combinations are available: Ebony, Light Grey and Victory Red.

GERMANY'S NÜRBURGRING RACETRACK WAS THE PROVING GROUND FOR THE '08 COBALT SS

DETROIT – The Cobalt SS is at home on the boulevard or starting grid, thanks to development at Germany's famed Nürburgring racing circuit – a winding, undulated road course of approximately 14 miles in length (22 km) and with more than 170 turns. It is considered by many professional racers and auto manufacturers as the ultimate test of a car's mettle.

In fact, the Cobalt SS set a lap record for front-drive sport-compact cars at the "'Ring," posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes – besting the previous record by more than 13 seconds.

"The Cobalt SS delivers an integrated driving experience that balances a strong, satisfying feeling of acceleration with a precise, responsive chassis," said John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive. "It has been tuned to deliver confident handling and road manners, while also maintaining overall ride comfort."

GM Performance Division (GMPD) is responsible for the "go, stop and turn" capability of Chevrolet's high-performance SS models, and its team of enthusiastic engineers made sure that the new, 2008 Cobalt SS not only achieved stellar performance on the track, it delivered it with a grin-inducing level of driving satisfaction.

Specific performance features include:

* FE5 sport suspension

* Standard F35 five-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter

* Quicker-ratio steering

* Brembo fixed-caliper front disc brakes

* Vented rear disc brakes

* Eighteen-inch wheels and performance tires

* Driver Information Center "Competition" mode with launch control function

* Available limited-slip differential

Chassis tuning

Conveying the Cobalt SS's turbocharged horsepower to the pavement is an FE5 sport suspension that includes a host of other chassis, steering and braking revisions – and a set of gorgeous, 18-inch forged aluminum wheels. The elements pull together to give the vehicle surprisingly agile ride and handling characteristics, as well as an enviable maximum lateral acceleration rate of 0.9 g – making it one of the best-handling cars in the segment.

"There was a concerted effort to tune the Cobalt SS for competitive track performance," said Heinricy. "This makes the car not only formidable in sanctioned competition, but it puts a finer edge on street performance."

The MacPherson strut independent front suspension uses SS-specific gas-charged twin-tube struts; unique steering knuckles with optimized geometry; 27 N/mm linear coil springs with specific damper tuning; stiffer control arm handling and stabilizer bar bushings; and a direct-acting, 24-mm solid stabilizer bar. At the rear, the SS's semi-trailing twist beam axle uses monotube gas-charged shocks with specific damper tuning, a 24-mm solid stabilizer bar, stiffer axle bushings and multi-rate coil springs (28-40 N/mm). StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control are standard.

More than cornering capability, the Cobalt SS's chassis – along with the available limited-slip differential – also is tuned to mitigate conditions often associated with high-performance front-wheel-drive vehicles, such as torque steer and axle hop. The result is smooth application of the car's full performance potential, quickening acceleration and/or lap times and ensuring a smooth, comfortable driving experience on the way to the office.

Quicker steering

An improved electric power steering (EPS) system is tuned to match the SS's handling prowess. The rack-and-pinion gear has a quick 14.8:1 ratio, which is 20-percent quicker than other Cobalt models, and the new EPS provides improved precision and a more viscous feel.

Brembo fixed-caliper brakes

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard. They consist of large, 12.4-inch-diameter (315 mm) Brembo front vented rotors with premium, high-performance, four-piston fixed calipers in the front and 11.5-inch-diameter (292 mm) rear vented discs with single-piston calipers.

During spirited drives, this gives the Cobalt SS a more precise and consistent braking feel that resists fading, even after repeated occurrences of hard braking, such as the driving experience on a racetrack.

The Brembo calipers are visible behind one of the Cobalt SS's most distinguishing features: a set of 18- x 7.5-inch polished forged aluminum wheels. The wheels ride on SS-specific 225/40-series Y-rated summer tires.

The standard anti-lock brakes are connected to the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system to enhance stopping and handling in emergency driving situations.

continued...

[Panacea]

...continued

TURBOCHARGER FORCE-FEEDS THE COBALT SS 2.0L ECOTEC ENGINE FOR 260 HP (194 kW)

DETROIT – The Cobalt SS is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L Ecotec DI engine that delivers 260 horsepower (194 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm) with the standard five-speed manual transmission.

"Chevrolets are about fun and the SS models are the most fun of all," said John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive. "With the Cobalt SS, fun is balanced with a serious degree of capability, on both the street and racetrack."

Features such as "no-lift shift" and other driver-selectable performance modes help the Cobalt SS achieve 0-60 mph performance in approximately 5.7 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in approximately 14.1 seconds, with minimal torque steer. The top speed is more than 160 mph.

2.0L Ecotec DI turbo engine details

The Cobalt SS's Ecotec 2.0L turbo engine is the same that powers the recently introduced HHR SS. It produces 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch of displacement (130 hp / 97 kW per liter) and is the most powerful engine in the Ecotec family. Gasoline direct-injection technology helps the engine produce more power while maintaining the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement port-injected engine.

With direct injection, fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn of the air/fuel mixture. Less fuel is required to produce the equivalent horsepower, especially at normal cruising speeds, of a conventional port-injection combustion system. Direct-injection technology works well with turbocharging and helps deliver a great balance of power and economy.

Highlights of the Cobalt SS's Ecotec 2.0L DI turbo engine include:

* Steel crankshaft

* Forged connecting rods

* Oil-spray piston cooling

* 9.2:1 compression ratio

* Aluminum cylinder head with stainless steel intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves

* High-pressure engine-driven fuel pump

* Mobil 1 synthetic oil

Components including the steel crankshaft and forged connecting rods are high-strength items that provide strength and enhance durability. Oil-spray piston cooling helps reduce cylinder temperatures and promotes longevity by delivering pressurized oil that continuously lubricates the pistons, which reduces friction. To enhance combustion, the piston tops feature a dish shape that deflects incoming fuel toward the spark plugs.

To accommodate the direct-injection system, the Ecotec 2.0L DI turbo has a unique cylinder head and intake manifold. The cylinder head incorporates mounting locations for the fuel injectors – items that are typically mounted in the intake manifold on port-injection engines. Specialized and extremely precise multi-hole fuel injectors are used to meter fuel and deliver it in a finely atomized manner. They are supported by an engine-mounted high-pressure fuel pump.

Apart from the mounting positions of the fuel injectors, the cylinder head has conventional port and combustion chamber designs. Large stainless steel intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves are durable components designed to stand up to the high-performance capability of the engine.

Turbocharger and charge air cooler

Pumping up the Cobalt SS's 2.0L Ecotec engine is an intercooled turbocharger system. The turbo blows pressurized air into the combustion chambers to enhance horsepower and torque, while the system's intercooler circuit cools the turbocharged air charge to maximize its effect. The turbocharger is sized to deliver a significant horsepower boost and almost no spool-up lag. Maximum pressure is almost 20 psi.

[DomesticFreak]

Oooohhh... I want one too...

But just because I actually don't know what the design differences are, what is the difference between the fixed caliper and floating caliper? I honestly don't know.

But yeah, nice numbers. I like it.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by DomesticFreak

Oooohhh... I want one too...

But just because I actually don't know what the design differences are, what is the difference between the fixed caliper and floating caliper? I honestly don't know.

But yeah, nice numbers. I like it.

Floating caliper has pistons on only one side of the caliper and it sits on sliding pins in the caliper bracket. When the pistons squeeze the pads against the disc it pulls the caliper on the sliders and pulls the pads on the other side against the disc. They are quieter, cheaper, and smaller in size than fixed calipers, but they put more pressure on one side of the disc.

Fixed calipers are just that. They don't move, and they have pistons on both sides so they put equal pressure on the disc. They are larger, more expensive, and make more noise, but also significantly more braking power.


Now back to our regularly scheduled topic.

[DomesticFreak]

Originally Posted by AaronGTR

Floating caliper has pistons on only one side of the caliper and it sits on sliding pins in the caliper bracket. When the pistons squeeze the pads against the disc it pulls the caliper on the sliders and pulls the pads on the other side against the disc. They are quieter, cheaper, and smaller in size than fixed calipers, but they put more pressure on one side of the disc.

Fixed calipers are just that. They don't move, and they have pistons on both sides so they put equal pressure on the disc. They are larger, more expensive, and make more noise, but also significantly more braking power.


Now back to our regularly scheduled topic.

Thanks for the explanation.

And yes back to our topic... Sorry 'bout that.

I do want a new SS now...