Chevrolet HHR
October 6th, 2008
What about astonishing HHR's retro design, it is encouraged by the idea of mid-1940s Chevrolet cars and trucks, specifically the 1949 Chevrolet Suburban, with large, square fender flares and a hemispherical grille. The design of the HHR has been credited to Bryan Nesbitt who was a former designer at Chrysler where he was the lead designer of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Nesbitt was recruited by GM to join its design staff and served for a time as the chief designer of the Chevrolet brand. The HHR has a large cargo-carrying capacity for a car of its size with 57.7 cubic feet in the passenger version and 62.7 cubic feet in the panel. It has a flat-load floor and fold-flat front passenger seat. For the 2007 model year, it's available in four trim levels; LS, LT, 2LT, and Special Edition. A panel van variant was also made available in 2007 for only the LT trim and became available on all trim levels in 2008.
The HHR is constructed in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and is available for sale throughout North America. The HHR is also imported to Japan by way of the motor vehicles business unit of Mitsui. First year sales exceeded 93,000 through June 2006.
Going further, in October 2006, Cheryl Catton, director of car marketing and retail integration for Chevy, confirmed that a high performance variant of the HHR would be built. The vehicle was expected to be released with SS moniker for the 2008 model year and use the Ecotec LNF turbocharged engine found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line. The vehicle had been photographed testing by a spy photographer several times since June 2006. Digital scans of the HHR SS Turbocharged dealer brochure were leaked on a fan forum site on 13 July 2007 before any official announcement. On 16 August 2007, Chevrolet officially revealed the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS Turbocharged at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Birmingham. It will be introduced as a 2008 model in Fall 2007. The SS Turbocharged features a 2.0 L (120 cu in) turbocharged Ecotec LNF I4 engine and intercooler that produces 260 bhp (190 kW) (235 bhp (175 kW) with the optional 4-speed automatic), race-tuned high-performance suspension, five-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter, standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes, ground effects with unique front and rear fascias, aggressive black cross-mesh grille, liftgate-mounted aero spoiler, an analog A-pillar-mounted titanium boost gauge, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio controls, and unique 18 in (460 mm) high-polished aluminum wheels. What is more, on 30 October 2007 at the 2007 SEMA Show, Chevrolet unveiled the HHR SS Panel Concept, which combines the retro style of the original model with windowless side panels and rear cargo doors, a production of which is expected for the 2009 model year.
Chevrolet Cobalt
August 5th, 2008
Chevrolet presents over 20 vehicles and loads of various enhanced versions in its home market. The brand's vehicles range from subcompact cars to medium duty commercial trucks. Its number one sellers in the United States include the Silverado pickup, which is currently the 2nd best-selling vehicle in the United States behind the Ford F-Series and the Impala, which is the number one selling car with a domestic nameplate in the United States.
The Chevy Cobalt is a compact car announced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The Cobalt substituted the Cavalier as Chevrolet's compact car. It is available as both a coupe and sedan and is based upon the GM Delta platform also shared with the Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Astra (Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, and Saturn marques), and the Opel Zafira (a seven seat MPV). All Cobalts are currently manufactured at GM's Lordstown Assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The EPA classifies the Cobalt as a subcompact car.
In the beginning of 2009, Chevrolet will launch the Cobalt's global successor the Chevrolet Cruze, based on the new Delta II platform, in Europe with launches in other markets (including the US) to proceed in 2010. The Cruze will be built in multiple locations around the world including the Lordstown Assembly.
Note the specifications of the Chevrolet Cobalt - the front suspension is independent with MacPherson struts, while a semi-independent torsion bar is used in the rear. The wheelbase is 103.3 in (262.4 cm), longer than its competitors, and the width is 68.4 in (173.8 cm). Weight is average in-class, at 2681 lb for the coupe and 2747 lb for the sedan. (1216-1246 kg), and best EPA fuel economy is 25 mpg–U.S. (9.41 L/100 km / 30 mpg–imp) city/36 mpg–U.S. (6.53 L/100 km / 43.2 mpg–imp) highway. The car is notable for its use of an electric power steering system developed by Koyo Seiko, rather than a conventional hydraulic system. For 2009, the EPA fuel economy has increased (as well as power) to 24/34mpg (AT) and 26/37mpg (MT) with 155hp respectively.
The 2008 Cobalt is available with the Super Sport (SS) performance package, which includes a 260-hp 2.0L I-4 turbocharged engine with variable valve timing, rated at MPG 22 city, 30 hwy, with its 5-speed manual transmission. It can achieve 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds. The 2008 turbocharged SS package has been well-received in the automotive press. The Cobalt Super Sport posted a front-wheel-drive record at the Nurburgring test track in Germany. It posted a time of 8:22.85 minutes, beating the previous record by more than 13 seconds.
What's more, the 2008 Cobalt line offers a Sport model, with a naturally aspirated 171-hp high-output engine, rated at MPG 22 city/32 hwy (manual transmission), and 22 city/31 hwy (automatic transmission). Previous to 2008 this power combination was offered as one of the SS package combination's.
At present, for the LSJ supercharged engine, GM offers dealer-installed performance upgrade packages named "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 bhp (22 kW) 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 40 bhp (30 kW ) improvement and 30 ft·lbf (40 Nm) of torque. Both stage 1 and 2 kits increase the engine redline to 6750 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 6750 to 8000 rpm. Stage 3 produces 248 bhp using 93 octane fuel, up to 260 bhp using 100 octane fuel, and much higher bhp with nitrous. Stage 3 is for track use only, and to emphasize this, air conditioning is disabled with the Stage 3 ECU.
As stated by the IIHS, the Cobalt receives a top score of "Good" for front collisions. However, it receives a poor overall score for side impacts without side curtain airbags, and an average overall score with side curtain airbags. The Cobalt only offers stability control as an option on Sport models. Side airbags are limited to head-curtain type, thorax type side airbags are unavailable.
In 2006, a non-supercharged Cobalt SS was included to the lineup. This car is equipped with a 2.4L naturally-aspirated Ecotec inline-4. The LS became the base model while the LT was marketed as a mid-range package; the top level trim was now the LTZ. In addition, as with most other GM vehicles that year, GM's Mark of Excellence symbol was added to both front fenders near the doors.
In the 2007 both engines were remodified for more power while retaining the same fuel economy. The 2.2 L Ecotec is now rated at 148 hp (110 kW) with the 2.4 L Ecotec rated at 173 hp (129 kW). Other changes include a new console, new steering wheel and new radio head unit that features an audio input jack. In addition, all models except the LS and LT1 now use a 5x110 wheel bolt pattern. The LS and LT1 retained the standard 4x100. Furthermore, the 2007 model year marked the introduction of a new 32-bit computer that replaced the 16-bit unit from 2006.
2008 year: As expected, the 2.4L naturally aspirated, high-output SS coupe and SS sedan were renamed to just "Sport Coupe" and "Sport Sedan" respectively. The new Cobalt SS features a 260 hp (194 kW) turbocharged engine, replacing the Supercharged engine which was offered from 2005-2007. At mid-year, the fuel economy was increased to 25 city, 36 highway MPG on the LS and 1LT, coupe and sedan models with manual transmission; now labeled with XFE badging (X-tra Fuel Economy). XM Radio, side-impact air bags for improved safety, and MP3 player are now standard instead of optional. StabiliTrak stability control system is introduced. Other changes include the adding and removal of several exterior and interior colors. The new SS (turbocharged) coupe launched near the end of May 2008. Waiting for a sedan version for the 2009 model year.
Draw attention to the fact that in the 2009 (it is expected), the 2.4L naturally aspirated "Sport Coupe and "Sport Sedan" models have both been removed, as well as the 2.2L L61 engine. Both are replaced by the 2.2L LAP engine thus providing better fuel economy and more power. Three exterior colors have been changed, and the neutral interior color deleted. Bluetooth capabilities have been included, along with a reconfigurable performance display. In the Super Sport version optional equipment also includes the performance display option that can read out different engine output data.
