Opinions on new Cobalt

[Bballjamal]

TURBOCHARGER FORCE-FEEDS THE COBALT SS 2.0L ECOTEC ENGINE FOR 260 HP

DETROIT – The Cobalt SS is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L Ecotec DI engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque with the standard five-speed manual transmission. The turbocharger is sized to deliver a significant horsepower boost and almost no spool-up lag. Maximum pressure is almost 20 psi.

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.

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

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.

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

Although any GM vehicles are of importance in this community what is your opinion on the numbers and potential of the car? It basically sounds like it shares the same drivetrain as the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline and the only drawbacks I really see as far as future performance mods go is the in-ability to change out injector size (DI = direct injection).

Also, as far as the tranny goes. Does the "no-lift-shift" basically mean it accepts power shifting? Sounds if so...

Honestly, I like their attempts with the car although late in the game (behind dodge) to go to a turbo as far as boost upgrading from the old M62 Roots type S/C. Sadly I see it as another band-wagon car for ricer driving n00bs and guys looking for quick HP numbers to jump on and further make GM look more retarded than they already do in this market.

[Terror]

hellls yeah! i had a supercharged one.. turbocharged sounds more like it . but i know what you mean about the ricer noobs lol.. but realistically, the old SS was pretty mechanically sound. i cranked 297 wheel out of mine and ragged on the stock clutch, WOT shifted and all of that stuff and it held up.

[BlkCD5]

they're catching on. Bmw did the same with the mini S. I have yet to see a retarded Cobalt owner though.

[JITB]

i think it will be just as good as th eprevious one...maybe even better..

judt hope the turbocharged motor is gonna turn into a straight line wonder , liek the srt4..

[EssAreTwenTee]

sounds like a nice car. I didnt care too much for the solstice gxp when I drove it but that was just me.

[OneSlow5pt0]

sounds like a nice car. I didnt care too much for the solstice gxp when I drove it but that was just me.

idk...id rather have a MX-5 or SLK55 in the roadster market....but the sky redlines are damn nice

[SpeedDreamz]

has a ton of potential. Forged rods and stainless valves are a step ahead of most oems.

[EssAreTwenTee]

idk...id rather have a MX-5 or SLK55 in the roadster market....but the sky redlines are damn nice

redlines are definately hot. But then again I drive a neon so what do i know lol

[Dietcoke]

No lift shift = ecu cuts fuel and spark with the clutch pushed in. IE: you can leave your foot on the gas pedal.

14.1 stock would SEEM a stretch, because the lighter rwd sky/sol only run 14.0 flat with a good driver (autos are a tenth or two faster) but the cobalt ss transmission has MUCH better transmission ratios for going down the quarter crossing right before redline in third whereas the sky/gxp will cross at around 4400rpms in fourth.

Other notable differences: 4 piston brembos, LSD is NOT standard... has two cats instead of the one on the sky/gxp. 100 pounds heavier then the outgoing car.

[3.5altman]

oh snaps!

[Clegger]

Cobalt SS achieve 0-60 mph performance in approximately 5.7 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in approximately 14.1 seconds
^

thats not good enough IMO

[3.5altman]

I know about cobalts. I use to dog on them,until I got beat by one! still looking for the guy for a rematch but i believe he has got another car. When modded right they can be impressive.

[Bballjamal]

Yea, regular bolt-ons, Full exhaust, smaller pulley, bigger TB, and some DR's gave a couple SS's low-mid 13s and others are getting closer to the 11sec range with cams, meth inj, ported head and other knic knacs that aren't too serious including the other mods listed above. Stout cars that just carry the GM name

[Bballjamal]

No lift shift = ecu cuts fuel and spark with the clutch pushed in. IE: you can leave your foot on the gas pedal.

14.1 stock would SEEM a stretch, because the lighter rwd sky/sol only run 14.0 flat with a good driver (autos are a tenth or two faster) but the cobalt ss transmission has MUCH better transmission ratios for going down the quarter crossing right before redline in third whereas the sky/gxp will cross at around 4400rpms in fourth.

Other notable differences: 4 piston brembos, LSD is NOT standard... has two cats instead of the one on the sky/gxp. 100 pounds heavier then the outgoing car.

How are you attempting to get into the 12s? As in what mods you have planned to shave .7-1sec off? I know a ton about the Ecotec motors and their potential but i got totally thrown off when i saw direct injection.

[SPOOLIN]

the potential for the car after you buy it is tremendous, just a couple of things and you can go over 300hp and that car will not care. This is one of the best OEM platforms out there for performance AND PRICE.

[Bballjamal]

^^^

Very respectable opinion coming from what looks to be the owner of a very mean hatch.

[JITB]

any pics of it yet?

tbw this was like the worst kept secret...lol alot of people saod they would ask abotu the new cobalt SS, and Gm never said waht was gonna be in it, but everyone knew it was gonna be turbo, especially after they release the HHR SS with the same turbo ecotec.


i would sway aittle toward the ms3, but as far as price the ss will probrably be beat it in taht category... i wont admit it being better yet...

[Dietcoke]

How are you attempting to get into the 12s? As in what mods you have planned to shave .7-1sec off? I know a ton about the Ecotec motors and their potential but i got totally thrown off when i saw direct injection.

Mine went 14.0@100 stock with a 2.1 60


Add seven pounds of boost (16 vs 23 psi) a good free flowing exhaust, high flow cat/downpipe, custom intake, a $$ intercooler, hard pipes, drag radials, and tuning. Hoping for 12.x @ 106+

[RUFFIAN]

Yea, regular bolt-ons, Full exhaust, smaller pulley, bigger TB, and some DR's gave a couple SS's low-mid 13s and others are getting closer to the 11sec range with cams, meth inj, ported head and other knic knacs that aren't too serious including the other mods listed above. Stout cars that just carry the GM name

Whats wrong with carring the GM name? GM has some pretty good motors. import snobs just don't want to acknowledge them. you can get a better bang for your buck modding an american car than most imports. JMO

[Bballjamal]

any pics of it yet?

tbw this was like the worst kept secret...lol alot of people saod they would ask abotu the new cobalt SS, and Gm never said waht was gonna be in it, but everyone knew it was gonna be turbo, especially after they release the HHR SS with the same turbo ecotec.


i would sway aittle toward the ms3, but as far as price the ss will probrably be beat it in taht category... i wont admit it being better yet...

The pictures I saw were basically your same styled cobalt. It didn't have the SS kit which would make it more un-noticable but it seemed to be a generic GM cobalt picture with professionally photoshopped 18" rims. And I also suspected the turbo to come out after the HHr SS debuted!

Mine went 14.0@100 stock with a 2.1 60


Add seven pounds of boost (16 vs 23 psi) a good free flowing exhaust, high flow cat/downpipe, custom intake, a $$ intercooler, hard pipes, drag radials, and tuning. Hoping for 12.x @ 106+

Would the Ecu compensate for the increase or would you have to depend on the tuning software of HPTuners (which have made it possible to fully tune and datatlog the 2.2 ln2 motor, Ecotec 2.2 N/a and S/C, and soon to be 2.4 through the Obd-2 port under the dash)?

Also have you found out if you're basically stuck with that turbo or is it swappable directly or even through a possible flange cut to mate onto a different turbo such as the 20G or Gt35r

[blown_ss]

hellls yeah! i had a supercharged one.. turbocharged sounds more like it . but i know what you mean about the ricer noobs lol.. but realistically, the old SS was pretty mechanically sound. i cranked 297 wheel out of mine and ragged on the stock clutch, WOT shifted and all of that stuff and it held up.

coming from someone that has owned one. not to rag on you or anything but i know that you didnt get 297 to the wheels in a cobalt ss and you didnt do it on a stock clutch. mine went out with just a pulley upgrade. the cobalt ss was the biggest piece of **** that GM has ever made. their main problem was their cats and that they didnt use forged pistons. my cat ended up getting clogged and then the number 1 and 4 piston side walls broke, thats right broke with only 13k miles on the car. just by looking at what GM is claiming that they have in the engine, they didnt fix the piston problem. this car is going to fail bad. if they do come out with it i hope that it does a better time then 14.1 in the 1/4, the supercharged ones ran a 14.4 with only 205hp and this one claims 260. GM doesnt know what they are doing when it comes to forced induction. the last car had too many problems, i dont understand why they are making another one. i hope that no one on here is looking to buy one, if you are please talk to me first or atleast check out what people are saying on this web site cobaltss.net. you will see all of the people that have had the same problem that i had. well thats my .02.

[Bballjamal]

^^I've never actually heard of your problems and I was one of the first members to join cobaltss.net along with "Da Satchmoe" (i think that was his CSS name). Though I wasn't severly active like here we provided a lot of information to a couple of the guys over there so it atleast sounded as if they knew what they were talking about. Also, as far as your car goes, were you driving it like an ass hauling everywhere you went? Redlining every chance you felt the need to hear it wind up? If so I can absolutely understand why it took a **** on you

[Dietcoke]

Would the Ecu compensate for the increase or would you have to depend on the tuning software of HPTuners (which have made it possible to fully tune and datatlog the 2.2 ln2 motor, Ecotec 2.2 N/a and S/C, and soon to be 2.4 through the Obd-2 port under the dash)?

Also have you found out if you're basically stuck with that turbo or is it swappable directly or even through a possible flange cut to mate onto a different turbo such as the 20G or Gt35r

It's all tuned through the ECU, there is no boost controller on my car. I use HPTuners, the car has a (factory) 5 wire wideband. It really is too damn easy to tune. The turbo is a borg-warner K04 (t3/t4 flange). I want a gt 3071r, but the ecu isnt completely unlocked yet. Still waiting on 100% functionality to add a big turbo. The limits of the fuel system arent known, either. GM rates the entire system at 160lph/7000rpm but its unknown if thats the limit of the electrical pump, the mechanical pump, or the injectors. My guess is a combination of the electrical and mechanical pump. The injectors in theory can handle close to 1000hp. The mech pump, however, cant supply that fuel. Will need a new camshaft ground with an extra lobe to turn the pump faster much past 400whp I'll bet.

The car runs between 13:1 and 13.5:1 (factory commanded 13.2:1 WOT) wot to give n idea of how lean the direct injection runs compares to a conventional engine.

[Bballjamal]

Whats wrong with carring the GM name? GM has some pretty good motors. import snobs just don't want to acknowledge them. you can get a better bang for your buck modding an american car than most imports. JMO

This is true but more in a sense of your v6's and more so your v8s! The imports feel that they started this and the small american cars came in as wanna-be's and they did poorly at it. Which to some sort I agree, but in rightful respects to GM and Ford, people were cranking 400-600whp out of 4cyl a long time before the import scene for circle mudtrack racing. That's where the W41 Iron Duke and the 2.3HO got their glory days from (which were found in Beretta GTZ's and other small cars).

[Bballjamal]

It's all tuned through the ECU, there is no boost controller on my car. I use HPTuners, the car has a (factory) 5 wire wideband. It really is too damn easy to tune. The turbo is a borg-warner K04 (t3/t4 flange). I want a gt 3071r, but the ecu isnt completely unlocked yet. Still waiting on 100% functionality to add a big turbo. The limits of the fuel system arent known, either. GM rates the entire system at 160lph/7000rpm but its unknown if thats the limit of the electrical pump, the mechanical pump, or the injectors. My guess is a combination of the electrical and mechanical pump. The injectors in theory can handle close to 1000hp. The mech pump, however, cant supply that fuel. Will need a new camshaft ground with an extra lobe to turn the pump faster much past 400whp I'll bet.

The car runs between 13:1 and 13.5:1 (factory commanded 13.2:1 WOT) wot to give n idea of how lean the direct injection runs compares to a conventional engine.

Ahh the same turbo as the Audi S4's, which I've personally seen spool to 24psi consistently for months until some fins tore off some how. Thnx for the info, exactly what I wanted to hear.

[RUFFIAN]

I see what you are saying to a degree about history but i thnk that mind-set comes from ignorance and a lack of knowledge about automotive history in general. Ford especially has had fire breathing 4 bangers just as long as the JDM people. Those cars just weren't marketed to Americans as much. They were sold in the european market.

[DarkMystic]

well for all the people that wants to see how this thing can hang, here are posted times on Nurburgring with other cars:

the list was lifted from another fourm...
8:07 - BMW Z8 E52, 400 PS/1615 kg (autobild.de 06/01)
8:09 - Lamborghini Diablo SV [citation needed]
8:09 - Ferrari 360 Modena [citation needed]
8:09 - BMW M6 E63 (sport tyres) [limited to 259 km/h] (sport auto 12/05)
8:09 - Honda NSX-R, 320 PS/1467 kg, sport tires, suspension modification (sport auto 08/02)
8:10 - Chrysler Viper GTS (Sport Auto 10/97)
8:11 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR prototype, 280 PS/40.8 kgf·m/1420 kg,
8:12 - Porsche 993 Turbo (430 hp version) [citation needed]
8:13 - BMW M5 E60, 507 PS (sport auto 12/04)
8:13 - Ferrari 355 GTB (Sport Auto 10/1994)
8:17 - Porsche 996 C2 [citation needed]

8:22 - Chevy Cobalt SS 2008 2.0 Turbo (Source GM)

8:22 - Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, 280 PS/36 kgf·m/1430 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best Motoring - Video Special DVD Series [The R32 GT-R])
8:22 - BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
8:22 - BMW M Coupe E36/7, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
8:22 - Mercedes CLK 63 AMG (fastest AMG test engineer)
8:24 - Subaru Impreza WRX STI, sport tires (Sport Auto 05/04)
8:25 - Jaguar XKR (Sport Auto)
8:25 - Porsche Cayman S (Sport Auto)
8:25 - Audi RS4 375 hp [citation needed]
8:24 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VI, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/99)
8:25 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VII, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/02)
8:26 - BMW 335i E92 Coupe, 306 hp (Sport Auto)
8:26 - Nissan 350Z (Sport Auto 10/03)
8:28 - Porsche 911 Carrera (993) (Sport Auto 07/97)
8:28 - BMW M5 E39 (previous model), 400 hp [citation needed]
8:32 - Porsche Boxster S (Sport Auto 12/99)
8.34 - BMW Sauber F1.06 Formula One car, Nick Heidfeld, April 28 2007[1]
8:35 - BMW M3 E36 Coupe, 321 hp [citation needed]

Yea, you saw right... it beat out the GT-R R32 and many other cars worth mentioning. I'm not sure how reliable they are gonna be, but these numbers are damn impressive. It'll be able to handle speed in straights and twisties....all on FWD

[madking411]

WOWW...it looks like GM's startin to pick up a LOTTTTT more respect on IA....


hehe....back to the topic.....While most people here are saying that GM has no idea what they're doing by making forced induction cars...? Thats probably 100% correct, BUT, they're at least trying to experiment with a couple cars, by developing them/selling them, etc. ....even though they ARE gonna be flawed, they're probably trying to work bugs out, and get it together to see what they can build. Sorta like when Apple comes out with some new gadget, it USUALLY has a lott of bugs in it at first, but they usually work them all out through the updates, and software downloads, etc. etc., and end up comming up with a product thats INSANELY good once all the bugs are gone.... thats MY 2cent...

[Bballjamal]

well for all the people that wants to see how this thing can hang, here are posted times on Nurburgring with other cars:

the list was lifted from another fourm...
8:07 - BMW Z8 E52, 400 PS/1615 kg (autobild.de 06/01)
8:09 - Lamborghini Diablo SV [citation needed]
8:09 - Ferrari 360 Modena [citation needed]
8:09 - BMW M6 E63 (sport tyres) [limited to 259 km/h] (sport auto 12/05)
8:09 - Honda NSX-R, 320 PS/1467 kg, sport tires, suspension modification (sport auto 08/02)
8:10 - Chrysler Viper GTS (Sport Auto 10/97)
8:11 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR prototype, 280 PS/40.8 kgf·m/1420 kg,
8:12 - Porsche 993 Turbo (430 hp version) [citation needed]
8:13 - BMW M5 E60, 507 PS (sport auto 12/04)
8:13 - Ferrari 355 GTB (Sport Auto 10/1994)
8:17 - Porsche 996 C2 [citation needed]

8:22 - Chevy Cobalt SS 2008 2.0 Turbo (Source GM)

8:22 - Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, 280 PS/36 kgf·m/1430 kg, Motoharu Kurosawa (Best Motoring - Video Special DVD Series [The R32 GT-R])
8:22 - BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
8:22 - BMW M Coupe E36/7, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
8:22 - Mercedes CLK 63 AMG (fastest AMG test engineer)
8:24 - Subaru Impreza WRX STI, sport tires (Sport Auto 05/04)
8:25 - Jaguar XKR (Sport Auto)
8:25 - Porsche Cayman S (Sport Auto)
8:25 - Audi RS4 375 hp [citation needed]
8:24 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VI, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/99)
8:25 - Mitsubishi Charisma GT Evo VII, sport tires (Sport Auto 11/02)
8:26 - BMW 335i E92 Coupe, 306 hp (Sport Auto)
8:26 - Nissan 350Z (Sport Auto 10/03)
8:28 - Porsche 911 Carrera (993) (Sport Auto 07/97)
8:28 - BMW M5 E39 (previous model), 400 hp [citation needed]
8:32 - Porsche Boxster S (Sport Auto 12/99)
8.34 - BMW Sauber F1.06 Formula One car, Nick Heidfeld, April 28 2007[1]
8:35 - BMW M3 E36 Coupe, 321 hp [citation needed]

Yea, you saw right... it beat out the GT-R R32 and many other cars worth mentioning. I'm not sure how reliable they are gonna be, but these numbers are damn impressive. It'll be able to handle speed in straights and twisties....all on FWD

Good post! I meant to jump on the rings website and grab it off there also. I'm really surprised at the 2000 E46 and Sti numbers in comparison. Basically with light to moderate mods after purchase with some heavy suspension work behind it and decent lightening on the inside you should have a kick ass track car......from a numbers perspective. Balancing out this car will be the difference in having a good performer and a tractionless street car

[green91]

Im anxious to see how the new car looks. The current cobalt looks way to much like a cavalier with an STi wing and skyline tails to me, i hope they revise the body significantly to make it more credible instead of an import market lego car. The engine specs appear to be impressive though

[EssAreTwenTee]

This is true but more in a sense of your v6's and more so your v8s! The imports feel that they started this and the small american cars came in as wanna-be's and they did poorly at it. Which to some sort I agree, but in rightful respects to GM and Ford, people were cranking 400-600whp out of 4cyl a long time before the import scene for circle mudtrack racing. That's where the W41 Iron Duke and the 2.3HO got their glory days from (which were found in Beretta GTZ's and other small cars).

chrysler has been making turbocharged 4bangers since the mid 80s. I loved the turbo'd kcars and the omni glh

[SE-Rious1]

i hate chevy
but i do have to admit i like the body styling and the power they gave the SS
now i just wish ppl would stop painting the stock rims black its not that nice

[DrivenMind]

Looks like GM is finally taking the fast econobox game seriously. I wonder when Ford will give us it's WRC inspired compacts here in the states.

Props to GM for doing it right. (edit: For them to really do it right, they will not have that ****ing wing on the car from the factory.

[3.5altman]

cobalt's are nice, but i wouldn't own one. not to sure how they would hold up in the long run

[SPOOLIN]

the fastest sport compact sportsman class car is a cobalt in the series. These cars are bad ass, this and the solstice are the only domestics i can stand(except a diesel truck), they both have the same powerplant.

[3.5altman]

there hott dont get me wrong, i wouldnt mind having one. but reliability is my issue. Plus i have a family, need a 4 door car with some low payments...lol

[blackshine007]

Looks like GM is finally taking the fast econobox game seriously. I wonder when Ford will give us it's WRC inspired compacts here in the states.

Props to GM for doing it right. (edit: For them to really do it right, they will not have that ****ing wing on the car from the factory.

Ford ain't doing a damn thing for us in the states. The New Focus is a great car, if we had got the one that the rest of the work gets. It's the one that the Mazda3 is based off of. Instead, Ford said word for word "We are getting serious about building small cars" and then desides to give us a modified first gen Focus with the 2.0L duratec 4 as the only engine, no other exceptions. This car is rediculously hideous. I actually liked the car before. I don't want anything to do with it now. Big props for GM remembering the people who has other interests besides the Corvette. Ford was so focused on not having any car in it's line up to compete with the Mustang that they decided to cut all the performance versions. What happened to good cars like the Probe GT, or the Taurus SHO, or Thunderbird S/C. No more SVT brand is just not good for the Ford Franchise.......

[SE-Rious1]

did GM ever fix the problem with the SS with over heating ?

[Bballjamal]

I just got my real estate license and the commision kicks ass so I'm now in the market for an upgrade and must stay true to me being different. I wanted the Solstice or Redline but if I can save a little and get more I wouldn't mind the cobalt as the tuner car in the garage while I save for a chill lux 4-dr daily.

[EssAreTwenTee]

I just got my real estate license and the commision kicks ass so I'm now in the market for an upgrade and must stay true to me being different. I wanted the Solstice or Redline but if I can save a little and get more I wouldn't mind the cobalt as the tuner car in the garage while I save for a chill lux 4-dr daily.

there's still commision to be had? I didnt get my license because the market took a hit so bad