A uniquely placed turbo boost gauge is molded into the driver's A-pillar. It imparts a sporty touch but it's not particularly useful, requiring too much driver concentration to read at moments when full attention should be directed to the road.
Turbo power highlights performance
Swapping the supercharger for a turbocharger has increased the power and capability of the Cobalt's 2.0-litre DOHC Ecotec mill considerably. It now pumps out 260 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm, twinned by 260 pound-feet of torque @ only 2,000 rpm.
This engine really impressed me. It pulls incessantly throughout its broad powerband while eagerly greeting its redline time after time. Unlike most 4-bangers that find their legs north of 5,000 rpm, this force-fed example of domestic engineering pulls in pretty much any gear like an over-caffeinated freight train.
Built-in performance "tricks"
What other entry-level performance compact supplies track-derived goodies such as launch control and no-lift-shifting as standard fare? None I can think of. Tap the StabiliTrak button twice and the Cobalt SS assumes its Competitive Mode and activates Launch Control. Introduce the accelerator to the floorboards while stopped, and the engine will hold itself at 5,100 rpm awaiting clutch engagement.
Release the clutch and the Cobalt will spin its front rubber momentarily before its optional Torsen limited slip differential locks up and shoots the Cobalt forth. And here's where it gets even more dramatic. As the 6,300 rpm redline approaches, there's no need to lift off the throttle to shift the 5-speed manual gearbox.
The no-lift-shift program electronically cuts power as the clutch submerges and re-establishes it as the clutch rises. This function eliminates engine lag normally experienced when the throttle is abruptly shut and reopened. The combination of launch control and no-lift-shifting aid the Cobalt SS in achieving 0-100K/mh times of sub 6.0-seconds.
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| The Cobalt SS manages to retain decent ride quality. |
Turbo power highlights performance
Swapping the supercharger for a turbocharger has increased the power and capability of the Cobalt's 2.0-litre DOHC Ecotec mill considerably. It now pumps out 260 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm, twinned by 260 pound-feet of torque @ only 2,000 rpm.
This engine really impressed me. It pulls incessantly throughout its broad powerband while eagerly greeting its redline time after time. Unlike most 4-bangers that find their legs north of 5,000 rpm, this force-fed example of domestic engineering pulls in pretty much any gear like an over-caffeinated freight train.
Built-in performance "tricks"
What other entry-level performance compact supplies track-derived goodies such as launch control and no-lift-shifting as standard fare? None I can think of. Tap the StabiliTrak button twice and the Cobalt SS assumes its Competitive Mode and activates Launch Control. Introduce the accelerator to the floorboards while stopped, and the engine will hold itself at 5,100 rpm awaiting clutch engagement.
Release the clutch and the Cobalt will spin its front rubber momentarily before its optional Torsen limited slip differential locks up and shoots the Cobalt forth. And here's where it gets even more dramatic. As the 6,300 rpm redline approaches, there's no need to lift off the throttle to shift the 5-speed manual gearbox.
The no-lift-shift program electronically cuts power as the clutch submerges and re-establishes it as the clutch rises. This function eliminates engine lag normally experienced when the throttle is abruptly shut and reopened. The combination of launch control and no-lift-shifting aid the Cobalt SS in achieving 0-100K/mh times of sub 6.0-seconds.
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| The Cobalt SS' engine pumps out 260 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm. |