Super Boosted Chevys: Supercharger kits push Cobalt to next stage

mikeyb

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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=Caption>(Photo by Al Vanderkaay)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Super Boosted Chevys: Supercharger kits push Cobalt to next stage



BOB GRITZINGER
Posted Date: 8/30/05
Well admit to a growing fondness for Chevrolets Cobalt small car, especially the one that debuted this year as the 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged coupe.

With performance suspension and 205 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque on tap from a lightweight aluminum overhead-cam 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the supercharged model is good. But if you really want something to get charged up about, stand by for Stage 1 and Stage 2 upgrades for the SS Supercharged (and Saturn Ion Red Line) due in early 2006.

Stage 1 adds revised fuel injectors and new engine calibration to pick up another 20 hp; Stage 2 increases boost via a smaller supercharger pulley (along with another engine recalibration job) to amp up the torque by about 20 lb-ft. The packages can be readily installed by the owner. Pricing will be announced in November at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.

Weve driven the base supercharged cars, along with the Stage 1 and 2 upgrades, and while the Stage 1 noticeably increases power, the added torque in the Stage 2 package is worth the extra cost and effort. The added boost provides a substantial increase in power, especially at the low- and mid-rpm range where base and Stage 1 models need a downshift to prevent running short of breath.

Need more incentive? GM Performance hoss John Heinricy says he expects a 20 percent power boost from the Stage 2 kit when all is said and done. Thats about 246 hp and 240 lb-ft, if youre keeping score.


source:http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103095
 
WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!

I went into my Chevy dealer the other day to test drive an SS Supercharged. As I'm looking in the lot, only one SS is a stick and they have seven automatics. I go inside and ask a salesman if there is an SS and an SS Supercharged (knowing that there is the 170 HP 2.4L and the 205 HP 2.0L supercharged). The guy tells me that Chevy decided to stop making the supercharged version. Yet every day I read a story or see and advertisment for them. Are dealers really that lame?
 
looks like i need more horses, everyone gets stages except us....wa wa EMO
 
eting_pro5 said:
WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!

I went into my Chevy dealer the other day to test drive an SS Supercharged. As I'm looking in the lot, only one SS is a stick and they have seven automatics. I go inside and ask a salesman if there is an SS and an SS Supercharged (knowing that there is the 170 HP 2.4L and the 205 HP 2.0L supercharged). The guy tells me that Chevy decided to stop making the supercharged version. Yet every day I read a story or see and advertisment for them. Are dealers really that lame?

dealers no jack s*** sometimes. you might find ones here and there that are actually knowledgable, but most of the time they have no idea whats going on.
 
but while i dont like the actual car, i do think GM is backing it properly by producing its own performance parts for it. now if they also back their own parts with a warranty, they are doing mopar one better.
 
our cars were obsolite when they came off the production line.

but at least it pioneered what is now Mazdaspeed.
 
if they didn't look like a pos i would be even more tempted to buy one... gotta love add ons like that from the manu....
 
this is great to hear that gm is finally getting wise. even though i loved my old cavalier, that thing was far past its day. with the ss version, it deserves a little respect...with stage 2 add ons and some tuning, i'm sure this little car could be dangerous.
 
Wow...Autoweek needed to catch up on this one. I heard of this a month ago. Oh well, thanks for the post. I have yet to see a SS version on the street. Plenty of other models though.
 
I think I'm a fan of the SS for some reason. But i have not seen that many to be sure.
Nowhere in the midwest has an SS, at least that I came across. But since I've been in jersey I've seen 3 SS's and a couple of redlines.
 
I'm in Indiana,i see at least one a day and my roomate has one. They are pretty quick, don't like the shifter though. He is also having problems with interior s*** falling off.
 
txrxs said:
I'm in Indiana,i see at least one a day and my roomate has one. They are pretty quick, don't like the shifter though. He is also having problems with interior s*** falling off.

i read an early review of the cobalt a few months ago...the guy actually had one where the headliner wasn't completely attached to the roof. it had a very noticeable gap right up front by the top of the windshield. are they trying to make thereselves look bad?
 
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i think the redline looks better then the ss.... but i think id rather have an srt-4 over a either.... srt-4's are badass. redlines and cobalts arent.
 
ya redline looks better, gotta love those Recaros it comes with. and the RX-8 style suicides
 
I drove this car on a track,it sucked.

I feels like it's got more power then it does due to the clutch engagment,it kinda pops,making you let it out quiker,and tossing you back a little.

it's definatly like this on purpose,makes it feel faster.


around the track it sucked,it handles worse then a SRT-4.I was a lot more pleased driving this POS stock turbo SAAB wagon that was there.
 
I hate chevy right now. I know I'm just stupidly bitching about this, but the fact that they're using the term "SS" for their new line up is just disgusting. The TrailBlazer SS I can understand; big v-8, rwd goodness. But the rest of them? The Impala SS? A 230 hp FWD sedan? Same with the monte Carlo "ss", and now they even have a Malibu Maxx SS, one of those hideous little van/wagon things.

It just sickens me. Same with Dodge using the "Daytona" monicker on a car with no increase in performance whatsoever over the normal V-8 model.
 
anarchistchiken said:
I hate chevy right now. I know I'm just stupidly bitching about this, but the fact that they're using the term "SS" for their new line up is just disgusting. The TrailBlazer SS I can understand; big v-8, rwd goodness. But the rest of them? The Impala SS? A 230 hp FWD sedan? Same with the monte Carlo "ss", and now they even have a Malibu Maxx SS, one of those hideous little van/wagon things.

It just sickens me. Same with Dodge using the "Daytona" monicker on a car with no increase in performance whatsoever over the normal V-8 model.

I like the idea of Chevy bring the SS moniker back but I do agree that it does not believe on every vehicle Chevy sells. The Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS do not have 230hp. They have a 5.3 V8 making 303hp. The lower Impalas and Monte Carlos use a 3.5L V6 211hp and a 3.9L V6 242hp. The Malibu and Malibu Maxx SS has a 3.9L making 240hp.

Daytona Charger is just a appearance package. Atleast the Charger is a capable car.
 
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