2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged
QUICK SPECS:
- MSRP: $20,490
- ENGINE: 2.0L Ecotec SC (Supercharged)
- HORSEPOWER: 205 hp @ 5,600 rpm / 200 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm (Without Stage 2 Kit) 241 hp and 218 lb-ft (With)
- DRIVETRAIN: Front-wheel drive, five-speed manual
- WEIGHT: 2,925 lbs.
- FUEL ECONOMY: 23/29 mpg (Without Stage 2 Kit)
By Dave Chess
CHICAGO - RIS - What better way to spend a hot, sunny, summer afternoon on Chicago’s lakefront than putting a Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged through its paces on an autocross?
I’ll tell you one.
Piloting a Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged outfitted with General Motors’ blistering Stage Two performance kit that boosts stock horsepower from 205 up to 241.
That’s how!
Yeah Baby!
Chevrolet provided the opportunity to drive their supercharged coupe to journalists before the opening of XM Satellite Radio’s Hot Import Nights at Soldier Field, the first of 11 such events taking place around the country.
A $750 Stage Two Kit takes the Cobalt SS Supercharged’s standard Ecotec 2.0L SC engine, blown by an Eaton M62 supercharger (12 psi Max.) and pumps up the muscle in the mid-range of the power curve.
The stock supercharged Cobalt makes its 205 hp at 5600 rpm and produces 200 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Higher-flow fuel injectors, a smaller supercharger pulley and drive belt, and an ECU calibration provide a 36 hp increase to 241 hp and increase in torque by 18 lb.-ft.
This little beast rocks!
A close ratio F35 five-speed manual transmission in the SS Supercharged is dialed in to provide a higher torque capacity than the manual transmission found in other Cobalt models and works in sync with its 4.05:1 axle ratio.
Not only does it accelerate faster than you really need to, the Cobalt slows its 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, that sport Dunlop brand P215/45ZR18 performance, W-rated tires, with power assisted 4-wheel disc brakes - 296 mm (11.7 inch) front and 270 mm (10.6 inch) rear.
Cobalt SS Supercharged has enough power and braking to master the autocross. And with the race track developed FE5 suspension package as standard equipment, allowed an even weight distribution through the orange cones.
FE5 includes a 24-mm front stabilizer bar and a 22-mm rear stabilizer bar, higher-rate springs and bushings, and monotube shocks.
So with all this power and bigger stabilizers why don’t they race these cars?
They do, in National Auto Sport Association’s (NASA) Pro Racing Performance Tuning Class, Grand American Road Racing Association’s Grand Am Cup and National Hot Rod Association’s Pro classes.
Air conditioning, electric rear defogger, CD player and driver information center are standard equipment. Options include heated leather seats, power sunroof, XM Satellite Radio, MP3 playback and OnStar. The Cobalt also features a 60/40 folding rear seat.
Did the Cobalt SS Supercharged really stand up and hang tight in the corners when I made my autocross runs?
Since the driver has a lot to do with making a clean run through a maze of orange cones, and my co-driver wouldn’t let me shift out of first gear, it wouldn’t be fair for me to give an unqualified answer.
But, if the question is whether the Cobalt SS Supercharged is capable of mastering the autocross?
The answer is a resounding yes!