2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
The SS Supercharged had to be discontinued because its blown four didn’t comply with emissions regulations for 2008. As a result, the new SS gets force-fed via an air-to-air intercooled turbocharger rather than the Eaton supercharger on the old car.
The new car puts 260 horsepower under your right foot, versus 205 in the SS Supercharged. Peak torque is an impressive 260 lb-ft, and it’s available from just 2000 rpm. Top speed is as high as 160 mph, so long as you forego that ginormous, drag-heavy optional spoiler.
New lower control arms, control-arm bushings, 30-percent-stiffer springs, and fat, 24mm front and rear solid anti-roll bars tighten up the suspension like a drum skin. The steering system’s rack, electronics, and tuning are all unique to the SS, as is the car’s pedal box, which has been optimized to provide better heel-toe downshifts.
Pricing is competitive at $22,995. Indeed, the short option list—for now there’s only a limited-slip differential for just $495, a sunroof for $750, and the huge wing for $195—shows how focused Chevrolet and GM Performance intend this car to be. Further driving this point home is the lack of an available automatic transmission.
