Cobalt wins time attack?

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FOR RELEASE: 2005-10-06

Cobalt SS Supercharged Wins Time Attack on 'Street Tuner Challenge'

Besting a 801 HP Nissan Skyline and nitrous-charged Volkswagen Jetta


BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. - Timing is everything, and the timing of the new Cobalt SS Supercharged's introduction couldn't be better. As Chevy's new sport compact performance car debuts in dealer showrooms, it already has a record-setting pedigree. Driver John Heinricy piloted a race-prepared Cobalt SS Supercharged on a challenging road course at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park on July 21, 2005, besting both the legendary Nissan Skyline and the new Volkswagen Jetta by more than seven seconds. The Cobalt SS, which is based on Chevy's new factory-built front-wheel-drive Super Sport, posted a time of 1:58 around Buttonwillow's #13 track configuration, which was fast enough to eclipse the marks set by the All-Wheel-Drive, twin-turbo Skyline (2:05) and the nitrous-charged Jetta (2:07).

"It was an absolute blast to run the Cobalt SS Supercharged flat-out on the Buttonwillow track," said Heinricy, current SCCA driving champion and GM Performance Division's Director of High Performance Vehicle Operations. "GM Performance Division and the Powell Motorsports crew gave me a perfectly prepared car, and the Ecotec engine ran flawlessly."

A television crew from Speed Channel's Street Tuner Challenge was on hand to direct the day's competition at the track. The Street Tuner Challenge chose three vehicle makes representing North America (Chevrolet Cobalt SS), Europe (Volkswagen Jetta) and Asia (Nissan Skyline) and followed each team throughout a 13-week build competition. The Cobalt build team was comprised of engineers and designers from the GM Performance Division and Powell Motorsports, while the Nissan Skyline was built by XS Engineering and the Jetta was assembled by Autobahn Designs. The final time attack race served as the build completion and the culmination of Speed Channel's taping. For program times, please check Speed Channel's Web site at http:www.speedtv.com.

The production Cobalt SS Supercharged has strong performance credentials in factory trim. Powered by a supercharged and intercooled 205-horsepower, 2.0-liter Ecotec DOHC four-cylinder engine and equipped with a tenacious suspension developed on Germany's famed Nurburgring race track, the production Cobalt SS Supercharged will bring more heat to the already red-hot sport compact segment.

GM Performance Division created the Cobalt SS for this time attack competition to demonstrate the ultimate capabilities of the four-cylinder, supercharged Ecotec engine and Chevy's new front-wheel-drive "tuner" car. The program was led by the GM Performance Division, in collaboration with Chevrolet, GM Powertrain, GM Performance Parts, and GM Design. Powell Motorsports in Blackstock, Ontario, Canada provided vehicle preparation and logistical support for the successful assault on the time attack.

"The Cobalt SS Supercharged surpassed every expectation we had going into this competition," said Heinricy. "We came to Buttonwillow to demonstrate the performance and reliability of the Ecotec engine on a very demanding track. The Cobalt SS and the entire team performed to the highest standards. We're out here to be the best, and today we proved that Chevy and GM Performance Division race to win."

Enthusiasts will be able to catch a live glimpse of the Time Attack Cobalt SS Supercharged this November at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. It will also run on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 in Super Street magazine's Time Attack at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.

Time Attack Cobalt SS Supercharged Specifications

Body/chassis structure:
Uni-body

Body material:
Two sided galvanized steel, carbon fiber doors, hood, decklid, rear wing, front splitter, roof

Chassis material:
Two sided galvanized steel, carbon fiber roof

Suspension

Front:
Macpherson strut, no front bar, increased spring rates, Ohlins adjustable struts

Rear:
Twisting beam with adjustable sway bar, increased spring rate, Ohlins adjustable shocks

Wheels:
9.5 x 18, 9.5 x 17

Tire size

Front:
245 40 17

Rear:
Same as front

Tire brand:
Hoosier DOT

Brakes:
111.6 / 296 x 1.02 / 26; vented discs front 0.6 / 270 x .55 / 14; solid discs

Powertrain

Engine:
ECOTEC LSJ Supercharged with larger injectors and 77.9 mm pulley

Engine displacement (cu. in / cc):
2000 cc

Horsepower maximum (hp / kw):
236 hp

Torque maximum (lbs-ft / Nm)
270 lb-ft

Transmission:
F35 5 spd mt with 4.45 final drive

Dimensions

Height (in / mm):
55.7

Length (in / mm):
180.3

Width (in / mm):
67.9

Wheelbase (in / mm):
103.3

Track

Front/rear (in / mm):
57.1/58.1 nominal

Weight (lbs / kg):
2300 lbs
 
If you've seen the show, the Cobalt is a full on racer, while the other two are blinged out to the bones... Unsurprising. GM relies on their factory personal, with an unlimited budget, versus two tuning companies... If it could be any more obvious it's a GM publicity stunt... wait, it can't be anymore obvious.
 
PunkRock
If you've seen the show, the Cobalt is a full on racer, while the other two are blinged out to the bones... Unsurprising. GM relies on their factory personal, with an unlimited budget, versus two tuning companies... If it could be any more obvious it's a GM publicity stunt... wait, it can't be anymore obvious.


I haven't seen the show so I figured as much, but still 240hp and fwd vs 800hp and awd? Thats a pretty big hurdle to overcome.
 
Its because the Cobalt owns on the track, anyone been following SCCA at all? I wouldn't discredit the Cobalt what so ever, even if it was race ready and the other cars were meh. Also another thing that is funny is that GM benchmarked the Jetta when they were engineering the Cobalt.

But you have to remember the Cobalt was tested on the Ring, tuned up right, and put out into the world. Is it really so hard to believe that GM built a sweet tuner car?
 
Could we get specs on the other two cars? The 800hp Skyline should have murdered a 240hp Cobalt. Or anything with 240hp, unless the Skyline was running on ultra low grip tires, or was carrying around 4000lbs of extra weight...
 
Pffft...go drive one, they are serious as quick as an SRT'4 and they have the best handeling in its class (well the Ion techincally does, but same car).
 
Oh, and did they also forget to mention the driver of the (race-prepped) Cobalt is the champion of some SCCA series...

The Skyline weighed MORE than it does stock because it was a show car! Someone mentioned it had TV's and amps and subs and all that fancy stuff. The Cobalt they used was a specially-prepared, stripped and roll-caged driven-by-a-champ-of-some-kind racer against a blinged Skyline driven by its owner. Who, judging by his choice of mods, may not have been very good :sly:
 
iceburns288
Oh, and did they also forget to mention the driver of the (race-prepped) Cobalt is the champion of some SCCA series...The Cobalt they used was a specially-prepared, stripped and roll-caged driven-by-a-champ-of-some-kind racer
That would be John Heinricy. He currently heads the development of and races the Speed GT Caddy CTS-V, and used to race a Corvette, along with many other GM projects. He is a full on GM contract racer/specialist. Makes sense to use him really.

But, I don't see this as a big win for the Cobalt really. Nothing against the car, they are a nice progression for GM, and have great performance right out the box. But, this competition was a little skewed to start. It was a competition for speed/power/looks. The teams all went for different things, and thus the results.

The Jetta team obviously went for the looks, since its the best looking car of the 3. The Skyline could run on 4 cyls with its mods and make much more power than the others, so thats obviously their main goal. And, the Cobalt, while being fully funded by GM, and stripped to 2300lbs, was a shoe-in for fast track time.

Its a great thing for them, for sure. But, notice how at no point in that press release did they mention any of the other competitions. The didn't really care, they just wanted the time attack. So, good for them, they got it. Its a good PR accomplishment. But, if you dig into it, and past the PR bull, you see the truth.

Hilg
 
That car and driver test was retarded, they had to use the ACR version of the SRT-4 to even stick with the group. Pfft....face it the Ion/Cobalt's suspension would have been better and the RSX would have ran away, like hard core ran away if the the ACR hadn't been used.

Face it, GM made a good car, its quick, has the best handeling in its class, and it equally as fast as the SRT-4.
 
Layla's Keeper
Blazin, why not just direct the non-believers to Grand Am Cup where the Chevy Cobalts are putting a serious hurting on Mazda RX8's?
Ouch. I dont see why people have to hate on cars because of what company they come from. Can't you just respect/like a car for what it is and what it is capable of, instead of worrying what badge it carries?

back on topic...thats pretty cool, I didnt know the Cobalt/Ion Redline was that much of a contender in the sport compact market (or against other cars for that matter). I test drove an Ion once, the center dash pod is different, but I liked the smaller steering wheel, the car had a good feel to it, and that was just the 4 door.
 
BlazinXtreme
That car and driver test was retarded, they had to use the ACR version of the SRT-4 to even stick with the group. Pfft....face it the Ion/Cobalt's suspension would have been better and the RSX would have ran away, like hard core ran away if the the ACR hadn't been used.
So, lets say they didn't use an SRT-4, the Cobalt/Ion would have been 3rd and 4th. How does one car's options and specs make another car worse?? If you read what they said, they didn't really like the ACR that much. Yes, it was the fastest car in the group. But, because of its harsh suspension and other bits, they didn't really like it as an everyday car. This wasn't a "Fastest Track Car" test. It was a "Best All Around Cheap-ish Car" test. And, the RSX won that.

If this was just a fast lap comparo, I'm sure the SS/Redline duo would have done just fine. There is nothing wrong with them. But, just because they didn't like your favored car, don't go getting all mad. The Cobalt/Ion are fine cars. And have good handling, speed, and power. It just so happens, the other 3 cars beat them in this one comparo.

Hilg
 
I get mad at C&D for that test, though for entirely different reasons than most.

None of those cars do 0-60 in under 6 1/2 seconds, and if you believe they do then I've got some swamp land in Florida I'd like to sell you.

I follow the Street Tuner Challenge show, so what I want to know is when the hell did they air this episode because I've never seen it.
 
The SRT-4 shouldn't have beat them, I completly understand the WRX and RSX worlds better because both of them are. But really Car and Driver gave the SRT-4 to much credit and not enough to the Ion/Cobalt. Are there better cars? Yes of course, like I said the RSX is much better buy, but way to many people don't put the Cobalt and Ion into contension because they are from GM, which is bs.

But I think its funny they had to put the ACR SRT-4 Neon in there to even make it a contender. As far as I know the Cobalt/Ion did not have the competition packages on them, but I could be wrong.

Do I like the Cobalt? Yes very much so, in fact I try to drive the one at work every chance I get. Is it the best car in the sports compact market? Not by a long shot, it doesn't come anywhere close to the Japanese sport compacts or the German's GTi. But it's still a great little fast car, with some of the best handeling I've ever felt.

Young_Warrior
One more thing isnt an ecotec engine that vauxhalls use. What similarities has this car got to the astra vxr?

I'm pretty sure they are on different platforms.
 
Layla's Keeper
Blazin, why not just direct the non-believers to Grand Am Cup where the Chevy Cobalts are putting a serious hurting on Mazda RX8's?
Seems to me, with the season now over, the Mazda's did the hurtin. They won the ST manufacturers championship, with BMW coming in 2nd, and Chevy in 3rd. In fact, the Cobalts only won 3 times, with the Mazdas and BMWs winning the other 7. Aside from the events they won, they never really placed much higher than 4th or 5th in the races, getting beat by some RSX in the process as well. So, again, the Cobalt did well. But, didn't do much hurting.

Hilg
 
BlazinXtreme
Face it, GM made a good car, its quick, has the best handeling in its class, and it equally as fast as the SRT-4.
Yep, true. So: why don't people like it? Car and Driver said it best.
Our cobalt Cobalt wasn't a victor in any of our many voting categories, and a car has to do at least one thing well before it has the remotest shot at fame. Instead, the little Chevy apparently aspires to be everyman's cheap-speed coupe, lacking the refinement of the Acura, the brute force of the Dodge, or the passion of the Subaru—three models that have generated actual cults.

Nothing notable to hate, nothing notable to love. Apart from maybe Dan Quayle, no one has ever become famous like that.
To be likable, a car has to do at least one thing really well. Now, I've never driven one, but I'll say with reservation that I'd like the nicer sounding, nicer looking (albeit slower) RSX--and that the majority of buyers will side with me too.
 
Here is the SS Supercharged one

2004_cobalt_ss-supercharged_coupe_6.jpg
 
Pretty nice I think the rear end could do with an inch drop to the ride height. Does remind me of a astra vxr aswell except that the cobalt has a bum and the astra copied the M3 front bumper.Id buy one. In black though.

vauxhall_astra_vxr_16_04_05.jpg
 
Well I bet the drive train is the same, along with some other stuff. But I don't know anything about GM of Europe
 

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