2008 Cobalt SS revealed at Sema
10-28-2007, 10:05 AM
#1
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2008 Cobalt SS revealed at Sema
The Cobalt SS was developed by GM Performance Division (GMPD), with a team of engineers and designers dedicated to crafting high-performance vehicles. It features powertrain and chassis enhancements that are similar to the new HHR SS, but with larger Brembo brakes, a slightly "taller" final-drive ratio and other variances that emphasize the Cobalt SS's pure performance ethic, as well as maximize its competitiveness on the track.
Engineered to offer more than merely a turbocharged rush of power, an all-new FE5 Sport suspension was developed and includes specific stabilizer bars, spring rates and damper tuning – all designed to complement the high-output turbocharged powertrain and mitigate afflictions such as torque steer. Driver-selectable modes help maximize performance whether on the street or track. The unique "no-lift shift" feature enables manual-transmission-equipped models to achieve the best acceleration time via an algorithm in the engine controller.
Ensuring the car stops as confidently as it accelerates and corners are four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS. The front brakes are from Brembo and have a performance-oriented fixed-caliper design, which resist fade better than floating caliper designs; the rear discs are vented for better heat dissipation. Along with these high-performance attributes, the Cobalt SS comes standard with a host of safety features, including the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and side-impact air bags.
With its balanced tuning, the Cobalt SS delivers a quick 0-60 time of approximately 5.7 seconds – thanks to the manual transmission's "no-lift shift" feature – and a sports car-like maximum lateral grip of 0.9 g. This combination enabled the Cobalt SS to set a new class record while circulating the famed Nürburgring racing circuit, posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes.
Engineered to offer more than merely a turbocharged rush of power, an all-new FE5 Sport suspension was developed and includes specific stabilizer bars, spring rates and damper tuning – all designed to complement the high-output turbocharged powertrain and mitigate afflictions such as torque steer. Driver-selectable modes help maximize performance whether on the street or track. The unique "no-lift shift" feature enables manual-transmission-equipped models to achieve the best acceleration time via an algorithm in the engine controller.
Ensuring the car stops as confidently as it accelerates and corners are four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS. The front brakes are from Brembo and have a performance-oriented fixed-caliper design, which resist fade better than floating caliper designs; the rear discs are vented for better heat dissipation. Along with these high-performance attributes, the Cobalt SS comes standard with a host of safety features, including the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and side-impact air bags.
With its balanced tuning, the Cobalt SS delivers a quick 0-60 time of approximately 5.7 seconds – thanks to the manual transmission's "no-lift shift" feature – and a sports car-like maximum lateral grip of 0.9 g. This combination enabled the Cobalt SS to set a new class record while circulating the famed Nürburgring racing circuit, posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes.
This car is gonna rock . The pics of it are typical GM photoshop that dont show the new wheels or the upper and lower new grills .
10-28-2007, 10:16 AM
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Oh bother. Beat me by 2 minutes.
In fact, the Cobalt SS set a lap record for front-drive sport-compact cars at the "'Ring," posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes – besting the previous record by more than 13 seconds.
That is really impressive. 13 seconds is a lot.
In fact, the Cobalt SS set a lap record for front-drive sport-compact cars at the "'Ring," posting a time of 8:22.85 minutes – besting the previous record by more than 13 seconds.
That is really impressive. 13 seconds is a lot.
Last edited by Evilfrog; 10-28-2007 at 10:19 AM.
10-28-2007, 10:22 AM
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For reference
8:20 --- 148.320 km/h -- Porche 993 GT3, Walter Roehrl (Car magazine 10/99)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- BMW M Coupe, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- Mercedes-Benz C55 (sport auto07/2004)
8:22.38 147.617 km/h -- Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R (Best Motoring video "Carrera Invasion") http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_wcOnPkxk
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Aston Martin DB7 GT, 442 PS/1833 kg (sport auto 07/03)
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Porsche Boxster S, 280 PS/1426 kg (sport auto 04/06)
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Porsche 996 Carrera 4, 300 PS/1466 kg (sport auto 01/02)
8:24 --- 147.143 km/h -- Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, 360PS/1566kg (sport auto 04/05),
8:24 --- 147.143 km/h -- Subaru Impreza WRX STi (sport auto 05/04)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Audi RS4, 375 PS/1675 kg (sport auto 10/00)
8:25* -- 146.851 km/h – 2007 BMW M5 Touring, 507 PS (*mfr.)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Corvette Callaway C12, 400 PS/1564 kg (sport auto 04/99)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Jaguar XKR, 416 PS/1775 kg (sport auto 11/06)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Maybach 57 S, 612 PS/2835 kg
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VI, 300 PS/1466 kg (sport auto 11/99)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VII (sport auto 11/02)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Porsche Cayman S, 295 PS/1412 kg (sport auto 11/06),
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h – BMW 335i Coupé, 306 PS/1610 kg (sport auto 10/06),
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h -- Mercedes Benz SLK 32 AMG, 354 PS/1480 kg (sport auto 05/01)
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h -- Nissan 350Z, 280 PS/1526 kg (sport auto 10/03)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- BMW E49 M5, 400PS/1833 kg (sport auto 03/99)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Nissan Skyline GTR, 277 PS
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Porsche 993 Carrera 2, 285 PS/1452 kg (sport auto 01/98)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Porsche 993 Carrera Cabrio (sport auto 04/97)
8:28.1 - 145.984 km/h -- Nissan Skyline GTR http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/228511/
8:28.93 145.690 km/h -- Subaru Impreza WRX sedan (1992) www.subaru.com.hk/pdf/SNW0404.pdf
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h -- Audi S4 4.2 Avant, 344 PS/1826 kg (sport auto 11/03)
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h -- Mercedes Benz CLK 55 AMG, 347 PS/1593 kg (sport auto 05/00)
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h – MTM VW Golf V GTI, 272 PS/1437 kg (sport auto Tuning 07),
8:30 --- 145.412 km/h -- Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa, 320 PS/1593 kg (sport auto 10/02)
8:31.--- 145.130 km/h -- 2006 CADILLAC STS-V, 440PS/1948 kg,
8:31.42 145.008 km/h -- Ferrari F355, 380hp (Top Gear magazine)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0 SMG (sport auto 04/03)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0si coupe, 265 PS/1408 kg (sport auto 08/06)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Lotus Exige, 192hp (sport auto 08/04)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW M Roadster, 321 PS/1410 kg (sport auto 09/97)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0 SMG, 231 PS/1396 kg (sport auto 05/03)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Porsche Boxster S, 252 PS/1386 kg (sport auto 12/99)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Volkswagen Golf R32 Mk. IV, 250 PS
8:33.80 144.336 km/h -- Honda NSX (6-speed) Coupe, 276 PS (Top Gear magazine)
8:20 --- 148.320 km/h -- Porche 993 GT3, Walter Roehrl (Car magazine 10/99)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- BMW M Coupe, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
8:22 --- 147.749 km/h -- Mercedes-Benz C55 (sport auto07/2004)
8:22.38 147.617 km/h -- Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R (Best Motoring video "Carrera Invasion") http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_wcOnPkxk
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Aston Martin DB7 GT, 442 PS/1833 kg (sport auto 07/03)
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Porsche Boxster S, 280 PS/1426 kg (sport auto 04/06)
8:23 --- 147.435 km/h -- Porsche 996 Carrera 4, 300 PS/1466 kg (sport auto 01/02)
8:24 --- 147.143 km/h -- Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, 360PS/1566kg (sport auto 04/05),
8:24 --- 147.143 km/h -- Subaru Impreza WRX STi (sport auto 05/04)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Audi RS4, 375 PS/1675 kg (sport auto 10/00)
8:25* -- 146.851 km/h – 2007 BMW M5 Touring, 507 PS (*mfr.)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Corvette Callaway C12, 400 PS/1564 kg (sport auto 04/99)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Jaguar XKR, 416 PS/1775 kg (sport auto 11/06)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Maybach 57 S, 612 PS/2835 kg
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VI, 300 PS/1466 kg (sport auto 11/99)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h -- Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VII (sport auto 11/02)
8:25 --- 146.851 km/h – Porsche Cayman S, 295 PS/1412 kg (sport auto 11/06),
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h – BMW 335i Coupé, 306 PS/1610 kg (sport auto 10/06),
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h -- Mercedes Benz SLK 32 AMG, 354 PS/1480 kg (sport auto 05/01)
8:26 --- 146.561 km/h -- Nissan 350Z, 280 PS/1526 kg (sport auto 10/03)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- BMW E49 M5, 400PS/1833 kg (sport auto 03/99)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Nissan Skyline GTR, 277 PS
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Porsche 993 Carrera 2, 285 PS/1452 kg (sport auto 01/98)
8:28 --- 145.984 km/h -- Porsche 993 Carrera Cabrio (sport auto 04/97)
8:28.1 - 145.984 km/h -- Nissan Skyline GTR http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/228511/
8:28.93 145.690 km/h -- Subaru Impreza WRX sedan (1992) www.subaru.com.hk/pdf/SNW0404.pdf
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h -- Audi S4 4.2 Avant, 344 PS/1826 kg (sport auto 11/03)
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h -- Mercedes Benz CLK 55 AMG, 347 PS/1593 kg (sport auto 05/00)
8:29 --- 145.697 km/h – MTM VW Golf V GTI, 272 PS/1437 kg (sport auto Tuning 07),
8:30 --- 145.412 km/h -- Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa, 320 PS/1593 kg (sport auto 10/02)
8:31.--- 145.130 km/h -- 2006 CADILLAC STS-V, 440PS/1948 kg,
8:31.42 145.008 km/h -- Ferrari F355, 380hp (Top Gear magazine)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0 SMG (sport auto 04/03)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0si coupe, 265 PS/1408 kg (sport auto 08/06)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Lotus Exige, 192hp (sport auto 08/04)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW M Roadster, 321 PS/1410 kg (sport auto 09/97)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- BMW Z4 3.0 SMG, 231 PS/1396 kg (sport auto 05/03)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Porsche Boxster S, 252 PS/1386 kg (sport auto 12/99)
8:32 --- 144.844 km/h -- Volkswagen Golf R32 Mk. IV, 250 PS
8:33.80 144.336 km/h -- Honda NSX (6-speed) Coupe, 276 PS (Top Gear magazine)
10-28-2007, 10:25 AM
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10-28-2007, 10:51 AM
#8
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10-28-2007, 11:05 AM
#9
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I can't believe the cars that this one beats at the ring! Of coarse driver plays a large factor, but still, I'm shocked.
STi, Boxter S, M5, Skyline... and dang near tied with the Skyline R32... M3 E46...
Dan
STi, Boxter S, M5, Skyline... and dang near tied with the Skyline R32... M3 E46...
Dan
10-28-2007, 11:23 AM
#11
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Wow, that's almost 4 seconds faster than my new car (335i w/ sport package) posted, and I was just out thrashing it around some corners last night marveling at the handling and acceleration.
The inevitable question will become "how much power will the turbos push out reliably without touching anything but the ECU?"
Sounds like a fun car - I may have missed it but I saw it said it beat the previous FWD compact record holder by 13 seconds... who exactly was that record holder?
The inevitable question will become "how much power will the turbos push out reliably without touching anything but the ECU?"
Sounds like a fun car - I may have missed it but I saw it said it beat the previous FWD compact record holder by 13 seconds... who exactly was that record holder?
Last edited by Threxx; 10-28-2007 at 11:27 AM.
10-28-2007, 11:29 AM
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From Wiki:
8:36 - Opel Astra OPC, 240 PS/1355 kg, Manuel Reuter (mfr., Oct 2005), sport compact record holder
8:37 - Mercedes C32 AMG [citation needed]
8:38 - Honda NSX (sport auto, 08/97)
8:39 - MazdaSpeed 3 Mark Ticehurst
8:39 - Honda S2000 (sport auto 01/00)
The Opel Astra OPC is also a turbo-charged 2.0 ecotec.
8:36 - Opel Astra OPC, 240 PS/1355 kg, Manuel Reuter (mfr., Oct 2005), sport compact record holder
8:37 - Mercedes C32 AMG [citation needed]
8:38 - Honda NSX (sport auto, 08/97)
8:39 - MazdaSpeed 3 Mark Ticehurst
8:39 - Honda S2000 (sport auto 01/00)
The Opel Astra OPC is also a turbo-charged 2.0 ecotec.
Last edited by Evilfrog; 10-28-2007 at 11:32 AM.
10-28-2007, 12:24 PM
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The wheels in the pic above should be the actual 2008 wheels . Thats the engineering mule and GM dealer parts computers show that exact wheel when u pull it up . The Yellow car looks liek a qwik photoshop . The wheels on it are 2005 GM accessory wheels and are only 7" wide . The new ones are 7.5 . GM media online list a split spoke as well . That pic also doesnt show the new upper and lower mesh grills .
