http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04...malibu-lineup/

I tried to keep it apples to apples with transmissions. Auto Cobalt should be getting some improvements for 2009, like VVT 2.2L and the turbo 1.4L.


It will be in a few months , plus the 2009 Acadia/etc. are getting the Traverse engine standard.

 

Yeah I was thinking of the 2009 when it will be optional on the LT.

http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/dom...page=6&butID=3

 

Oh my and look what else will be new in 2009:

(UPF) Bluetooth for phone, personal cell phone connectivity to vehicle audio system and HMI (Human Machine Interface)

That settles it, I'm waiting.

Thanks!

 

The 2.4/A6 on Malibu is a "Spring Package" for the LTZ for 2008. It will be standard on the LTZ and available on LT for 2009.

Someone on GMI pointed out that the package is actually a $1,075 credit over a 6 Cylinder LTZ. The build your own is just wrong. However, it does nuke the dual exhaust (makes sense) and 18" wheels:

LTZ SPRING SPECIAL INCLUDES:
ENGINE, 2.4L DOHC MFI
17" WHEELS, CHROMETECH
(REPLACES STD/OPT WHEELS)
SINGLE CHROME EXHAUST

-$1,075.00



I just went and checked the 2009 order guide and the Aveo does get a new engine for 2009:

Deletions:

(LXT) E-TEC II 1.6L engine

New Features

(LXV) ECOTEC 1.6L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder MFI engine with Variable Valve Timing and Dual Continuous Variable Cam Phasing (107 hp @ 6400 rpm, 106 lb-ft of torque @ 3800 rpm)

About the same power, but I bet the Ecotect will improve mileage over the older E-Tec (Daewoo) motor.

 

This is all great news, GM is just a little late to the game in my opinion.

 

How come every time we get into these types of discussions, on fuel economy, when it comes to these sized cars everyone always throws in the manual and says something along the lines of: "GM is doing just as good as everyone else." The fact is that we all know manuals do and will continue to count for a very small potion of the market and the numbers are getting smaller. The auto Cobalt SUCKS!!! compared to everyone else. It is at the bottom of all similar sized cars.

Civic/A5 25/36
Sentra/CVT 25/33
Corolla/A4 26/35
Focus/A4 24/33
Cobalt/A4 22/31

This is just sad. BTW, I would be surprised if a swap to the A6 would help that much. XFE should have been done to the auto too. It gets almost the same mileage at the new Malibu with the 2.4/A6. How sad is that?

 

Let's consider all the numbers, shall we?

Civic/A5 25/36 - 1.8L 140hp
Sentra/CVT 25/33 - 2.0L 140hp
Corolla/A4 26/35 - 1.8L 132hp
Focus/A4 24/33 - 2.0L 140hp
Cobalt/A4 22/31 - 2.2L 148hp

When you consider the Cobalt has a larger engine and 6% more hp than its nearest competitor, one should expect to get less mileage, no?

With the A6 it should improve the highway mileage 2-3 mpg.

I'd like to see how much better the Cobalt will do with the 1.4L turbo Ecotec and even possibly the A6.

 

Whats really sad is that the Cobolt has more power with a bigger engine, gets less mileage than a Civic, which is kind of given, but the Civic and others make about the same power. Though I'd hop tq would be different. Still it doesn't dilute the fact that GM has the poorest mileage of any small car on the market, and don't seem to be doing much to correct that. When is the new Cobolt, or replacement, due anyway?

 

Did you miss something? Bigger engine equals more power and poorer fuel mileage. They are doing something.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/01...us-small-cars/
MY2010.

 

Not doing anything?? They just came out with the XFE for manuals and the auto will get those upgrades soon too. Plus the 2.2L is getting VVT next year, and there is a Turbo 1.4L engine coming out for the Cobalt and Astra too.

Last I heard the next Cobalt will be out in 2010 as a 2011 model

 

Ok, thats news because I hadn't heard that one.

When it comes to these sized cars, I think its clear that people who buy them don't care too much about how fast the car is as long as it fits their needs and gets good mileage. Look how well the Civic has done over the years with the anemic engines its has had.

How does 38.5 combined break down in city/highway?

 

Dang, a thread filled with the Aveo and I'm not around.


Here's to hoping the 1.4L E-TEC II is never used again.

oh, and how do they cam phase a VVT model? that sounds redundent to me...

 

If it were me, I would trade 8hp for 3mpg city and 5mpg highway. I do wonder what the torque numbers are, but an economical car needs to be economical. At 22/31, I would probably opt for an SS which only gets a few mpg less and a lot more horse power.

 

The Cobalt also weighs 300-400 pounds more than the Civic and maybe the others as well.

That'll erase 8 horsepower pretty quickly

 

That difference sounds high to me, but I didn't expect to find this... I swear these numbers are lighter than what they published for earlier years. Or maybe I'm remembering wrong. 2681 for the coupe, 2747 for the sedan.

http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/specifications/

http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-s...oup=dimensions

Civic sedan = 2628 (base DX, 5 speed), 2690 (DX, auto) up to 2806 (EX, auto).

Civic is probably lighter on average, but evidently not by 300-400 lbs anymore. Even if the Cobalt is more like 2800-2900 that I was thinking, it isn't such a huge difference.