CHEVROLET Cobalt Coupe
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
The world financial crisis didn’t strike yet when Chevrolet refreshed the Cobalt SS in 2008, and thus, the North-American market was richer with another pocket-rocket.
Honda Civic Si was one of the best selling coupes in its segment and gained an icon status on the streets. All the big American carmakers struggled hard to rip that crown from the Civic and failed. Then, the 2008 Cobalt SS happened.
With an outrageous big wing in the back, two air-scoops on the sides, and a shark-mouth as a grille in the apron, the Cobalt SS was a factory-tuned vehicle made to rock the Civic Si throne. It was a coupe with long lines, compact size, and an arched roofline. Its raked windshield and sloped rear window enhanced the dynamic look of the car. To complete the sporty image, the designers installed round taillights in the back.
Inside, the revolution continued with high-bolstered bucket-seats seats and SS badge embroiled on the front seats’ seatbacks. The instrument cluster featured two large dials for the tachometer and speedometer and a smaller gauge for the fuel level. Fortunately, there were tons of aftermarket suppliers for the much-needed gauges for turbo, oil pressure, and oil temperature.
Under the hood, Chevrolet dropped a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection and variable valve timing. The 2008 model came fitted with stiffer suspension and a 5-speed ZF gearbox. Moreover, the GM performance team thought to add a no-lift shift system, which improved the quarter-mile time.
With an increasing demand in the compact-coupe segment, Chevrolet introduced a two-door version for the Cobalt to compete with Honda’s Civic Coupe and Toyota’s Celica.
General Motors took a long look at its European branch Opel/Vauxhall and noticed the Delta Platform over there. They used it for the Astra and, on its home ground, on the Ion quad-coupe. But the bow-tie brand needed a proper two-door vehicle, and that’s how it made the Cobalt Coupe.
It was a coupe with long lines, compact size, and an arched roofline. The tear-shaped headlights flanked the one-slat grille at the front. Depending on the trim-level, GM installed a pair of fog lights in the bumper. Its raked windshield and sloped rear window enhanced the dynamic look of the car. To complete the sporty image, the designers installed round taillights in the back and offered an option for a wing on the trunk.
Inside, the carmaker installed bucket seats at the front with some bolstering on the sides. But they were not the kind of seats someone would trust during a high-speed cornering situation. They were more of commuter-car type. At the front, the Cobalt featured a simple, almost bland, dashboard design. The material’s quality was not top-notch at all, but it was functional. Chevrolet placed large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and a fuel-gauge at the instrument panel’s top.
GM offered a choice of two engines under the Cobalt’s hood, both available with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Later on, Chevrolet introduced a Super Sport (SS) version.
Chevrolet introduced a more potent version for its compact-coupe Cobalt in 2005, trying to beat the Civic Coupe and the Toyota Celica.
Chevrolet waited for a few years before introducing the Cobalt Coupe SS (Super Sport). That badge alone meant something for Chevy fans, and it shouldn’t be wasted on a slow vehicle just to speed up its sales. But the Cobalt SS was not a slow car in its segment. It was on par with the Dodge Neon SRT and the Civics and Celicas.
It was a coupe with long lines, compact size, and an arched roofline. The tear-shaped headlights flanked the one-slat grille at the front. The aggressive bumper design with an A-shaped mesh-grille in the middle flanked by a pair of fog lights was a promise for something sportier. Behind that, the intercooler was easy to spot by a trained eye. Its raked windshield and sloped rear window enhanced the dynamic look of the car. The designers installed round taillights in the back and a big wing on the trunk to complete the sporty image.
Inside, the carmaker installed bucket seats at the front with some bolstering on the sides and an SS stitching on their seatbacks. But they were not the kind of seats someone would trust during a high-speed cornering situation. They were more of commuter-car type. At the front, the Cobalt featured a simple, almost bland, dashboard design. The material’s quality was not top-notch at all, but it was functional. At least, the white dials for the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge looked better than the regular Cobalt’s dials.
Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a supercharged 2.0-liter unit. The Roots-type Eaton blower pumped 12 psi of boost, and that translated into a respectable mid-range torque.