2005 Chevrolet Cobalt New Car Review

by Mark Fulmer TACH Editor-In-Chief

It isn't often enough that I get to draw your attention to anoutstanding American car, but today is one of those days, thanks toChevrolet's Cobalt.

First of all, the name.

Cobalt, the 27th element, was discovered by G. Brandt in 1737. It is alight grey transition element. Some metorites contain small amounts ofmetallic cobalt. Generally alloyed for use. Mammals require small amountsof cobalt salts. Cobalt-60, an artificially produced radioactive isotope ofCobalt is an important radioactive tracer and cancer-treatment agent.

More than you wanted to know? Well, that's what you get here at The AutoChannel!

Anyway, the folks at GM invited a bunch of us NorCal writers to drivethe new Cobalt down the coast from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and back.Earlier this month I had tested the SS model on the track at Laguna Secaand experienced a jolt of driving delight very similar to my first drive inthe new Subaru WRX a few years ago. And the Cobalt delivered. Tightcornering. Brisk acceleration. Clear and present feedback. The coastaldrive in the LT version revealed that the non-sport-tuned 4-door models areshare really comfortable molded seats and a well designed and finishedinterior.

Through some integrated design engineering, the Cobalt achieves a nicestiff structure which not only does wonders for noise and vibrationcontrol, but also makes for a solid-feeling ride regardless of terrain. Thedriving experience is a distinct improvement over its ancestor, theCavalier, and what with a competitive price and good looks & build, theprospects should be quite bright, if not meteoric, for the new Cobalt.

COBALT SS SUPERCHARGED: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE

The telltale is theA-pillar-mounted boost gauge. It's the tip-off that the Cobalt SSSupercharged isn't a car for everyone – only those whose pulseraces with the swing of the gauge's needle.

With more than 100 horsepower per liter – 1.68 horsepower percubic inch – the 205-horse 2.0 SC engine of the Cobalt SSSupercharged delivers a level of performance that is unexpected. It alsodelivers an instant, exhilarating rush of power, thanks to its impressive,supercharger-induced 200 lb.-ft. of torque.

"The Cobalt SS Supercharged is one of the quickest, best lookingand most affordable performance cars on the market," said BrentDewar, Chevrolet general manager. "This is the vehicle that sportcompact enthusiasts have been begging us to build – and they knowwhat that A-pillar gauge is for."

More than a sport compact powerhouse, the Cobalt SS Supercharged is asatisfying driver's car. It was bred with nimble handling, anaggressive exterior styling package that includes a distinctive wing-stylerear spoiler, and a performance-oriented interior with leatherappointments, a unique instrument cluster and that iconic A-pillar boostgauge.

Performance is demonstrated in a 0-60 acceleration time of 6.1 seconds,a quarter-mile time of 14.6 seconds and a stopping distance (60-0 mph) of119 feet.

The Cobalt SS Supercharged also comes with standard 18-inch aluminumwheels and performance tires, making it the only vehicle in its competitiveset to offer a standard 18-inch wheel/tire combination.

Other vehicle highlights include:• 2.0 SC engine with 205 hp and 200 lb.-ft. oftorque• High-flow 2.5 inch exhaust with 4-inch chrome outlet•Ground-effects front and rear fascias, rocker panels• Wing-style rear spoiler• FE5 sport suspension• 18-inch forged aluminum wheels• 215/45R18 93 W performance tires• 4.05:1 final drive ratio• Large four-wheel-disc brakes with four-channel ABS• Unique instrument cluster• A-pillar boost gauge•Leather-covered seats with color-keyed inserts and leather covered steeringwheel and shift knob• Uplevel audio system with CD/MP3 player andseven Pioneer premium amplified speakers• Optional roof rail air bags

Bred on the racetrack Engineers had a running start when developing thesport-oriented FE5 suspension of the SS Supercharged, as it is based on theDelta architecture used in the Saturn ION Red Line. But while the vehiclesshare DNA of the chassis, the engineers had to develop a unique drivingpersonality that balanced responsiveness and take-no-prisoners grip withdriving comfort and a smooth ride quality.

The SS Supercharged's standard FE5 suspension features aluminumL-shaped front control arms, sport-tuned struts and a 24-mm direct-actingfront stabilizer bar. The rear suspension has monotube shocks and a 22-mmstabilizer bar. Sport-tuned springs at all four corners help reduce leanduring cornering and lower the car 10 mm, giving the SS Supercharged a moreaggressive stance. The electric power steering system is tuned to providemore feedback and a sportier feel.

Transferring its cornering capability to the tarmac is the SSSupercharged's specific 18-inch wheel-and-tire combination. Greatlooking aluminum wheels are shod with 215/45R18 93 W performance tires thatdeliver both grip and comfort.

Integral with the race-bred suspension is a superior brake system thatconsists of large, four-wheel disc brakes and ABS. The vented front discsmeasure 11.6 inches in diameter (296 mm) and the rear solid discsmeasure10.6 inches across (270 mm). Performance brake pads are used toenhance stopping power. The ABS system uses integrated dynamic rearproportioning for improved stability and more effective use of the rearbrakes when the vehicle is loaded.

Blower drive To performance enthusiasts, a supercharger is known simplyas a blower. The engine-driven device crams pressurized air into thecombustion chambers – more air in means more power at the crankshaft.And, with the SS Supercharged, the effect is dramatic: The 2.0 SC produces40 percent more horsepower and 33 percent more torque than the largerdisplacement 2.2L engine found in Cobalt base, LS and LT models.

A compact Eaton M62 Roots-type positive displacement supercharger isused because of its immediate response traits – there's no"lag" when more power is called up by the driver. It makes amaximum of 12 psi of boost and is bolstered by an air-to-water intercooler.The intercooler cools the heated air charge before it reaches the engine,increasing the density of air to increase power and reducing the propensityof detonation at high rpm and high boost levels.

To support the high-performance characteristics and durability demandsof the 2.0 SC engine, engineers incorporated numerous race-bred componentsand systems, including:•Forged steel crankshaft•Semi-permanent-mold cylinder head casting•Stainless steel intakevalves with undercut stems•Sodium-filled exhaust valves•High-flow air intake• High-flow exhaust manifold•12.5-mm-wide chain cam drive•6.5-quart oiling system withcrankshaft-driven pump•Engine oil cooler•Coil-on-plug ignition with 58X crankshaft position encoder•Oil-jet-cooled pistons

The SS Supercharged's cooling system is upgraded with a largerradiator core and larger cooling fans. When it came to exhaust, engineerssought to move out as much as the engine ingested, so they developed anexhaust system that incorporates a low-restriction catalytic converter andlow-restriction muffler. The system lowers back pressure from the engine,enhancing the performance of the supercharged engine and giving the car anoticeable "voice" on the street.

Tougher transmission The SS Supercharged uses a heavy-duty FGP (F35)five-speed manual transmission. It has a higher torque capacity towithstand the increase in output from the engine. The gears are spaced ineven increments to keep the engine in its "sweet spot" betweenshifts. A short-throw shifter quickens the shifts, too. The shifter'stravel is approximately 1 inch shorter than the shifter found in otherCobalt models.

Complementing the higher torque capacity transmission are twoequal-length halfshafts with higher torque capacity. Their equal lengthhelps limit the tendency of torque steer in this powerful front-driveapplication. The final drive ratio for the transaxle is 4.05:1.

The heavy-duty transmission and axle system support the engine'sincreased torque, but also multiply the effectiveness of the powergenerated by the supercharger. In all, it's a carefully balanced,uncompromising high-performance powertrain that is enabled by aracetrack-tested suspension.

"You don't know what fun is until you’ve driven thiscar," said Dewar.

2005 CHEVROLET COBALT STANDARD AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Cobalt LS, LT (equipment in addition to or substituted for base content)Standard content: 4-speed automatic transmission (standard on LT only)4-channel ABS Uplevel CD radio Power locks with remote Cruise control Power windows Heated leather seats (standard on LT only) Body-color power outside mirrors Sport cloth upholstery Trunk cargo netOptional equipment: 4-speed automatic transmission (standard on LT)Sunroof Spoiler XM Satellite Radio CD/MP3 uplevel radio Pioneer Premium Audio System with 7 speakers Heated leather seats (standard on LT) Sport Package(16-inch wheels, foglamps, spoiler, white-face gauges, leatherwrapped steering wheel and shifter, bright exhaust tip) OnStar Roof-rail air bagsSS Supercharged (equipment in addition to or substituted for LS and LTcontent) Standard content: 2.0 SC supercharged engine 5-speed heavy-duty manual transmission FE5 suspension 18-inch performance wheels and tires4-wheel disc brakes with ABS Leather-appointed seats with color-keyed inserts Leather-covered steering wheel with radio controls Leather-covered shifter Foglamps Sport exhaust Wing-type spoiler Fascia and rocker extensions Unique instrument cluster A-pillar-mounted boost gauge Pioneer Premium Audio System with 7 speakersOptional content: Roof-rail air bags Sunroof XM Satellite RadioOnStar