Latest Cars in Market: Chevrolet Cobalt SS Review & Pictures

The Cobalt SS is a line of three sport compact versions of the Chevrolet Cobalt built on the General Motors Delta platform at Lordstown Assembly in Ohio, United States. Featuring two boosted and intercooled inline-4 Ecotec engines, as well as a third naturally-aspirated engine, the line was GM's first foray into the tuner market.

The car launched with a 205 hp (153 kW) supercharged 2.0 L engine in late 2004 as a 2005 model, paired with the F35 Manual transmission of GM Europe. The following year, a naturally-aspirated 1SS model equipped with GM's new 2.4 L,171 hp (128 kW) engine was added; it had both automatic and manual transmission options. After three model years the supercharged car was discontinued, but a second 2.0 L engine exclusively mated to the F35, with power upped to 260 hp (194 kW) by way of a turbocharger, revived the Cobalt SS in the second quarter of 2008 (See timeline).

The powertrain of the Cobalt SS received generally positive reviews, especially the turbocharged version, but the car was criticized for poor interior quality and exterior styling that was too reminiscent of its predecessor, the Cavalier. Reports surfaced in May 2009 that General Motors planned to eliminate the Cobalt SS as soon as December 2009, but they proved to be untrue. Production continued, but ordering options for late 2010 models were limited, and production of all Cobalts ended in June 2010. The car has been replaced by the European-developed and Korean-designed Cruze, but a high performance version to directly replace the Cobalt SS has not yet been announced, nor any possible powertrains.