GM offers new boost for Cobalt SS S/C and Saturn Ion Redline
GM Performance Parts announced yesterday the availability of two performance upgrade kits for the supercharged 2.0L Ecotec engine found in the Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged and Saturn Ion Redline. The Stage 1 kit retails for $500 and adds 31 hp to the engine’s base 205-hp through higher-flow injectors and a new ECU calibration. The Stage 2 kit goes for $750 and includes both components of the Stage 1 kit and adds a smaller supercharger pulley and drive belt to fatten up the powerband’s midsection and increase power to 241 hp and 218 ft-lbs. of torque. Both kits require premium fuel and are available now at all GM dealerships.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tyler 12:44PM (2/26/2008)
In regards to stage 2 and 0 to 60 times, without the limited slip diff the 0 to 60 time post is 5.6 seconds, thats a tenth faster than the 2008 turbo cobalt. With the LSD you can expect a time of 5.4. And compared to a V8, thats not bad considering the 2008 Mustang V8 5 speed posted a 0 to 60 time of 5.1. Get yourself some sticky tires and a torque damper and you might give that stang a run for its money.
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thedubsack 3:55AM (3/19/2008)
ok to all you hater's.. i had a stage 2 07 ion redline.. same motor as the SS/SC but came out first.. and stock tune i could run a 14.3 at 102 at 2700 ft altitude with BOLT ON'S being an intake a muffler and spring's.. and once stage 2 it was a 13.8 @ 105+ average once corrected..all those bolt on's added up to maybe 2g's total WITH the stage 2 stuff which wasnt cheap.. 500+ for the kit and 325 to have it installed.look up thedubsack on youtube for car video's and you will see how FWD does against an EVO 8 when i have a better 1/4 mile and MPH and have the slip's to prove it. and a vid of me DESTROYING a b18C5 swapped GSR with more bolt on's then my factory tune redline..
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Civickilla08 12:18PM (4/29/2008)
The Civic si, and the s2000 get smoked by a cobalt ss on any drag you see them do when the cobalt has a few bolt-ons... and i agree that its all about the horsepower. I own an SS and love it, im constantly getting messed with by ppl driving civics and focus svt's and what not and so far haven't been taken... but i bought my parts after market for 70 bucks for the pulley and about 300 for the stage 2 injectors and plugs and im putting out about the same horse power as the GM after market kit witch i believe is way too spendy. But you wont void your warrentee with GM if you have there parts and service so it might be worth it.
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Tom Design 9:39AM (4/07/2006)
That just put the Cobalt in a class above the Honda S2000 for horsepower. Yikes! What a little rocket this car will be. I owned a Shelby Shadow, and with a Chrysler after market chip it went from 175 to 200hp, and it was a lot of power for a little economy 2-door. Had a lot of fun until a pickup's high bumper turned it into crumpled sheet metal...ouch. Anyways, it was point and shoot with the Shelby, like a go cart with the dropped suspension and brakes and steering upgrades, a really fun drive! Best $5k option I ever got on a car. This Cobalt feature should give car buffs big smiles.
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Michael Karesh 9:51AM (4/07/2006)
The S2000 isn't about horsepower. It's about a level of agility the Cobalt SS doesn't approach. Very few people cross-shop these two cars.
That said, the Cobalt SS Supercharged does steer and handle much better than a regular Cobalt. I'd personally hoped the same suspension tuning would be used in the non-Supercharged SS, but it isn't.
My main issues with the SS Supercharged are that its only available as a coupe, and one with a ridiculously large wing as a standard feature. I can see driving a car with a wing like this one if I was under 25, but unfortunately I'm not.
My full review: http://www.epinions.com/content_165871652484
The first of these two kits seems like a good value, $500 for 31 horsepower. But the Stage II upgrade, at $250 for a pulley and belt that adds only 5 horsepower (an error?), sounds a bit steep. I wouldn't be surprised if an aftermarket equivalent were much less expensive.
Since they can get 241 horsepowre out of the supercharged engine with bolt-ons, I do wonder why they're bothering with a turbo for the Solstice GXP and SKY Redline. I didn't care for boost lag in the MazdaSpeed Miata, and I hope it doesn't mar the driving experience in those two cars.
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Tom Design 10:00AM (4/07/2006)
TO an enthusiast, all cars are about horsepower.
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Mark 10:03AM (4/07/2006)
HP means nothing through the front wheels. S2000 is RWD. Nuff said.
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Richard Warren 10:13AM (4/07/2006)
Cool, good move
Love the must have RWD comments 25 years ago you were nothing if you didn't have front wheel drive, now it's back to the old school of thought. RWD, FWD the real difference is the driver.
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Proud Japanese 10:19AM (4/07/2006)
To an American auto enthusiast it's all about big HP numbers since all they care about is straight line performance. Non American enthusiasts are a bit more sophisticated.
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Whydrive 10:26AM (4/07/2006)
Mark, tell that to the people buying the Civic Si and the RSX.
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Dustin Tarditi 10:38AM (4/07/2006)
Power without control is useless... The Dodge SRT4, for instance, was very quick, but only in a straight line.
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Santino 10:47AM (4/07/2006)
There's no way you can compare the cobalt ss to the s2000, they are in two totally different classes and the s2000 would destroy the cobalt in straight line and around the corners.
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JZeke 11:04AM (4/07/2006)
Many well respected auto journalists, engineers and critics have been saying 250hp is really the most you want to channel through the front wheels of anything.
So this kit puts the Cobalt right under the limit of whats drivable and fun, sounds like a well thought-out move for GM.
For comparison, Scion's Tc supercharger kit barely boosts past 200hp and costs $3000 (since you have to add an entire supercharger and intercooler assembly)that pushes the scion to around 20k, the cobalt SS is 20k and change, so dollar per hp the Chevy is a pretty sweet deal.
Still wheres the AWD?
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T. 11:13AM (4/07/2006)
that's great to see that GM is building the Cobalt (or at least the SS anyway) with the ability to upgrade the power for less than $1g. This shows forethought in making the rest of the engine/tranny/suspension burly enough to take minor upgrading.
And for 20g, that's not too shabby.
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T. 11:18AM (4/07/2006)
Zeke, totally agree with you on hp/dollar, although I'd argue that the tC isn't really a "sports car", more like a car with the most features/comfort for the price. The supercharger is more of an afterthought, as you still have a relatively soft car (handling, clutch, etc) even after you force-feed it. (and yes, I own a tC, and I *really* wish that they came out with a performance edition tC, supercharged from the factory and a better suspension stock...)
240hp to the front wheels is nothing compared to some cars, what's v6 eclipse putting out?? if you get the optional LSD, you're sitting pretty.
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Michael Karesh 11:47AM (4/07/2006)
The Eclipse is a mess.
However, I did drive a 9-3 Aero yesterday with the new 2.8 turbo six. It puts 250 HP through the front wheels. Both boost lag and torque steer were very, very low, at least with the six-speed automatic.
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rem83 12:20PM (4/07/2006)
I'm not sure if I entirely understand that 250 hp through the front wheels guideline. It seems like the weight of the vehicle and shape of the torque curve could change this number drastically. Good move on Chevy's part though, these bolt-on's seem like an incredibly cheap way to get some more power.
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Squisher00z24 12:35PM (4/07/2006)
Hmm. I too question the value of the stage 2 setup, however the article does mention a nice increase in the midrange torque.
I don't want to knock the stage 2 setup until I see dyno graphs. For example, if the stage 1 setup is a very "Peaky" power curve, that's nice and fun, but only over a small RPM range. If you add the stage 2 the number is only slightly higher, but if it's accross a very wide RPM range (in comparison), that makes it more than worth it.
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JS 12:42PM (4/07/2006)
ProudJapanese, stop being so racist. Yes, we like our drag strips and straight line performance but that's because it's what our roadways are geared for. If you want to hammer through the interstate system, you need lots of horsepower to pass at high speeds, or put that tard in his 500HP Civic in his place. If I had a second car, it'd be pure muscle, no doubt. But with newer cars like the GTO, Vette, and Charger, we have our muscle and handling in one neat package. I drive a Nissan 240SX by the way. (Cause omg dorifto is fun)
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MikeW 1:01PM (4/07/2006)
This engine did not take premium fuel before?
What about the intercooler capacity? Seeing as you are putting the roots pumper into less efficient operating range.
Forget AWD on the cobalt, how about something better than struts upfront and integral trailing arms in back.
How about wider than 215 width tires.
How about a 6 speed manual transmission.
The neon SRT had absurdly skinny 205/50 17 on 6" wide wheels. The neon's 65/35 weight distribution and soft rear suspension bushings killed braking performance.
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