Chevy HHR SS caught spooling up
Whoa, is that an intercooler we see buried deep in the lower front bumper of this otherwise quotidian HHR? Indeed it is, and Winding Road is guessing it's connected to the Pontiac Solstice GXP's direct-injected turbo-four that makes 260 hp and 260 ft-lbs. of torque. SS also means bigger wheels and this mule has much larger shoes than the standard High Heritage Roof. The HHR will be refreshened in the near future, so it's not known whether the SS badge will be affixed to the current body style or an updated one. Still, props to Chris Doane for snapping this shot of the HHR's intercooler peaking out. Good eye, kid. Good eye.[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rb 5:00PM (11/12/2008)
I purchased a 2008 HHR SS with Limited Slip Differential, and I can say that Torque steer is NOT a problem. I test drove one without and it yanks pretty hard, but with LSD it's not hard to manage at all.
I have to say that this is a great 'sleeper' car. When merging onto the highway I've had cars behind me merge all the way to the left lane thinking they are going to pass but find out they can't keep up.
Reply
Jason 7:39PM (6/06/2006)
Anybody want to start a pool on the appearance of a Chevy Uplander SS? Aveo SS?
Reply
Carlton 7:44PM (6/06/2006)
Could they possibly design a vehicle any uglier? Looks like a cheap hooker after a fifth of whiskey.
Reply
ZoomZoomin' 8:03PM (6/06/2006)
"...Aveo SS?"
After thinking about the idea, that could actually be kind of cool if it handled well. Chevy's American version of something like a Sport Ka. Introducing SARS...the Spec Aveo Racing Series. It'll spread like wildfire.
Okay, time to get back on topic....if you're gonna make a vehicle, I have no issues with making the vehicle (more) fun when you can. Personally, I've really come to like the HHR (I was lukewarm about it when it first debuted...neither love/hate). It would be nice to have one as a daily driver...as opposed to a Scion xB. The idea of a hotrod wagon (or "high roof") isn't that outrageous/new. It's just a bummer that the power is going through the front wheels.
The Rides special on the HHR was pretty awesome. Particularly the RWD V8 conversion. That was pretty hot.
Reply
psu4@hotmail.com 8:10PM (6/06/2006)
You know, GM is finally building some nice cars. It's getting fun to shop for cars again.
Reply
DarkKnight67 8:17PM (6/06/2006)
Yes, Carlton, they could design an uglier vehicle. But, then it would be called a Honda Element.
Reply
Cody Peterson 8:22PM (6/06/2006)
260 hp with 260lb to the FRONT wheels... hmmm.. torque steer anyone?
Reply
BoomGoesThe Dynamite 8:26PM (6/06/2006)
At first I thought the HHR was one of the oddest looking cars on the road, but after seeing it on the lot and on the road I've really warmed up to its look. Actually, it looks pretty BA in black when approaching in traffic. I'm not saying its for everyone, but I can now see its appeal.
Reply
laserwizard 8:35PM (6/06/2006)
Looks like Chevrolet has just announced the world's fastest coffin.
Reply
epp_b 8:37PM (6/06/2006)
[260 hp with 260lb to the FRONT wheels... hmmm.. torque steer anyone?]
Yeah, forget 0-60 times. It'll crash into a ditch before gets there.
Reply
naggs 8:52PM (6/06/2006)
who is going to buy the hard core version of a car whose only real selling point is practicallity? i dont get this vehicle at all. another example of a brand damaging vehicle that should never be made.
now that i think about it there is only one ss vehicle that isnt a brand damaging product, the cobalt. SS used to mean something now its a joke.
Reply
James Noble 9:18PM (6/06/2006)
Considering the solstice gxp is a rear wheel drive I am guessing that the HHR SS will be rear weal drive as part of GM switching many vehicles to rear wheel drive. If the HHR was to remain front wheel drive it would probably only have the 200hp of the cobalt ss. Those are my thoughts, not really based on facts, just guessing.
Reply
An American Consumer 9:37PM (6/06/2006)
Hey Carlton,
You should know how a cheap hooker looks, is you mama still working the corner of pimp and screw?
Reply
ODB 9:42PM (6/06/2006)
Huh american consumer I thought the hooker was your wife.
Reply
Bought and paid for 9:43PM (6/06/2006)
The HHR is good looking, my neighbors son has a red one and I must admit, if I had one and he had a feather up his butt we would both be tickled.
Reply
shiznannigan 9:48PM (6/06/2006)
Sorry naggs, but, a joke? I'm sure nobody's laughing when they get smoked by a 400hp Trailblazer SS. And I don't think Joe Schmuck, in his new "THAT THANG GOT A HEMI?" Challenger is going to be in a joking mood when he gets passed by an Impala SS. Malibu SS may be the only borderline one, although I'd certainly own one in Maxx guise. Almost every SS has been a faster version of a perfectly practical vehicle.
But yeah, I'm sure a 260hp Small wagon at (most likely) a lower price point than any comparable vehicle is going to damage the brand. (end sarcasm).
Reply
aeprominant 10:23PM (6/06/2006)
I am 100% for all the SS vehicles, but come on, why are they fwd? I think it is cool that there is a SS Impala with 303 hp but who wants that to the front wheels?
Reply
Peter 10:50PM (6/06/2006)
The HHR is going to be refreshed soon? It just came out!
Reply
mikesright 11:19PM (6/06/2006)
Most everyone was complaining for a lack of balls on the HHR's part before, now it is "Brand Damaging" for them to do an SS? Of course, these are the same people who thought GM was nuts coming out with the HHR, GMT-900's, etc anyway, even though their blind goggles looked past Toyohondissan has been following and hunting those very same markets. Again, GM will be wildly successful and everyone here will look retarded.
#17, the HHR will be refreshed in '09 with the rest of Delta platform, and will get the new "chevy shield" treatment that harkens to the SS concept and was shown on an HHR at SEMA. It will be evolutionary, yet will provide an elegance to it.
Reply
naggs 12:45AM (6/07/2006)
it damages the SS image to make a ss HHR, fwd impala, and yes the trailblazer doesnt help. it used to be a hard core package for streetlegal drag cars. that is gone. GM views their image as something that needs to be used and spread over all their vehicles. the HHR ss is a bad idea for the same reason that calling the hi-po mini cooper the M cooper would be a bad idea. the difference is that BMW knows that its image is its most precious comodity and is its own reward, not a currency that you get to build up with ss camaros and spend with ss on everything else.
Reply