Chevy HHR SS acknowledged
The Chevy HHR has been quite the sleeper hit for General Motors. Through September, 85,662 units of the High Heritage Roof retro wagon have been sold, with sales up over 14% so far this year over last. That still puts the HHR about 20,000 units behind its direct competitor, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but sales of that model are up only 5%. And General Motors is capitalizing on the HHR by introducing new variants for consumers to consider. The HHR Panel was recently announced for production, and what we've all come to expect, a high performance SS model, has been confirmed. Cheryl Catton, director of car marketing and retail integration for Chevy, told Automotive News at the South Florida International Auto Show that the HHR SS gives buyers, "one more option to think about when they walk in." SS models in the General's portfolio are a curious lot that includes the Trailblazer SS, Impala SS, Monte Carlo SS, Malibu Maxx SS and Cobalt SS and SS Supercharged. Each offers performance above and beyond their more mainstream counterparts, though many believe affixing an SS badge to models that are four-fifths true performers has diluted the Super Sport moniker. Regardless, the HHR SS is expected to use the Pontiac Solstice GXP's direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 260 hp, which, along with extensive tuning in Germany on the Nurburgring, should add up to an interesting HHR, indeed.
[Source: Automotive News – sub. Required]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tbss_in_the_D 12:46PM (10/23/2006)
I love my TBSS...I wish they could shoe horn the 3.6 with the 6 speed in their.
Reply
slicecom 12:47PM (10/23/2006)
I never really warmed up to the styling of the Chevrolet PT Cruiser.
Reply
Howard Kerr 1:13PM (10/23/2006)
"....but sales of that model are up only 5%..."
Gee, not bad for a car(?) that has been on the market for 6 going on 7 years, without a substantial redesign.
An HHR at the Nurburgring....hope they get pix of that.
Reply
Drewboy 1:38PM (10/23/2006)
I quite like the appearance of both the PT & HHR. The same guy designed both, correct? I'd be interested in knowing how many buyers cross-shopped and ended up in a PT Turbo because of the higher performance that is unavailable in the HHR. Sales numbers for the PT by engine & transmission would be interesting.
Reply
Fabulo 1:53PM (10/23/2006)
Aveo SS and the circle is complete.
Reply
Phelix 2:44PM (10/23/2006)
GM has put a lot of effort into showing off the aftermarket potential of the HHR from the beginning, so a high-performance variant isn't surprising. With that engine, though, they might want to change the designation from SS to TS, as in Torque Steer. I hope they pull it off, though. It's a nice car.
Reply
JW 3:30PM (10/23/2006)
Well the folks at Chrysler are going to have to make a PT SRT4 to up their horsepower, which is 30hp less than the Solstice. It will be good competition. I would still take the PT over the HHR simply because I liked the SRT4 Neon when it existed (seemed pretty popular in St. Louis) and the same engine that was in the SRT4 is also in the GT PT.
Reply
That One Person 4:31PM (10/23/2006)
I like the HHR more than the PT Cruiser. The HHR has less of the soccer mom look and feel to it.
But what would be interesting is if they made the HHR RWD and put the Turbo four in there. If not, AWD would really be nice...
Reply
Russell 5:58PM (10/23/2006)
Should I take this as confirmation that the '08 Cobalt SS will trade it's supercharger for a turbo?
Reply
Bob 7:07PM (10/23/2006)
Hopefully GM will give the HHR the horsepower kick it so desparately needs. I have an '06 PT GT Convertible, which is a great car with impressive power!
Reply
Edmond Dantes 9:53PM (10/23/2006)
Also in the works is a Chevy Uplander SS.
Reply
Andy 11:24PM (10/23/2006)
I had a hard time accepting the HHR as nothing more than a late rip-off of the PT Cruiser. Seeing as how unimpressive the previous SS offerings have been from Chevy, I don't expect much from the HHR. I'll take a Solstice GXP or an Aura Red Line instead.
Reply
MikeW 1:20AM (10/24/2006)
Will the crappy 2.2 be dropped?
Will a 6 speed automatic be coupled to the 2.4?
Reply
Dave 9:23PM (10/25/2006)
An to think that I just bought a PT GT. GRR...
I need a HHR SS Panel. We all know that DCX showed us a PT Panel an never made it. Had GM said that the HHR Panel was on it's way I would have not bought the GT.
Reply
roadside observer 8:23AM (10/25/2006)
Memo to GM:
Equip the HHR SS with standard AWD and you'll have a winner.
Reply
MikeW 1:32PM (10/25/2006)
Not likely with the integral trailing arms, but possible.
Reply
Felix 10:21AM (10/29/2006)
I've own a BLUE HHR for a year now [2.4 auto LT]. I still like the way the car looks and by all means, bring on some much needed power. I recently added the cold air intake from power systems and a rear torsion bar to help with handling, [SoCal.Com]. Lowering the HHR In NY city is not good for a daily driver, the front suspension bangs hard on bumpy roads, poor damping in a so called tune suspension. So bring on the HHR SS chevy. Lets kick some mopar ass.
Reply
Eric 1:56PM (11/01/2006)
I love my TBSS as well and would love an HHR SS to go with it. DI Tubro 2.0L Ecotec. I can't wait!
Reply