Will the Cobalt get a mid-cycle enhancement?
Chippin64, a member of the LayitLow.com forum, is down in Atlanta, GA right now for a Chevy Impala commercial shoot, the product of which will air around mid-February. Apparently Chippin64's ride, presumably a classic Impala, is being used in the commercial. While hanging around the set, however, he's been taking hundreds of pictures and posting them on the forum. We are particularly interested in one shot, which was caught by Josh Oliver over at TheGMSource.com. The lone pic shows a heavily modified Cobalt with a big rear wing, wide-body kit and, most importantly, a new front fascia that looks similar to the face of the 2008 Chevy Malibu introduced at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Who knows what this car is really for and why it is hanging out at a commercial shoot for the Chevy Impala, but can we just say the new grille looks great on the Cobalt? Because it does. It looks like the hood is also modified to fit flush with the new fascia, which means we doubt a tuner shop is responsible for this. It appears OEM all the way. The Cobalt has been showing strong sales lately, ending 2006 with 211,449 units sold, just good enough to be the 10th best-selling vehicle in the U.S. last year. Is a mid-cycle refresh being planned to bring the Cobalt's mug in line with the new corporate grille, or are we misinterpreting the tea leaves?
Thanks for the tip, Josh!
[Source: Layitlow.com via TheGMSource.com]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Italo 2:43PM (2/02/2007)
No, you're not mis-interpreting the tea leaves.
GM is slated to give the Cobalt (and the Pontiac G5) a significant MCE that will debut on the autoshow circuit (presumedly) later this year.
The look in your pick is similar to a few Cobalt show cars that were shown at SEMA over the past few years -- which also coincided with the look of a done up HHR and even a done up Malibu (current version). This is likely where GM is going with the product, but sans the overdone wheel-arches and body-kit as standard fare.
Take a look back at past SEMA shows for inspiration on where they are headed.
Reply
John P. 2:43PM (2/02/2007)
hmmmmm, this is the first use of that split grille that really works for me. I like this one.
Reply
Michael Karesh 2:43PM (2/02/2007)
I'd say the front end is likely from the factory, but not the body kit. Looks like an MCE car they gave to a tuner shop to have its way with.
Reply
Matt 2:48PM (2/02/2007)
I have an 06 Cobalt, and let me say "damnit!" That new mug is so pretty, it now makes me angry to have an "old" Cobalt because now I need to go buy the new one when these (presumeably) show up. :(
Reply
mkbruin 2:55PM (2/02/2007)
The front looks an aweful lot like the new Avenger to me...
Reply
SSBR 2:55PM (2/02/2007)
I am not a big fan of Cobalts, but I must say, that does look nicer then the currrent Cobalt. Chevy is really putting out all the stops to be a accord/civic fighter. All Chevy needs now is to apply that to the rest of the line up.
http://www.rolesor.com
Reply
JayP 3:00PM (2/02/2007)
Needs a SBC and rear drive... and some real tires in the back.
Reply
laserwizard 3:03PM (2/02/2007)
The Cobore is not in mid-cycle. It is due to be replaced - er - it would be if it were a Honda or Toyota.
This vehicle is an awful one. Cramped. Poorly made and doesn't sell anything like the Cavalier it replaced - even in the end of its lifespan (check the facts before crowing about the significance of 211,000 in sales!).
What Chevrolet will do to the Cobore is to tart it up and won't address its numerous flaws. But that is how GM is these days - all hot air and no substance.
What would be news is a brand new Cobore for 2008 with space, suspension, quality, and fuel efficiency deficiencies addressed in an all new body. Since this is not happening, all GM is doing is to the Cobore what Phyllis Diller has been doing for centuries - prolonging the inevitable.
Reply
dan spalinger 3:11PM (2/02/2007)
Who cares...its still a Cobalt....
Reply
srivendel 3:12PM (2/02/2007)
Would people please stop using the comments section to drive traffic to their personal websites? This problem has gotten much worse recently. The strategy seems to be: post some innocuous, slightly inane comment about the car in question, then list a link to your own little blog in an attempt to generate traffic. I'm sure Autoblog sells advertising or has a partner program. Please use normal advertising channels instead of generating useless comments spam.
Reply
MikeW 3:21PM (2/02/2007)
GM's 6t40?
Reply
Hondacura 3:19PM (2/02/2007)
Improve look but it's still a Cavalier from 1982.
Reply
Jay 3:27PM (2/02/2007)
I like it quite a bit. Now they just need to lop off about 300 pounds so it can be closer to where everyone else in the class is and get decent fuel economy numbers.
Reply
Seven 3:38PM (2/02/2007)
Agreed on the comment spam, autoblog needs to start banning these people, including the truedelta guy. I'm so sick of seeing links : (
Reply
Richard Warren 3:28PM (2/02/2007)
I'll take the 59 in the background.
Reply
Drewboy 3:28PM (2/02/2007)
I don't get what you guys are seeing, I think the car looks hideous. Its an even worse look than the Focus & 500 made to look like the Fusion.
Reply
cs 3:36PM (2/02/2007)
Once again, people, the Cobalt is a different car fromt the Cavalier, and better in every way. The only thing I can think of that carried over was the 2.2L Ecotec DOHC I4 (not to be confused with the 2.2L OHV I4), but that was only in the Cavalier's last few model years.
How high were Cavalier sales in the last few years? The Cobalt was the 10th bestselling car in 2006, IIRC. Regardless of sales, the Cobalt is still a much better car.
Reply
Corvette Commander 3:49PM (2/02/2007)
Jalopnik has the actual commercial:
http://jalopnik.com/cars/ad-watch/super-bowl-ad-watch-chevy-gives-corvette-racing-driver-johnny-oconnell-a-chance-to-be-an-idol-for-america-233573.php
Reply
DJ 4:12PM (2/02/2007)
If this is for real, it's further proof that Chairman Bob has really convinced the beancounters at GM that product life cycles need to be shorter than the 15 year ones they used to run.
Reply
Scott 4:05PM (2/02/2007)
Strip that godawful body kit off and the Cobalt may not look too bad. The current iteration does absolutely nothing for me.
Reply