Spy Photos: 2008 Chevy HHR SS
by John Neff on Apr 24th 2007 at 6:59PM 
We've shown you spy shots of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS in the past, however these pics are the first showing the vehicle completely uncamouflaged. The high-performance version of the High Heritage Roof can be identified by its larger wheels with five twin spokes wearing 225/45R18 rubber, a deeper front grille concealing an intercooler and a big old tailpipe peeking out from under the rear valance. There's also a discrete spoiler balanced on top of the rear hatch. The 2008 HHR SS will be powered by the same 260-hp, turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec four-cylinder used in the Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line. The Straighline Blog notes, however, that the brakes on this test mule appear to be no larger than the stock discs. The only pieces of camo this mule is wearing are a few pieces of black tape that do a poor job of obscuring the "SS" badge aft of the front fenders. With 260 hp on tap, the SS version of the HHR should be able to do the revered SS name proud. Hopefully it will also be available for a reasonable price, perhaps replacing the Cobalt SS Supercharged as Chevy's best Bang for the Buck.
[Source: Straighline Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Blake 7:09PM (4/24/2007)
What ever happened to Chevy's plan to limit the SS badge to models that deserve it?
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nastinupe 7:14PM (4/24/2007)
maybe this car deserves it lol. I'm still waiting for the Chevy Aveo SS
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HotRodzNKustoms 7:16PM (4/24/2007)
Man if ony I was in the market right now. This should be an awesome practical rocket. It should sell like crazy.
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CR 7:36PM (4/24/2007)
This is junk...oh and the Aveo with a 2.0 supercharged ecotec would be cool, though not branded SS but sport.
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DriftPunch 7:26PM (4/24/2007)
For a little perspective, my 1988 corvette had a claimed 245 horsepower. People, especially the younger crowd, don't 'get' how much better cars are today. This HHR will likely be able to perform on par with all but the most extreme musclecars of the 'golden era' of musclecars, including those wearing SS badges. And, it won't be a POS!
These are truely the golden years of cars!
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Nick 7:29PM (4/24/2007)
They should have just dropped that engine into the Cobalt and scrapped the supercharger.
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NoNameDenton 7:36PM (4/24/2007)
#5 Many in the automotive press have speculated that the Cobalt will get a turbocharged engine for the next version of the SS
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The Penguin 7:41PM (4/24/2007)
Maybe now the Hardly a Hot Rod can finally live up to what it was originally intended to be.
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Driver X 7:57PM (4/24/2007)
Too Bad this car wasn't the size of a Malibu or Impala. It would have made a great family hauler and the fuel economy would have been the same as it is now. I am a GM guy but they need innovation instead of imitation? If the new Riviera Concept is the sign of things to come they have a chance but this beating a dead horse over and over is getting old. The new Camaro is going to be an antique by the time they get it to market. I don't why they insist on promoting a car 3 years before it goes on the market? They can't even accept reality. They are looking at the pipe dream down the road.
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Blake 8:19PM (4/24/2007)
@ 5 - That was the rumor for a while, I have the cobalt ss s/c. They're makin roughly the same hp anyways and dont go any faster in the 1/4 stock. I do like the sound / modability of a turbo more, though.
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Nick 8:54PM (4/24/2007)
Same HP? The Cobalt S/C makes 205 hosepower, and 200 lb-ft of torque. Compare that to the turbocharged engine that's going in this thing (the same one that's in the Sky RL and Sol GXP), which has 260/260.
55/60 is quite a significant difference.
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motorman 9:54PM (4/24/2007)
remember these T/C engines take premium gasoline at a higher price so these engines will never be std.
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Barney 9:55PM (4/24/2007)
I like the HHR but still can't adjust to the front wheels burning rubber. That is an incredable amount of power from a four banger. Torque steer?
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NoNameDenton 9:59PM (4/24/2007)
#11 has it correct, you would have to be illiterate to think that supercharged engine has near the same hp and torque as the turbo. Though if the turbo engine does go into the Cobalt, I suspect it will be detuned a bit since it is going into a front wheel drive application, unless they do what Mazda did for the Mazdaspeed 3 (we had 3 when I sold Mazdas and they were great cars and fast sellers). Though the numbers the turbo lays down in a Cobalt SS would be far ahead of the supercharged version.
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Kevin 9:09AM (6/06/2007)
actually, most STOCK supercharged cobalts put down between 215-220 horsepower to the WHEELS. they are very underrated.
NoNameDenton 10:00PM (4/24/2007)
#13 It is more then likely detuned for the Chevy
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Jorge 10:09PM (4/24/2007)
I think this won't be called the HHR SS, see how the Equinox has the Sport badge instead of the SS moniker?
I'm pretty sure it will be "HHR Sport".
Now what about that WTCC inspired Cobalt GM?
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traderjoe 10:42AM (4/25/2007)
What an ugly POS. Someone actually buy these cars?
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Mandy 11:50PM (4/24/2007)
A good looking car from the spy shots, and it will get 260hp out of a four cylinder? If it is light enough to use standard brakes, it must be fast on it's light feet.
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naggs 12:23AM (4/25/2007)
hopefully they will come to their collective senses and take the SS badge off before it hits showroom floors. nothing wrong with a HHR sport.
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