click above for high-res gallery of the E85 Chevy HHR
Apparently, the movement toward smaller cars in the US market also includes the Chevrolet HHR. According to GM, HHR sales jumped 73% last month compared to 2007 with a total of 9,650 being shipped out the door. At the Chicago Auto Show today, the automaker announced further enhancements to the retro wagon for the 2009 model year. The smaller 2.2L four cylinder will inherit the variable valve timing that's already installed on the optional 2.4L engine. To celebrate the improved sales, both engines will also be able to drink ethanol as well. The HHR will be the first American-market GM model to have a flex-fuel four cylinder engine, something that Saabs have offered for several years now.
[Source: General Motors]
BREAKING: GM and Chrysler talking about merger
Spy Shots: Nissan 370Z again, with interior shots
2010 Mazda3 unveiled ahead of LA Auto Show
Spy Shots: Nissan 370Z caught undisguised
GM on Corvette ZR1 cancellation rumor: "Not true."
Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 3
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3, return of the "hummer"
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
Paris 2008: Le Day 1 Wrapup
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MikeW @ Feb 6th 2008 12:10PM
6 speed automatic yet?
geo.stewart @ Feb 6th 2008 12:10PM
so, can you retrofit to run E85? what's the diff between a non E85 and an e85 capable?
I have the HHR with the 2.4 and its the one thing I didnt like was not being e85 capable
Seoultrain @ Feb 6th 2008 12:18PM
The difference, IIRC, is a bunch of components, mainly in the fuel line, are corrosion resistant. A regular car can run on E85, but the issue is the corrosive nature of ethanol. Not sure about retrofitting.
btw, don't do it unless you have many E85 stations around you and want to switch to ethanol full-time (involving a lot of engine mods to take full advantage of hi-octane ethanol). Flex-fuel (being able to use both) is a mistake.
Eric77TA @ Feb 6th 2008 12:15PM
It probably wouldn't be worth it to convert a regular gas engine to E85.
As with everything nowadays, it seems, there is a Wikipedia article on this here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85_in_standard_engines
Seoultrain @ Feb 6th 2008 12:20PM
if they really wanna celebrate, they should hand out cups of E100 and party.
mike @ Feb 6th 2008 12:25PM
Why make cars FLEX FUEL, if everyone knows that ethanol is avaliable only in very very very few places.
Alex Nunez @ Feb 6th 2008 12:49PM
CAFE. They get fuel economy credits. The flexfuel versions are rated at higher fuel economy than the gas counterparts.
Eric77TA @ Feb 6th 2008 12:26PM
Automakers get EPA credits for making E85 capable vehicles, even if they never see a drop of E85.
sydbot @ Feb 6th 2008 12:51PM
So is this the chicken or the egg?
Did you happen to get the specs on the new 2.2L? And can it be assumed that the Cobalt gets this engine too?
geo.stewart @ Feb 6th 2008 12:52PM
seoultrain,
thanks for the info. based on your notes, its a non-issue at this point for me. good to know about the mixing though if/when e85 seeps to this part of the country.
DKB_SATX @ Feb 6th 2008 12:52PM
You know it's a sad market when the best people can find in the small practical car market is a humpbacked Cobalt trying to be a '49 Suburban.
geo.stewart @ Feb 6th 2008 12:54PM
eric77,
thanks also
cant wait for replies to work again....
fsx @ Feb 6th 2008 1:05PM
"Apparently, the movement toward smaller cars in the US market also includes the Chevrolet HHR."
When you consider this to be a "smaller car", your country has a problem.
Mr. Oak @ Feb 6th 2008 1:51PM
fsx: folks like you get my drawers in a knot. This is a small car by US standards. Live with it. We here, do not drive the little sardine cans that you drive. It is only a problem in your small mind.
blogged to death @ Feb 6th 2008 1:08PM
Cobalt sales also increased? My bet is on fleet sales were the cause.
Mr. Oak @ Feb 6th 2008 1:57PM
I'm sure some Cobalts are doing rental duty. However, sometime within the last 18 months, these things seems to have caught on as an entry level car. Both the sedan and the coupe are moving, and not just to rental lots.
ma7mgte @ Feb 6th 2008 1:17PM
When you consider this to be a "smaller car", your country has a problem.
The HHR is a small people mover. What's wrong with that?
John @ Feb 6th 2008 1:22PM
Wouldn't E85 be great in the turbo SS? I bet it could run higher boost.
YouFaceTheTick @ Feb 6th 2008 1:42PM
Loser Cruiser II, named in honor of the original Loser Cruiser, the PT.
YouFaceTheTick @ Feb 6th 2008 1:43PM
Yep, the HHR litters rental lots like fleas on a dog. Show up late at night to a rental place and they seem to only have HHRs and Cobalts in the parking lot.