GM releases turbo upgrade kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS
The Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline, and Chevrolet HHR SS are plenty of fun with 260 horsepower underfoot, and we can only imagine that the joy quotient increases as power improves. General Motors' performance division knows as much, and it's now offering an LNF Turbo Upgrade kit to kick its 2.0L turbo direct injection engine into gear. The kit consists of a new engine calibration and MAP sensors that will push your turbo four to 290 horsepower and up to 340 lb-ft of torque with the six-speed manual transmission (315 - 325 lb-ft with a slush box). The new factory turbo kit also keeps the precious warranty intact, which is a huge bonus over other aftermarket setups.The LNF Turbo Upgrade also gives the GXP, Redline and SS the same "no-lift shift" functionality as the Cobalt SS Turbo, which enables you to shift without taking your foot off the accelerator. The kit also bumps the redline by 200 to 6500, but the hulkified 2.0L engine will now demand premium fuel to deliver its increased power delivery. The General is also working on a similar upgrade kit for the Cobalt SS, and it should arrive at your local Chevy dealer during Q1 2009. The LNF turbo kit delivers some added pop to three already fun vehicles, and it can be purchased at a GM dealer for $650. Is it worth the extra coin? It's up to you, but we're guessing it couldn't hurt. You can check out assembly instructions for the LNF Turbo Upgrade kit here.
Gallery: Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS
[Source: GM Blogs]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Corey 11:37AM (12/18/2008)
I'm slightly impressed... Not much power added, but interesting none the less.
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John 1:02PM (12/18/2008)
Not much power? Tell me sir, does $650 get you 30HP / 80TQ out of your MX-5 or Civic Si with full warranty?
Please enlighten me.
Bungle 1:45PM (12/18/2008)
No kidding. That's a pretty spectacular value - you'd be hard-pressed to get those results out of a couple grand's worth of plumbing upgrades, and this retains the warranty, no less.
Travis 11:37AM (12/18/2008)
Whoa. Offering what is almost a "factory chip" for only $650 and boosting the power of the 2.0l turbo to almost 300hp? Although I'm confused as to why the Cobalt SS isn't offered at the same time, since I thought that they were identical engines.
That GXP coupe is sounding quite tempting...
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zamafir 12:01PM (12/18/2008)
Yup, it's actually pretty cool, esp for a company attempting not to fail. Selling current customers a chip for $600 and backing it up should help bring some cash in, not a huge amount mind you, but anything's going to help.
Adam Marcello 12:48PM (12/18/2008)
From what i understand the cobalt intake needs to be redesigned for the increased flow requirements.
James 2:30PM (12/18/2008)
You are correct the Cobalt SS DOES have the exact same engine as the Sky/Solstice Redline/GXP models. This is pretty sweet, now the Evo fanboys will really be hurting. BoneheadOtto, all performance engines require premium.
Travis 4:40PM (12/18/2008)
as a follow up to my original post:
Ok GM, now that you have this rip-roaring engine that's putting out almost 300hp out of a 2.0t engine, PUT IT IN SOMETHING I WOULD DRIVE!!! Please please PLEASE put this in a hot hatch, and not some 1940s throwback nostalgia-machine. Pretty please? A cheaper, no-thrills Solstice coupe? A FWD 2+2 hatchback? The Saturn Astra?? Something that doesn't look like a car my grandparents bought?
Scott 11:43AM (12/18/2008)
As far as $/hp is concerned, this seems like a very good value.
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mmstowes 11:45AM (12/18/2008)
Most certainly worth it right now with gas prices as low as they are, but when they creep back up, is completely up to the owner. Even if you really didn't want it, it's $650 and still keeps the warranty intact. That alone is reason enough for a Solstice/Sky owner to get it. Dunno about the HHR though. If only the emperor had new clothes to match the bite...
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Anand 12:19PM (12/18/2008)
More power doesn't always equal to worse fuel economy. One of the ways tuners extract more power is by leaning out the air/fuel mixture which both increases power and decreases fuel use. My mildly modified WRX gets better gas mileage now than it ever did in completely stock form, despite generating about 40 more WHP.
mmstowes 1:02PM (12/18/2008)
@ Anand,
I wasn't referring to fuel economy. I was referring to the price difference between regular fuel and premium fuel since upgrading requires going from regular to premium fuel. When the price of fuel goes back up, depending on the actual spread between regular and premium, the requirement may or may not be justifiable to the owner. It really depends on his or her priorities. I'm just saying, right now, with the cost of fuel as low as it is for the foreseeable future, it's most certainly worth the upgrade.
virtualkuz 1:23PM (12/18/2008)
@ Anand
The premium fuel requirement is almost a moot point. As the run up to near $5 gas this summer showed, the grade differences stay at $x, $x+.10, and $x+.20. In fact, with gas prices as low as they are now, it is actually a disincentive to get this upgrade because the % increase in cost over regular gas is more at $1.99 vs $1.79 than it is at $3.99 vs $4.19.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:36PM (12/18/2008)
The Solstice GXP/Sky Redline have always specified premium. The Cobalt and HHR SS do not.
I believe the HHR SS already had no-lift shift too.
To think a tuner can safely lean out the fuel mixture in a way the manufacturer didn't is ridiculous. If it is done (and it is), you can be sure you're taking a risk of heat problems. Especially on a Subaru, where the problems occur even on stock tune on certain models!
Anand 1:55PM (12/18/2008)
@ virtualkuz
I guess that was directed at mmstowes and not me :) Regardless, I was going to say the same thing. The additional price of plus and premium are usually a relatively fixed number of cents above the cost of regular rather than a percentage. When gas was $1.00, it was $1.20 for premium. When it was $2.00, it was $2.20 for premium. So if you're going through 10 gallons a week, you're paying an extra $2.00 per week for premium either way. Unless you're really cutting it close financially to begin with, the extra cost of premium isn't a big deal. If are cutting it that close, then you probably shouldn't be buying a convertible to begin with :)
mmstowes 2:00PM (12/18/2008)
@ virtualkuz,
I think you meant that for me. Yeah, but the average consumer standing at that pump won't do the math between how much they're saving now versus how much they're saving at whatever point in the future. All they'll see is regular gas at $x.xx and premium gas at $x.xx, knowing they used to need regular and now need premium (I guess this only applies to the LNF HHR and Cobalt though as it was pointed out the LNF Solstice/Sky take premium). I dunno. People just aren't that bright. Look at the folks going BACK to full-sized vehicles now that gas prices are (temporarily) lower.
BoneHeadOtto 2:12PM (12/18/2008)
The non upgraded turbo requires premium. In fact to my knowledge, all turbos require premium due to the high boost. Its like having an artificially high compression ratio. I would never run a turbo on anything but premium and i dont think they can be.
Taylor. Yes, Taylor. 3:45PM (12/18/2008)
@BoneHeadOtto
Actually the Sky Redline only requires 87 octane, as opposed to 91 (premium), according to GM. I have 8000 miles on my Sky and I've never put premium in it. Having just bought the car I've been appreciating the gas cost savings. It's not much, but I'm still trying to sell my other car, so things are kinda tight right now.
I am SO buying this kit once i sell my other car tho!
-Taylor
BoneHeadOtto 4:10PM (12/18/2008)
@Tyler i mean Taylor Yes Taylor
That is cool if the car can be run on 87. I bet the computer retard the ignition though and you get less power. From everything i know about a turbo from an engineering standpoint, you cannot get the same hp from lower octane, unless your boost levels are real low. But this GM engine has relatively high boost levels so i imagine on 87 octane boost and power are reduced. I would be curious to find out the real facts on that.
Huh and according to Fueleconomy.gov, premium is required for all models with that engine. I would think that if premium were not requred then they would have had to test the engine with regular.
montoym 3:55AM (12/23/2008)
Quote from BoneheadOtto: -
"Huh and according to Fueleconomy.gov, premium is required for all models with that engine. I would think that if premium were not requred then they would have had to test the engine with regular." -
You apparently didn't research all the models with that engine. More versions actually use regular than use premium.
The automatic version of the Solstice GXP says regular gasoline, both versions of the HHR SS(auto and stick) state regular gasoline, the Cobalt SS uses regular gasoline, also the automatic version of the Saturn Sky Red Line also uses regular gasoline.
Honestly, I'm more confused by why only the manual versions of the Solstice and Sky require premium, there is no difference in the engine tune that I'm aware of.
I'm also assuming you are not an engineer since your engineering analysis regarding turbos is incorrect(or at least outdated). Direct Injection does wonders for a turbo charged engine. The timing(and atomization) of the injection pulse(s) actually cool the intake charge allowing for more agressive tuning similar to what you would achieve with a higher octane fuel without DI.
It also allows for higher compression ratios than would normally be possible with a turbo-charged engine. The GM 2.0L DI Turbo has a compression ratio of 9.2:1. The 2.0L DI Turbo engine found in many VW and Audi vehicles utilizes a 10.5:1 ratio.