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Review: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

The first-gen Cobalt SS failed to deliver with a supercharged 2.0L Ecotec four-cylinder producing 205 horsepower and a cast of supporting components that did little to hide the Cobalt's rental car roots. But then something entirely unexpected happened. The GM Performance Division completely reworked the Cobalt SS for 2008, swapping in a more powerful turbocharged engine, upgrading the rest of the mechanicals, and tweaking the entire package on the world's most demanding race tracks, including the famed Nürburgring in Germany. The result is – and we're not kidding here – ... Read More

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    NHTSA reportedly investigating Chevrolet Cobalt power steering failures
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    Proof that there are other automakers also under the scrutiny of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: The Chevrolet Cobalt is under federal investigation for steering-related safety issues. To date, the NHTSA has reported 1,132 consumer complaints about a sudden loss of power steering in 2005-09 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008-09 ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    GM recalling 53,000 Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5 models over fuel leak concern
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    General Motors may have shed itself of much of its pre-bankruptcy problems, but the automaker still has to tend to its warranty and recall duties. As such, GM is recalling 53,000 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion models for a potential fuel leak problem that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says could lead to a fire. The ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    REPORT: GM will no longer allow fleet buyers to skip out on side curtain airbags
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    Little known fact: fleet customers could receive a $145 discount by opting not to have side airbags in certain vehicles from General Motors. That doesn't sound like a lot of money, but when, for example, Enterprise Rent-A-Car purchased 66,000 Chevy Impalas sans curtains, the company saved nearly $10 million. It's not like omitting side curtain airbags is ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive
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    It comes as little surprise that two-door automobiles perform differently when crash tested than their four-door stablemates, particularly in side crashes. Due to the vastly different structural makeup of coupes versus sedans, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has decided to test both two- and four-door versions of automobiles for 2009, and the ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    Booo! GM also canceling Cobalt SS Sedan for 2010
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    OK, we can stand losing the Impala SS for the 2010 model year, but we've just learned that the grim reaper at General Motors is also claiming the Cobalt SS Sedan. The news comes straight from the automaker's 2010 Online Order / Reference Guide for dealers, and we may yet find more models destined for deletion as people dig deeper into this online ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    GM recall affects 277,000 models with shifter problem
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    Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park – even if the driver moves ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    GM cuts 1,100 staff at Lordstown plant to meet slowing demand
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    Less than 2 months ago the headline here was GM ramps up Cobalt production to meet demand. It's amazing how quickly things change in this crazy environment. Just months after adding a third shift at the Lordstown, OH assembly plant where the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 are built, on Friday GM gave 1,100 employees at the facility layoff notices. The ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    No GM minicars in U.S. for the time being
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    With sales of the smart going well and cars like the MINI flying off the showroom floor, you might expect the big automotive giants to want in on that action too. Perhaps they do, but it doesn't seem likely that General Motors will be entering that particular segment of the market anytime soon. So says Fritz Henderson, who would know as one of the men ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    Review: 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo
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    The first-gen Cobalt SS failed to deliver with a supercharged 2.0L Ecotec four-cylinder producing 205 horsepower and a cast of supporting components that did little to hide the Cobalt's rental car roots. But then something entirely unexpected happened. The GM Performance Division completely reworked the Cobalt SS for 2008, swapping in a more powerful ...

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    Chevrolet Cobalt
    GM cancels plans for weekend Cobalt OT production, not enough parts
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    In recent months virtually every major automaker has been turning up the wick on their factories that build small cars to try and keep up with soaring demand in one of the few growth segments in the U.S. market. At plants building the Ford Focus and Chevy Cobalt, overtime has been the order of the day. However, GM has had to cancel plans for two production ...

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