Autoblog

Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

John Neff — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Minivan/Van, Chevrolet

2008 Chevy HHR SS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our first experience with the Chevy HHR was back in 2006 when we rented one in Los Angeles while covering the 2006 L.A. Auto Show. Being a fleet vehicle, our HHR rental failed to impress with its raspy, underpowered Ecotec four-cylinder and cheap interior materials. The HHR does, however, have a way about itself. Its retro-inspired design is just plain good looking, better than the PT Cruiser to which this vehicle is most often compared (they were both designed by Brian Nesibtt, GM's current Executive Director of its European design center), and its outward attractiveness shows even on bare bones rental units like the one we abused in L.A.

The 2008 Chevy HHR SS would seem to be the HHR we always wanted, with more power, an upgraded interior, aggressive tweaks to the exterior and the same two-box shape and clever cargo solutions that make the base model popular. But with the market for new car sales in the U.S. as soft as it is, should Chevy be spending its time making a high-horsepower, better handling SS version of a vehicle like the HHR? Read on to find out if their effort was worth it.

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Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Woodward! Chevy debuts 2008 HHR SS

John Neff — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:53:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Chevrolet, Misc. Auto Shows

The Woodward Dream Cruise is right around the corner on this Saturday, but Chevy is arriving early with its 2008 HHR SS model that's just been revealed. Of course, we knew an SS version of the HHR was percolating thanks to countless spy photos of development mules testing here and on the Nurburgring in Germany. Nevertheless, 260 horsepower in a tall wagon is pretty exciting, especially one that goes 0-60 in 6.3 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds at 98.5 mph.

Those ponies come from the same 2.0L turbocharged and intercooled direct inject Ecotec four-cylinder found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline. Here it's mated to a GM Powertrain Sweden F35 five-speed manual transmission or 4T45 four-speed, the latter of which would be heresy to consider unless you fancy yourself a weenie. The FE5 sport suspension, as alluded to above, was tuned on the Ring in Germany and enables the HHR SS to achieve an impressive .86 g. Those 18-inch polished aluminum wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport P225/45R18 tires probably help, too.

The aero bits added do much to convince us the SS can hustle, and include new front and rear fascias, rocker moldings, body-colored bits, mesh grille and SS badging all over. Inside resides a pair of deep bucket sport seats with substantial bolsters, a boost gauge mounted on the A-pillar, smaller diameter steering wheel and a manual shifter mounted higher and farther forward.
Check out Chevy's many press releases on the 2008 HHR SS after the jump, and view 24 high-res pics of the vehicle in the gallery below.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

Continue reading Happy Woodward! Chevy debuts 2008 HHR SS

Happy Woodward! Chevy debuts 2008 HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy HHR SS will offer automatic transmission

Alex Nunez — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Wagon, Crossover, Chevrolet

Click image for a gallery of leaked HHR SS info

A member of ChevyHHR.net dropped us a line to let us know that his local Chevy dealer had gotten some 2008 Chevy HHRs yesterday. One of his first orders of business was to grab the new owners manual and start flipping through the pages. His perusal bore fruit, as on page 2-47, he found the following passage in the "Cupholder(s)" section (shown at right):

"If your vehicle is an SS model, the automatic transmission vehicles have a cupholder in front of the shifter."

This serves as the first official-ish confirmation (Chevy has not yet made any formal announcements related to the HHR SS) that the 2008 HHR SS will be offered with an automatic in addition to the 5-speed manual that's referenced in the brochure that was leaked earlier in the month. The next question, of course, is which automatic will be offered?

Thanks, Ryan!

[Source: ChevyHHR.net (registration req'd)]

Chevy HHR SS will offer automatic transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Chevy HHR SS brochure leaked!

Alex Nunez — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

Click image for enlargement and one additional scan

Yesterday saw the posting of the complete Porsche 911 GT2 Brochure on the web, making the automaker's official introduction og the car a formality. Today over at ChevyHHR.net, one of the forum members posted a brochure scan showing the 2008 Chevy HHR SS in its full glory for the first time. The topic of the HHR SS has been somewhat controversial, with some readers (and Autobloggers, for that matter) expressing concern that it's going to represent a further dilution of the SS moniker. Back in January at the Detroit Auto Show, however, we were assured by Chevy general manager Ed Peper that the Bowtie division would only apply "SS" to truly worthy vehicles going forward (hence the appearance of the 3.6 V6-powered Equinox Sport and not Equinox SS).

Follow the jump for more. Thanks to Josh for the tip!

[Source: ChevyHHR.net]

Gallery: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

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2008 Chevy HHR SS brochure leaked! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Photos: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

John Neff — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, Chevrolet

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]

Spy Photos: 2008 Chevy HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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