Autoblog

GM releases turbo upgrade kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS

Chris Shunk — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, GM, Pontiac, Saturn, Chery

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]

GM releases turbo upgrade kit for Solstice GXP, Sky Redline and HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

Continue reading Review: 2008 Chevy HHR SS

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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E85 as a performance fuel? Could be, according to General Motors

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Chevrolet, GM

Taking a short break from wrangling the new HHR SS around the track at the Bondurant School for High Performance Driving (see above -- that's me), we got a chance to speak with some of the engineers behind the SS series of vehicles, among others. We took that opportunity to ask whether or not GM has considered using the alcohol-based E85 fuel as a high performance option -- as opposed to just marketing E85 as a "green" fuel. Perhaps not too surprisingly, the idea has been considered at General Motors. E85 happens to have a very high octane rating. The fuel burns at a comparatively low temperature, meaning that additional power can be extracted from a given amount as compared to gasoline. Turbocharged vehicles offer an excellent opportunity to tap into that additional available power, so the fact that it was left off the HHR SS probably means that we're not likely to see that angle of the corny-fuel any time soon.

E85 as a performance fuel? Could be, according to General Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Chevrolet, First Drives

The General has been on a roll as of late with new vehicles like the Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS, Chevy Malibu and its line of redesigned trucks and SUVs that have been garnering good reviews and the attention of customers. We were invited to test drive the new Chevrolet HHR SS to see if they've knocked one out of the park, hit a foul or, ahem, missed the ball completely when transforming the little retro-mobile into a Super Sport. Our driving and vehicle impressions can be found after the jump, but for starters, remember these two key phrases: launch control and no-lift shifting. Intrigued? We were.

Gallery: 2008 Chevy HHR SS: First Drive

Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS

First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2007: Chevy HHR Panel SS delivers smiles at SEMA

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:27:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM

Click image for updated gallery of live and media pics of this mini panel van

Chevy had shown the HHR SS at the Woodward Dream Cruise, making dreams come true for a select few who wanted this retro people mover to haul more than just people and stuff. Then we saw Chevy show off a panel van version of the HHR and thought it too could use some SS love. To that GM said, "Here you go." Tonight in Vegas we saw one of those '09 Chevy HHR Panel SSes in all its windowless wonder. Although the red leather accents were a bit over the top for our liking, the mean stance and mechanical upgrades made it much more palatable. This particular example is a SEMA special, but the limited edition production model shouldn't stray too far from the template. The bar-less grille, polished metal accents, custom "suede" paint scheme with a panel graphic, and 20" wheels look great in person. Underhood is the same 2.0L DI turbo found in the HHR SS, although paired to an automatic transmission in this case. No word yet on whether or not the production version will be available with the five-speed manual.

Follow the jump for GM's official press release, and check out galleries of the HHR Panel SS production and show cars below.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: Chevy HHR Panel SS SEMA Edition

Continue reading SEMA 2007: Chevy HHR Panel SS delivers smiles at SEMA

SEMA 2007: Chevy HHR Panel SS delivers smiles at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The fans find ways: Cobalt SS Turbo info found on the web

Alex Nunez — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

With the cancellation of the Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged (above) for 2008 and the impending arrival of the turbocharged HHR SS, speculation was rampant that GM planned to take that 2.0L turbocharged, direct-injected Ecotec and drop it in the Cobalt's engine bay. As has been shown in the past, automakers can try to keep things under wraps, but their fans find ways of digging up info, especially when that info is squirreled away on the web, and GM Inside News has organized everything neatly for us.

First up at cobaltss.net is a copy of the SAE Power Certification for a 2008.5 Chevy Cobalt powered by GM's L850 LNF engine. This is the same motor used in the Saturn Sky Red Line, Pontiac Solstice GXP, and the aforementioned Chevy HHR SS. Also via cobaltss.net, we get a link to an official GM Planned Emission Certification doc that also lists a Cobalt with the 2.0L LNF engine (the planned certification is BIN5/LEV2, by the way). So, that's it. The writing on the wall says that a Turbo Cobalt is coming. And while we don't have anything to add, you might want to mosey back here very early Sunday morning. You know, in case anything new comes up.

[Source: GM Inside News, CobaltSS.net]

The fans find ways: Cobalt SS Turbo info found on the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Woodward: Live Reveal of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:11:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet

Click the photo for a high res gallery of the HHR SS unveiling

At the Athens Coney Island restaurant on Woodward Avenue yesterday afternoon, as "Maximum" Bob Lutz drove up in the star of the show, Chevy General Manager Ed Peper officially introduced us to the new HHR SS. In what was a fairly low-key affair in the parking lot of the diner, Peper welcomed Lutz, Richard Childress and a couple of guys who apparently make their living driving around in circles really fast.

Bob is almost always eminently quotable, but today's highlights were a really lame joke about an old song ( we'll spare you the details) and a jab at another limited-edition paint job on a the HHR's been widely accused of cloning. After the speeches and photography were done, we did have a chance to talk to Ed Peper for a few minutes and got some more details on the latest SS model from Chevrolet. You can check out the video of the interview and unveiling after the jump.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Gallery: 2008 Chevy HHR SS reveal

Continue reading VIDEO: Woodward: Live Reveal of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS

VIDEO: Woodward: Live Reveal of the 2008 Chevy HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:11:00 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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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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Chevy HHR SS acknowledged

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chevrolet

The Chevy HHR has been quite the sleeper hit for General Motors. Through September, 85,662 units of the High Heritage Roof retro wagon have been sold, with sales up over 14% so far this year over last. That still puts the HHR about 20,000 units behind its direct competitor, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but sales of that model are up only 5%. And General Motors is capitalizing on the HHR by introducing new variants for consumers to consider. The HHR Panel was recently announced for production, and what we've all come to expect, a high performance SS model, has been confirmed. Cheryl Catton, director of car marketing and retail integration for Chevy, told Automotive News at the South Florida International Auto Show that the HHR SS gives buyers, "one more option to think about when they walk in."

SS models in the General's portfolio are a curious lot that includes the Trailblazer SS, Impala SS, Monte Carlo SS, Malibu Maxx SS and Cobalt SS and SS Supercharged. Each offers performance above and beyond their more mainstream counterparts, though many believe affixing an SS badge to models that are four-fifths true performers has diluted the Super Sport moniker. Regardless, the HHR SS is expected to use the Pontiac Solstice GXP's direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 260 hp, which, along with extensive tuning in Germany on the Nurburgring, should add up to an interesting HHR, indeed.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. Required]

Chevy HHR SS acknowledged originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Chevy HHR SS

John Neff — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, Chevrolet

The production version of the high performance Chevy HHR SS is nearing completion, as these spy shots host over at Winding Road indicate. The black-and-white checkered tape job is but a formality and will soon enough be removed to reveal a deep front air dam that shields the intercooler required for the 2.0-liter turbo Ecotec underhood. While there's no confirmation this 260-hp powerplant will be the mill of choice for the HHR SS, it's an extremely likely candidate. The only other prominent body mods being made to the HHR for SS duty are running boards that create a sill between the front and rear fenders and much larger exhaust tip out back. These particular spy shots were snapped in Germany at the Nürburgring, where the HHR SS mule was about to take a few laps.

[Source: Winding Road]

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Spy Shots: Chevy HHR SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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