The Chevrolet Cobalt has become synonymous with the idea of a rental car. Given the abundance of the sedan and its price point, it was generally revered as a reliable A-to-B appliance, making it an easy choice for rental car duties.

However, the Chevrolet Cobalt range was far from populated by hum-drum models that barely stirred any excitement in the driver. The models with that duty were distinguished as the SS models, and among their ranks was a model that could match the lap time of one of BMW’s greatest M3 models.

Souped-Up Chevy

Five derivatives of the Chevrolet Cobalt were produced in the nameplate’s lifetime, from 2005 to 2010. Three different derivatives offered in this lineup were distinguished by their powertrains, with two featuring a forced induction system and the third powered by a naturally aspirated engine. These three models would become known as the Super Sport models. The first entry in this lineup was a supercharged coupe that debuted at the tail end of 2004. A year later, the naturally aspirated offshoot of the Chevy Cobalt SS, dubbed the 1SS, would be unveiled, sourcing its strength – about 171 hp – from the 2.4-liter, inline four-cylinder engine. This was the largest engine used by any of the SS models.

However, the model that matched the lap times of one of Bavaria’s greatest models was the turbocharged variant that debuted in the first half of 2008. The supercharged Cobalt SS relied on the General Motors LSJ variant of the Ecotec engine family, which was applied to every Chevy Cobalt model. The LSJ did not meet 2008 emissions requirements, so the turbocharged Chevrolet Cobalt SS was born. Chevrolet did away with the LSJ engine and introduced the LNF Ecotec, the second-generation version of the Ecotec engine. Mounted longitudinally, this engine featured a square bore and stroke – meaning the bore and stroke were the same – of 3.4 inches, a 9.2:1 compression ratio, a cam-driven direct fuel injection system, dual camshafts with variable valve timing, forged steel rotating assembly, and a twin-scroll turbocharger.

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The turbocharged model was the quickest option in the Cobalt SS range. It also employed features like a No-Lift Shift system that allowed the driver to maintain turbocharger boost pressure while rowing through the gears and a new Launch Control system. The improved performance compared to the naturally aspirated and supercharged models would allow the turbocharged Chevrolet Cobalt SS to set a new record for the front-wheel-drive sports compact class, which the Opel Astra OPC had previously held.

‘Ring Time

Eight minutes and a hair over twenty-two seconds allowed the Cobalt SS to cinch the title of the quickest front-wheel-drive sports compact car at the hallowed Nürburgring. The Chevrolet Cobalt SS does not wear its performance capabilities on its sleeve. It lacks hood scoops, flared wheel arches, and several boisterous aerodynamic elements strewn across its physique, although it does have a rear wing that eclipses the Cobalt’s rear. To deal with the 170 turns culminating in the famed circuit, the Cobalt SS relies on an FE5 sport suspension system and several revisions to its chassis to improve its handling characteristics.

Chevrolet’s efforts to improve the Cobalt SS’s performance allowed the FWD sedan to match the lap time of the venerated BMW E46 M3. Debuting in 2000 and carrying on the M3 legacy of the E36 M3, this sultry model is considered an example of a quintessential sports car, sourcing its grunt from the S52B32 six-cylinder engine. In its base configuration, this iteration of the BMW M3 would be capable of lapping the Nürburgring in eight minutes and twenty-two seconds flat.

The two models are completely different offerings, but they share the common theme of being performance-focused models. The E46 M3 has a larger engine featuring more cylinders, more displacement, and a higher power output. Looking at on-paper performance, the Bavarian coupe has a better list of performance metrics, from top speed to 0-60 mph sprints. Also, the E46 M3 was built from the ground up as a sports car with a more extensive effort to achieve the most performance from its engine and chassis.

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Comparing Apples To Apples

Although the Chevrolet Cobalt SS matches the time set by the BMW E46 M3, the M3 debuted eight years before the turbocharged Cobalt SS. If we were to compare the Cobalt SS to an M3 that debuted in the same period, the Cobalt wouldn’t be able to match the M3. A year before introducing the turbocharged Cobalt SS, BMW had already laid the E46 M3 to rest and introduced its successor, the BMW E92 M3.

The BMW E92 M3 had forgone the formula of a rev-happy six-cylinder in favor of an equally rev-happy 4.0-liter V8 engine that produced 414 hp and 296 lb-ft, which allowed the 3,704 lb sedan configuration to sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds when equipped with a dual-clutch transmission. The BMW E92 M3 lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in eight minutes and five seconds, a second quicker than the BMW E60 M5 and on par with the BMW F10 M5.

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Unsurprisingly, the BMW E92 M3 has a quicker lap time around the famed German circuit. A significant reason for this is the disparity in power outputs and chassis dynamics, which, like the E46 M3, was construed from the start as a high-performance machine. Regardless of the difference in power and performance when comparing the BMW E92 M3 to the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Chevy’s sports compact car is a commendable venture into the late 2000s performance segment.

Impressive Nonetheless

The Chevrolet Cobalt SS’ level of performance drawn from a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine is commendable. Pairing that with a slew of chassis enhancements and revisions, the SS model has the best performance in its model range. What makes its performance even more commendable is the Cobalt SS was the American automaker’s first and one of its most notable entries into the tuning sector, which, to this day, is an appealing offering for tuners because of the supercharged LSJ and turbocharged LNF four-cylinder engine’s performance potential.

In retrospect, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS is one of the most noteworthy front-wheel-drive sports cars of the 2000s and a noteworthy offering in the automaker’s history.

Sources:
Chevrolet