General Motors Says Cobalt Will Move Chevrolet Small Cars Upmarket

Photos

The Cobalt is going to be playing a more upscale role for GM, as an "exciting premium small car." (Photo: General Motors)

The Cobalt will sit on the Delta architecture, which is a much better chassis than under any previous small car from GM. (Photo: General Motors)

"The sedan offers sophisticated appearance coupled with a higher seating position for a more commanding view of the road." (Photo: General Motors)

The Cobalt will have several wheel choices, starting with standard 15-inch wheels and going on to optional 16-inch, 17-inch, and 18-inch wheels. (Photo: General Motors)

"The high level of refinement is apparent in the quality of materials, appointments and styling cues used throughout the cabin." (Photo: General Motors)

With the Cobalt, GM believes theyve engineered a small car with a truly premium feel. (Photo: General Motors)

Canada-Only Pursuit Will Likely Be Cobalt Clone with Pontiac Styling

DETROIT: The tendency with regard to the Chevrolet Cobalt will be to consider it a replacement for the Cavalier.

That would be wrong, however, as Cobalt is going to be playing a more upscale role for GM, as an “exciting premium small car” when it shows up in dealerships in the fall of 2004 as a 2005 model.

The roles of the low-cost entry-level vehicles in GM of Canadas lineup are now being played by a group of Korean-created models including Chevrolet Aveo and Optra and soon, I am reliably informed, a unit or two bearing the Pontiac badge.

With Pontiac and its Pursuit model, very little is known, as it is a Canada-only product and the folks in Oshawa are keeping quiet about it. Specific details on Pursuit wont likely be known for some time, but we can be sure that in all mechanical measures the Pursuit will be virtually identical to the Cobalt, since this segment is huge in Canada and GM wants to have a good shot at it.

So dedicated was GM to making Cobalt (and Pursuit) a success that it re-structured its car creation process to create them, making it leaner and faster. Now all of the companys new programs work the same way, so it takes less time to get product to market.

First off, Cobalt will sit on the Delta architecture, which is a much better chassis than any previous small car from GM. Its much more solid than you normally see in the small car category, and solidity is an excellent starting point for any kind of vehicle.

According to Lori Queen, GMs vehicle line executive for small cars, Cobalt and Pursuit were “created to deliver a driving experience not expected in the small car segment. These models achieve a new level of small car refinement, quality and performance,” she said. “With their great looks and outstanding performance, Cobalt and Pursuit will be just plain fun to drive.”

In general, Queen said, that means “a diverse selection of expressive body styles, refined interiors, race-inspired Ecotec four-cylinder engines, smooth-shifting transmissions, precision-tuned suspensions and dynamic wheels.”

The Cobalt will come in sedan and coupe body styles, in a variety of body trim levels. Altogether eight trim levels will be available for Cobalt, with the sedan in base, LS, LT and SS, and the coupe in base, LS, SS and SS Supercharged.

Each distinct model will include a specific interior, powertrain, suspension and wheels, Queen explained, as well as a long list of standard and available features. Queen said pricing will be announced in late summer of 2004.

Though Queen was unable to go into details about the Canada-only Pursuit, she spoke widely about the Cobalt. “The sedan offers sophisticated appearance coupled with a higher seating position for a more commanding view of the road,” she explained. “For the coupe, Chevrolet builds on the identity of North Americas most aspirational sport coupe, the Corvette.”

No matter what you think of the Cobalts exterior body parts, Queen thinks youre likely to be impressed with the way they fit together. “All Cobalt and Pursuit models will have precise metal fits,” she promised. For example, there are 0.137-inch (3.5-mm) tolerances between the fenders and doors, as well as 0.118-inch (3-mm) tolerances on the hood and decklid.

Theres some structural value to better body panel fits on a unibody vehicle, but the real gain comes from giving the vehicle a higher quality look, and Queen knows thats increasingly important to all buyers, regardless of sticker price.

Because of the importance of styling look, Queen said, “Great attention was also given to the use of tailored rubber moldings for a clean appearance.” As well, “All models feature body-color moldings and door handles, along with jewel-like headlamps and taillamps.”

In addressing one of the big drawbacks to inexpensive cars in the past, Queen made sure that Cobalt will have several wheel choices, starting with standard 15-inch wheels and going on to optional 16-inch, 17-inch, and 18-inch wheels, all with unique designs.

According to chief designer Phil Zak, the plan was to “keep the exterior sheet metal clean and uncluttered, with a tailored, refined execution, giving the vehicle a premium exterior feel and appearance.”

Zak said the exterior surfaces of the base shape also “enabled us to design an SS series with bolder fascias and rockers, giving them a lowered, more aggressive look.”

Queen and Zak and GMs product boss, Bob Lutz, are particularly excited about the interior of Cobalt, since it is early evidence that the corporation has actually overcome its tendency to design interiors from the International Maison du Fromage catalogue.

“The interiors of the Cobalt models reflect the same attention to detail as with the exterior designs,” Zak said, and “the high level of refinement is apparent in the quality of materials, appointments and styling cues used throughout the cabin. The execution of the gauges, knobs and buttons is simple and easy to use, yet elegant.”

Stylish interiors are okay as long as you can actually use them, and Queen said comfort was “emphasized in all of the Cobalt and Pursuit models, with seats designed to reflect the various performance levels.” Basically, that means that the seats hold occupants more firmly in position in direction relation to their ability to take corners.

While were on the subject, let us address the levels of performance that Cobalt and Pursuit will likely have when they come to Canada.

The key to this is of course that Delta architecture, which the cars chief engineer, Doug Parks, claimed is “a solid foundation for a great small car. We focused on every detail with these two models. By selecting the right components and aggressively working on excellent ride and handling characteristics and noise reduction, weve engineered small cars with a truly premium feel.”

The advanced chassis system for Cobalt is tuned to deliver ride and handling characteristics to fit the diverse requirements of a broad customer base, Parks said, and the electric power steering is tuned to match the performance levels of the various tire and suspension packages.

The compact features a strut-type front suspension, semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension, and front and rear stabilizer bars for more exact body roll control.

Depending upon the model, Cobalt gets a variety of brake systems, starting with vented disc brakes with single-piston calipers up front and composite drum brakes at the back, and moving on to a four-channel anti-lock drum and disc system and then four-wheel anti-lock discs.

There will also be an enhanced electronic traction control system.

Queen said there will be three race-inspired Ecotec inline-fours for Cobalt — the familiar 2.2-liter, a new 2.4-liter, and a supercharged 2.0-liter version.

Queen would only offer estimates of the performance levels of the normally-aspirated engines and no details at all for the supercharged version.

The base engine will deliver an estimated 140 hp at 5600 rpm and 150 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm, which is pretty good for a car this small.

For a little more juice, theres the new 2.4-litre, which will offer horsepower and torque ratings that are among the highest for a normally-aspirated engine on the continent. Generally, that means something in the 170 and 170 ranges, at 6000 and 4400 rpm, respectively.

A Getrag five-speed manual is standard on the 2.2- and 2.4-litre models, and a Hydra-Matic 4T45-E electronically-controlled four-speed automatic transmission is optional.

With the Cobalt SS Supercharged models 2.0-liter engine, a manual transmission tailored to its unique power bands will be included.

With the new 2.4-liter engine, variable valve timing is introduced to the Ecotec family, which already includes dual overhead camshafts, aluminum blocks and cylinder heads, counter rotating balance shafts, roller finger follower valve lifters, chain driven camshafts, electronic throttle control, coil-on-plug ignition, GM Oil Life System, and extended life spark plugs and coolant.

Exact details of how Cobalt will be packaged has not been announced, but according to Queen they will “offer many unexpected features not typically found in small cars today. Weve also packaged these features in a way our customers will appreciate and enjoy.”

The standard equipment list will probably include air conditioning, electric rear defogger, CD player, and a driver information center. Other features will include heated leather seats, power sunroof, and the OnStar safety and information system.

In addition, Queen concluded, Cobalt will offer easy access to the rear seat, 60/40 folding rear seats, interior access to the trunk area, and a full complement of storage spaces.