New Life? Cobalt Gets Some MPG, MP3

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

What would help is making the engines more refined, fuel efficient, getting more gears in the transmission, and a more Malibu like interior, maybe some sheetmetal changes and it will be perfect

But you have to work with >$15000 though, which is which is why even the Corola interior isnt that great.

[espo19047]

Originally Posted by nsap

As far as I know, the 2.4L Sport model is still going to be around.

I wont be called a sport anymore it will be a 2LT with the sport face and wheels.

[psece]

Originally Posted by camaro_freak

are these upgrades going to keep the Cobalt competitive against the rest of the vehicles in this segment with out the MCE? I'm not in this market.

I know SCION is hot with the kiddies and I doubt a lack of a mild MCE is going to pull them over to the Chevy side any faster.

While the average age of Scion on one website said it was 30, they were also counting that the 50 year olds and above were buying for their kids. While the kids love the tC, the xB and xA around here are driven by an older demographic. I think that Toyota is still searching for the look and content level to get the younger crowd. That is why they changed the xB so drastically. It wasn't bringing in its target demographic....

[CamaroCrazy]

Originally Posted by espo19047

I wont be called a sport anymore it will be a 2LT with the sport face and wheels.

This is for MY2009? That doesn't make sense to me. They just came out with the "Sport" line on the Cobalt and the Equinox, and they would take it off the Cobalt right away? Could you clarify that?

I thought the "Sport" trim level made lots of sense. No guessing what the trim level means (what does 2LT mean? A customer has to sit down with a product guide to figure it out). The trim line also was a nice stepping stone from base models to Super Sports.

[EldoFan]

35MPG......things are looking up for this little guy I think....

[CobaltSScrazy]

Sport is gone, 2LT is here...probably an insurance thing? I'm speculating.

Well I knew about these changes, its really sad that GM couldn't update one of its best selling cars by volume but HOPEFULLY we get an awesome product from base on up for 2010. I'm excited for the 08 Balt SS coming out this April though!

CobaltSS

[tamatt27]

Originally Posted by nsap

Let me clarify completely that there are no design changes coming for 2009. Actually, there are no major changes whatsoever, but the changes made are nice additions and proof that the car is better than some give it credit for. Topping the list of 2009 Cobalt entrances is the well-publicized SS model. Tears were shed and feelings were hurt when word got out that there would not be an SS model Cobalt in the 2008 model year (so they thought anyway). After seeing the new SS model, does anyone really care about the old SS now? The new SS is packing 260 HP/260 lb.-ft. of torque through the excellent turbocharged, direct-injected ECOTEC 2.0L. Not to mention the car was tuned in Germany on the famed Nurburgring. There is a reason the car has a “GM Performance Division” badge under the hood.

I didn't need to read any more than this. Pontiac is worthless in the eyes of GM...

[WillCG]

Re: There isn’t a whole lot known about the new car other than it will follow the design theme seen on the Malibu and will have a unique coupe trim level targeted at young buyers.

Follow the design theme seen on the Malibu. If they mean the exterior, we've already seen this with the Traverse and its front fascia. And now (possibly) the Cobalt?

Damn...I hope Chevy doesn't go the way of Nissan and make all their cars have 98% of the same design. It seems there is a major press event when a company reveals their new grille and/or headlight design. "The new face (literally) of Brand X" and all that. What about the rest of the car?

[Minnesota Nice]

Those numbers are impressive.

I still don't know if it is enough to warrant me trading it in without know about the 2010 Cobalt looks like.

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by logansowner

But you have to work with >$15000 though, which is which is why even the Corola interior isnt that great.

I said Malibu like, never said it had to be the same quality, just better then it is

[KIDDIESEL79]

I really don't think Scion should be in this cars target,leave that to the sub-compacts. They need a design to put the Mazda 3 in its place. I know the Cobalt is a bit on the sleek side of things, cars like the 3 and ugly-but-selling Corolla have a sort of Jetta on a budget look to them. The Corolla is re hash and the 3 is getting old too but their designs caught on and still sell well.

[DuSpinnst]

What I want to know is how is this new USB Port going to relate to PAL.

GM has had MAJOR issues with PAL, and in fact it only works on like 4 cars. Furthermore I just read PAL doesn't work with the NEW iPod Classics, that is insane.

Hopefully these USB ports provide iPod access like in the CTS, and hopefully GM does SOMETHING about the Corvette radio, I can only hope the ZR1 Pre-production cars are using 2008 Radios and for 2009 they will have a Radio that doesn't blow nuts.

At least Bluetooth is coming to the Corvette, Cobalt and everything in between.

[impala02]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

What I want to know is how is this new USB Port going to relate to PAL.

GM has had MAJOR issues with PAL, and in fact it only works on like 4 cars. Furthermore I just read PAL doesn't work with the NEW iPod Classics, that is insane.

Hopefully these USB ports provide iPod access like in the CTS, and hopefully GM does SOMETHING about the Corvette radio, I can only hope the ZR1 Pre-production cars are using 2008 Radios and for 2009 they will have a Radio that doesn't blow nuts.

At least Bluetooth is coming to the Corvette, Cobalt and everything in between.

I thought that GM only offered PAL on 4 cars as of right now, but it will be available for most cars sometime in 2008. I read about PAL awhile ago and was hoping it was something that I could have retrofitted into my car....apparently not. But, the only problems I have heard (from cruising the internet) are from people that are trying to use it with the iPod classic. I may be wrong. But hey, the iPod classic is like the Silverado Classic (a previous model they are trying to get rid of while supplies last). I'm sure that by next year, the iPod classic will no longer be available.

As for the Cobalt, it's great to hear that they are tweaking the powertrain. As for the interior, I don't think it is that bad for the segment. It could use better materials and a little more style, but I don't think it is a deal breaker. As for the exterior, it definitely looks dated. I think that could be easily overcome with a new front clip and a new rear end. It seems like an MCE would be really easy for the exterior. Does anybody here know how much money it would take for a simple redesign of the front and rear of the exterior? I would think it would be peanuts compared to completely re-engineering the car and it would give the Cobalt a fresh, new look.

[steve333]

Sorry, but those upgrades are not enough. They should have at least added a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and more comfortable seats.
Those little engine improvements are not going to impress anyone.

[osv_alero]

For a 1 year change, it sounds just fine to me. I'm glad GM is going overboard on the Bluetoothe scene.

Before you guys starting jumping all over GM for doing little to the 2009 model, remember the 2010 will be all new. Why spend the big money for one year of production, which probably won't even be a full year. Chances are we will see the 2010 model out by next summer if they are introducing the 2009 now.