HHR SS Harbinger of CAFE-Driven Market

[T-Type]

By James M. Amend
WardsAuto.com, Feb 21, 2008 8:42 AM

PHOENIX – If the ’09 Chevrolet HHR SS portends the future of performance and utility, Americans used to having their cake and eating it, too, are headed for a crash diet.

In fact, as GM Vice Chairman and product boss Bob Lutz suggests here during a recent preview of the vehicle, even the relatively economical Chevy HHR SS could fall victim to a new federal law requiring the U.S. fleet to achieve 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) by 2020.

“Twenty years from now, these will be highly sought-after collector’s cars,” Lutz says of the Chevy with a laugh. “This won’t survive, even with a 29 mpg (8 L/100 km) highway rating.”

That’s not a black mark on the Chevy HHR SS, either. With a turbocharged 4-cyl. engine that pumps out 260 hp and a delicious 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque, the cross/utility vehicle packs enough punch to satisfy most appetites.

At the same time, it’s much more than a light-to-light racer. A Nurburgring-tuned suspension adds surprisingly sophisticated driving dynamics for the money. And with seating for five adults and a cargo capacity of up to 63.1 cu.-ft. (1,787 L), it rates as a functional beast, as well.

But the HHR SS also offers a glimpse of what might await consumers after the new fuel-economy rule exercises its full influence. For starters, the high-pitched, popping exhaust note of tuner vehicles could replace the low, rumbling V-8 sound that performance enthusiasts have gorged on for the last 30 years.

And those days when an everyday family of five would load a garage full of gear and hitch a boat to their fullsize SUV for a week’s vacation might become the dalliance of a moneyed few.

Given such a future, the budget-conscious masses could be left with a vehicle closely resembling the HHR SS. It’s no Corvette, although it wasn’t until 1992 the venerable sports car carried the power ratings of the ’09 HHR SS.

Nor is it as capable as a Chevy Tahoe. But the CUV does execute in a manner befitting its SS badge without all the guilt of overindulgence.

Outfitted with a manual transmission, the front-wheel-drive HHR SS will zip from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.3 seconds, GM says, placing it ahead of some rear- and all-wheel-drive sports cars. It will cover the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). But under more modest driving, it still achieves combined fuel economy of 24 mpg (9.8 L/100 km).

It also starts at a rather thrifty $22,995, including destination charges, so leaving a few toys at home on that weekend getaway might not seem such an inconvenience.

Motivation for the Chevy HHR SS comes via GM’s Ecotec 2.0L 4-cyl., optimized through gasoline direct injection, variable-valve timing and a BorgWarner Inc. intercooled turbo. It’s the same powerplant GM drops into its Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line roadsters and that will make its way into the ’08 Chevy Cobalt SS this spring.

http://wardsauto.com/testdrive/chevy_hhr_ss/

[Co27sskid]

Actually, reports were that these things were in the low 14's...

[johnriley]

Might resemble the HHR, but I'm guessing it would be lighter.

[kamandor]

I really like the HHR, especially the SS model.

My parents bought a 2006 PT Cruiser in October and I was quite bothered that they did not take a look at the Chevy HHR. In combined driving we are averaging 13.5L/100km in the PT Cruiser, which is absolutely atrocious. I am horribly disappointed with the fuel economy of the 2.4L in the PT and can only help but wonder how much better the HHR might have been. We don't drive the PT hard, we have snow tires on it and we maintain everything, and it's getting almost as bad of fuel economy as the average full-size truck, or even my 1990 BMW 535i, where I averaged 16L/100km - but at least I could go fast in that thing!!

I sat in the HHR at the Canadian International Auto Show last week and the interior was leaps and bounds ahead of the PT. I know the HHR is much newer than the PT, but regardless, for nearly the same money, my parents could have bought a 2006 HHR (slightly used) and had a far superior automobile. The HHR is bigger too, which I really like, as I find I can barely fit two hockey bags in the PT and have to fold down the seats to fit my hockey sticks.

As for the future of sporting rides, I do think the HHR SS is the way the industry will go. In terms of reaching the 35mpg average, I'm not really sure how GM (anyone) is going to be able to do so without simultaneously dropping displacement on every engine while increasing the price on every car to incorporate hybrid technologies. In a small DI engine like the 2.0L in the HHR, how much more efficient can you get? Its already turbocharged, DI'd and lightweight. Perhaps a very powerful electric drive to get the car up to 60km/h (without using a drop of gasoline) and then having the 2.0L kick in, might work.

Overall though, I think sportier cars will decline, and instead, engines like the one in the HHR SS will become the standard in mid and full-sized cars. For instance, how well would this 2.0L turbo work in the 2008 Malibu? Or the next-gen Impala? It might be 'small' but would it put out enough power to make it a reasonable 'mid-level' engine? I think Lutz is right in saying that the CAFE standards are going to drive up the cost of each car.

This is a bit of a shot-gun post, and I believe my first post on these message boards. But I wonder what you all think!!

[me3head]

You lost me at L/100km and Hockey... j/k good points on the HHR vs PT

Originally Posted by kamandor

I really like the HHR, especially the SS model.

My parents bought a 2006 PT Cruiser in October and I was quite bothered that they did not take a look at the Chevy HHR. In combined driving we are averaging 13.5L/100km in the PT Cruiser, which is absolutely atrocious. I am horribly disappointed with the fuel economy of the 2.4L in the PT and can only help but wonder how much better the HHR might have been. We don't drive the PT hard, we have snow tires on it and we maintain everything, and it's getting almost as bad of fuel economy as the average full-size truck, or even my 1990 BMW 535i, where I averaged 16L/100km - but at least I could go fast in that thing!!

I sat in the HHR at the Canadian International Auto Show last week and the interior was leaps and bounds ahead of the PT. I know the HHR is much newer than the PT, but regardless, for nearly the same money, my parents could have bought a 2006 HHR (slightly used) and had a far superior automobile. The HHR is bigger too, which I really like, as I find I can barely fit two hockey bags in the PT and have to fold down the seats to fit my hockey sticks.

As for the future of sporting rides, I do think the HHR SS is the way the industry will go. In terms of reaching the 35mpg average, I'm not really sure how GM (anyone) is going to be able to do so without simultaneously dropping displacement on every engine while increasing the price on every car to incorporate hybrid technologies. In a small DI engine like the 2.0L in the HHR, how much more efficient can you get? Its already turbocharged, DI'd and lightweight. Perhaps a very powerful electric drive to get the car up to 60km/h (without using a drop of gasoline) and then having the 2.0L kick in, might work.

Overall though, I think sportier cars will decline, and instead, engines like the one in the HHR SS will become the standard in mid and full-sized cars. For instance, how well would this 2.0L turbo work in the 2008 Malibu? Or the next-gen Impala? It might be 'small' but would it put out enough power to make it a reasonable 'mid-level' engine? I think Lutz is right in saying that the CAFE standards are going to drive up the cost of each car.

This is a bit of a shot-gun post, and I believe my first post on these message boards. But I wonder what you all think!!

[Joevette]

i find it hard to believe that the performance guys will just dissappear, and this thing can't even meet the CAFE reqs how are all other vehicles going to follow in this things steps, they wouldnt make it. Hopefully the volt does well enough to cancel out all of the generals other products in CAFE. And hopefully those engineers out there get off their arse and start figuring out how to make Fuel Economy and Performance the same

[racy]

Lutz needs to shut his mouth. His CAFE blathering is getting old, and frankly embarrassing.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Cobalt SS this spring !!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!

CobaltSS

FTR- HHR SS does 0-60 in 5.65 and 1/4 in 14.3 from most places I've read about it on.

[parakleets]

I've been trying to see things from GM's standpoint, since these CAFE increases have passed. Unfortunately, it starts to sound more like fear-mongering, than actively pursuing a solution. If GM wants to achieve this 35 MPG CAFE, their first step should be to cut the total numer of light trucks, crossovers, and SUVs by half. This might honestly mean ditching Hummer, and seriously scaling back GMC. GM has to identify Cadillac, Corvette, G8, and Camaro as "performance anchors", and do everything to preserve V6 or V8 performance editions of those cars/marques. Anything outside of those models should not get V8s, or turbo/supercharged V6s, and should aim for the highest MPG ratings.

[bone]

The market will definately change between now and 2020,however, just because we will no longer have thundering V8s or high powered V6s doesn't mean that we won't have attractive fun to drive vehicles. I'm just a little tired of Lutz's fear-mongering.

[member12]

They will figure something out before then to make cars like this pass. I'd really hate to think about a future where GM has to sell cars that are not in demand (like a 50mpg sub-sub compact) to offset cars that are in demand, like the lambda SUVs or a hot hatch like the HHR SS.

I read that they are going to raise the GVWR of the half ton trucks and SUVs so they won't fit into the required CAFE standards. That could be cool...and it means that half ton trucks as we know it will not exist anymore, and the only trucks GM has to fit under the bar would be the mid sized products, which with a small diesel and the right tranny can reach a 25mpg average. That can be offset by the Volt and other hybrid cars that get 40mpg or more.

[jkennedy293]

Thing here is semantics really. According to the article, the HHR SS gets 24mpg combined. These numbers are based on the 08 EPA standard NOT CAFE standard. The CAFE standard has not been changed in the thirty years since it was created. While the EPA standard has been updated twice, each time making it more accurate and applicable to the driving habits of the time. According to CAFE, the HHR SS would probably rate at 36 mpg hwy and 30-32mpg combined.

Bob Lutz is basically using V8-equipped, RWD cars as a scapegoat so GM can sell more trucks with V8s. I don't foresee a dramatic change in the type or size of the vehicles we will drive in 2020. The engines will all have at least a mild-hybrid, turbo, or DI. The V8 in cars will be non-existent in American cars.

[telo]

Originally Posted by CobaltSScrazy

Cobalt SS this spring !!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!

CobaltSS

FTR- HHR SS does 0-60 in 5.65 and 1/4 in 14.3 from most places I've read about it on.

You like the Cobalt? Who knew?

[davidlane]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

Thing here is semantics really. According to the article, the HHR SS gets 24mpg combined. These numbers are based on the 08 EPA standard NOT CAFE standard. The CAFE standard has not been changed in the thirty years since it was created. While the EPA standard has been updated twice, each time making it more accurate and applicable to the driving habits of the time. According to CAFE, the HHR SS would probably rate at 36 mpg hwy and 30-32mpg combined.

Bob Lutz is basically using V8-equipped, RWD cars as a scapegoat so GM can sell more trucks with V8s. I don't foresee a dramatic change in the type or size of the vehicles we will drive in 2020. The engines will all have at least a mild-hybrid, turbo, or DI. The V8 in cars will be non-existent in American cars.

Perhaps an injection of fact is in order. The following is a quote from an article published in Winding Road:

Presently, there are two vehicles for sale that have a 2008 EPA combined mileage rating of 35 mpg or better. Not surprisingly, both are relatively small in size and utilize hybrid propulsion systems.

Within the EPA’s small car class, the lone victor is the Honda Civic Hybrid, clocking in with a 42 mpg combined rating. The 110-hp 1.4-liter I-4, coupled to a 20-hp electric motor, helps the Civic return nearly 40 mpg in the city, 45 on the highway.

Moving up one rung to the family sedan category, the only winner is the ubiquitous Toyota Prius, carrying a 46 mpg combined average. The Prius, powered by infinitely-variable mixtures of its 76-hp, 1.5-liter I-4 and 67-hp electric mill, averages 48 mpg around town and 45 on the freeway.

Runners-up include hybrid versions of Nissan’s Altima and the Toyota Camry. Both score a combined rating of 34 mpg, and Ford’s trio of compact hybrid SUVs (Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner) which achieve the same average. With further refinement (e.g. elimination of excess mass), any could perhaps reach that magic 35 number. The same could be said for other small cars, including the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and the Mini Cooper, all of which have combined ratings between 31 and 32 mpg.

I submit a fleet of these type vehicles bears no resemblance to today's fleet and these standards also apply to "light trucks."

http://news.windingroad.com/car-buyi...cafe-standard/

[KingElvis]

Originally Posted by jkennedy293

Thing here is semantics really. According to the article, the HHR SS gets 24mpg combined. These numbers are based on the 08 EPA standard NOT CAFE standard. The CAFE standard has not been changed in the thirty years since it was created. While the EPA standard has been updated twice, each time making it more accurate and applicable to the driving habits of the time. According to CAFE, the HHR SS would probably rate at 36 mpg hwy and 30-32mpg combined.

Bob Lutz is basically using V8-equipped, RWD cars as a scapegoat so GM can sell more trucks with V8s. I don't foresee a dramatic change in the type or size of the vehicles we will drive in 2020. The engines will all have at least a mild-hybrid, turbo, or DI. The V8 in cars will be non-existent in American cars.

Amen brother. Here's the other annoying thing about this non stop spate of gloom and doom articles about the new CAFE law: The 35mpg occurs in TWELVE YEARS. Yes, we will ramp up to it gradually, but consider that in the 1975 law, economy was DOUBLED in ten years, while the 2007 law only boosts economy 30% in thirteen years.

When will Bob have "jumped the shark" in terms of CAFE fear mongering?

Seems like there is also a disingenuous message being sent to "Gather ye big bore engines while ye may" to attempt to increase sales now - again for an 'Apocalypse' that will occur twelve years from now.