The future of the LNF

[spectre]

As a proud and extremely happy owner of the 2008 Cobalt SS Turbocharged, I was just curious as to why your pulling the plug on this? I understand the Cobalt wasn't the biggest seller, but you guys finally nailed a performance compact that can compete with the best in the class. The LNF engine in the SS Cobalt is a great powerplant. It's small in contrast to it's turbo competitors (2.0 vs 2.3[mazdaspeed 3] and 2.4 [SRT-4**) and it not only blows the doors off those (save for the Mazadspeed 3) but it absolutely mops the floor with the other so called performance 2.0L on the market. It beat the bloody EVO X around the Tsukuba circuit and we all know it's prowess on the Nurburghring. Why oh why aren't you giving the car a chance to catch on? It's been praised by virtually every single automotive publication in existence and as people discover it more and more over the next year or two the popularity will only continue to grow. At the very least, please look at putting this engine and suspension setup in a sport model of the cruze. Despite the pull away from Canada if you did that I would still buy regardless but shy of that your losing a customer. You build some fantastic vehicles but being a compact guy you just pulled the plug on the best thing you guys did for compact performance in ages. I wish you all the best in the future but by the time my finance is up if I don't see an LNF powered Cruze or other GM compact, i'm going to be jumping ship. I love my Cobalt, props to you guys for building a wicked sport compact and I hope to buy another LNF sometime in the future.

[chevydlrmn]

Maybe it will stay around like SRT-4 did when neon died.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by spectre

As a proud and extremely happy owner of the 2008 Cobalt SS Turbocharged, I was just curious as to why your pulling the plug on this? I understand the Cobalt wasn't the biggest seller, but you guys finally nailed a performance compact that can compete with the best in the class. The LNF engine in the SS Cobalt is a great powerplant. It's small in contrast to it's turbo competitors (2.0 vs 2.3[mazdaspeed 3] and 2.4 [SRT-4**) and it not only blows the doors off those (save for the Mazadspeed 3) but it absolutely mops the floor with the other so called performance 2.0L on the market. It beat the bloody EVO X around the Tsukuba circuit and we all know it's prowess on the Nurburghring. Why oh why aren't you giving the car a chance to catch on? It's been praised by virtually every single automotive publication in existence and as people discover it more and more over the next year or two the popularity will only continue to grow. At the very least, please look at putting this engine and suspension setup in a sport model of the cruze. Despite the pull away from Canada if you did that I would still buy regardless but shy of that your losing a customer. You build some fantastic vehicles but being a compact guy you just pulled the plug on the best thing you guys did for compact performance in ages. I wish you all the best in the future but by the time my finance is up if I don't see an LNF powered Cruze or other GM compact, i'm going to be jumping ship. I love my Cobalt, props to you guys for building a wicked sport compact and I hope to buy another LNF sometime in the future.

I think you need a Camaro...

[DoomsDave]

The LNF must be very expensive to produce or something.

It produces great power and good mileage, but it seems to be used sparingly around GM's lineup. It's a mystery why this great engine is not used more often.

[davidlane]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

I think you need a Camaro...

What was it about being a compact guy you didn't understand. I find myself in the same position with GM. Arguably, with the exception of the Corvette, GM doesn't sell any appealing small cars in the US. At least none come to mind. If were going to buy something the size of the Camaro I'd go to the Cadillac store and buy a CTS, which I find much more appealing.

[throwback]

Unfortunately if you like small performance cars GM is uninterested in your business. I love my HHR SS but I see nothing on the horizon for me to replace it with. Not at GM anyway. I have high hopes for the next gen Focus.

[96_impala_ss]

GM is messing up!!

Watch, the Focus will have a sport variant, and Chevy will be empty handed.

I'm calling it now.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by davidlane

What was it about being a compact guy you didn't understand. I find myself in the same position with GM. Arguably, with the exception of the Corvette, GM doesn't sell any appealing small cars in the US. At least none come to mind. If were going to buy something the size of the Camaro I'd go to the Cadillac store and buy a CTS, which I find much more appealing.

lol I was kidding. I share his disappointment. It just seems like GM can justify serving up a car like the Camaro, which honestly holds little appeal to an enthusiast outside of the $31,000+ SS..despite the V6 model being a performance bargain. I don't understand it. I think Chevrolet desperately needs a hot compact to pull in the market to the brand. It makes no sense why they don't invest more in to the segment, as it is actually one where they can safely go without fear of EPA freaking out.

I think the HHR SS is the biggest slap in the face to compact enthusiasts. Here they have a wonderful powertrain in a 5-door hatch wasted on a retro-box PT Cruiser fighter...it appeals to some..but NOBODY will buy one over a Mazdaspeed 3 or GTI. The Cruze, I am afraid, just wont be able to go toe-to-toe with the Civic Si, Evo, or WRX/STI, either. Maybe they will surprise and offer up an awesome Cruze performance variant, but it seems like they are abandoning performance outside of the Camaro, Corvette, and CTS-V.

The Cobalt is a pile, I don't want anyone to argue with me on this, because it is the complete and utter truth. Compared with the competition, it is an embarassing pile. However, the SS was rigid, fast, and affordable..it was absolutly wonderful! Again, as GM has proven to do so well, they abandoned it! Look at GM over the past eight years and tell me how many cars they have properly refreshed and reinvested in...and I mean properly...they launch an amazing model, it gets hyped, sells well, and then they simply abandon it and move on to the next launch. So rather than build the Cobalt up, they axe it and replace it with the Cruze. Okay, big deal, new name instead of carrying over Cobalt...well it actually is kind of a big deal. GM will never have any positive association if they don't invest and evolve models. As it stands, the only model they are devoted to is the Corvette and the Silverado/Sierra/Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Escalade...and now, the CTS, but its still young at 2 generations, however the model is growing with coupe/wagons. If they treated every model like the ones mentioned above, they wouldn't be GM, they would be a carmaker that actually made sense! What a novel thought. Look at BMW with their #-series...Porsche..VW GTI..and as of late, Ford with the Mustang. Continuously investing in trusted models, before they necessarly have to, but totally setting themselves apart from GM's "cut and run" method.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by 96_impala_ss

GM is messing up!!

Watch, the Focus will have a sport variant, and Chevy will be empty handed.

I'm calling it now.

Cruze??

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by fp115

Cruze??

lol The Cruze has nothing on the next-gen Focus ST coming from Europe

[Suziebob]

I'd buy the Cruze over the Focus on looks along if they had one that made more power than my 2003 Cavalier. Isn't it rated at like 138 hp?

[fp115]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

lol The Cruze has nothing on the next-gen Focus ST coming from Europe

So you compare a base model to a high end sports model? Doesn't make much sense. Details haven't be released on the Cruze sports model, but it is being worked on like so many others.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by fp115

So you compare a base model to a high end sports model? Doesn't make much sense. Details haven't be released on the Cruze sports model, but it is being worked on like so many others.

Don't be foolish, someone said that the Focus will have a sport variant, and Chevy will be empty handed, where you quipped in saying "Cruze?" We know nothing of a performance Cruze variant, which was precisely my point. So YOU were comparing a base model to a high end sports model, by default, as all we know of right know is the "Cruze" will be coming without a sport variant. So again, I have no other choice but to you. I apologize but you simply brought it on yourself

[m100]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

Don't be foolish, someone said that the Focus will have a sport variant, and Chevy will be empty handed, where you quipped in saying "Cruze?" We know nothing of a performance Cruze variant, which was precisely my point. So YOU were comparing a base model to a high end sports model, by default, as all we know of right know is the "Cruze" will be coming without a sport variant. So again, I have no other choice but to you. I apologize but you simply brought it on yourself

Closest competitor the General had to the Focus ST was the old generation Astra OPC/VXR. Not sure about the New Astra.

[PA Dweller]

It's too bad they didn't upgrade the 2009 Cobalt SS Coupe with a better interior, and 6 speed automatic. It's the best looking small performance car IMO but damn the interior is terrible.