CHEVROLET Cobalt Coupe SS 2005-2007 Photos, engines & full specs

Chevrolet introduced a more potent version for its compact-coupe Cobalt in 2005, trying to beat the Civic Coupe and the Toyota Celica.

Chevrolet waited for a few years before introducing the Cobalt Coupe SS (Super Sport). That badge alone meant something for Chevy fans, and it shouldn't be wasted on a slow vehicle just to speed up its sales. But the Cobalt SS was not a slow car in its segment. It was on par with the Dodge Neon SRT and the Civics and Celicas.

It was a coupe with long lines, compact size, and an arched roofline. The tear-shaped headlights flanked the one-slat grille at the front. The aggressive bumper design with an A-shaped mesh-grille in the middle flanked by a pair of fog lights was a promise for something sportier. Behind that, the intercooler was easy to spot by a trained eye. Its raked windshield and sloped rear window enhanced the dynamic look of the car. The designers installed round taillights in the back and a big wing on the trunk to complete the sporty image.

Inside, the carmaker installed bucket seats at the front with some bolstering on the sides and an SS stitching on their seatbacks. But they were not the kind of seats someone would trust during a high-speed cornering situation. They were more of commuter-car type. At the front, the Cobalt featured a simple, almost bland, dashboard design. The material's quality was not top-notch at all, but it was functional. At least, the white dials for the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge looked better than the regular Cobalt's dials.

Under the hood, Chevrolet installed a supercharged 2.0-liter unit. The Roots-type Eaton blower pumped 12 psi of boost, and that translated into a respectable mid-range torque.