CHEVROLET HHR SS 2007-2011 Photos, engines & full specs

Chevrolet upgraded the HHR lineup in 2006 with the introduction of a new, more powerful version that recalled the Super Sport badge from the company's heritage.

GM noticed an increased interest of its customers for more powerful vehicles in the mid-2000s and the HHR seemed to be a perfect candidate to receive more horses under the hood. Unlike any other tuning companies or custom car manufacturers, it started with the empty shell of an HHR, looked in the parts bin, and built a sportier version for it: the SS.

Chevrolet's designers made the HHR looks mean with a redesigned front grille that lost its horizontal slats. They placed a black mesh on it with a rhomboidal pattern, similar to the one used for the lower grille installed on the apron. The lower ground clearance and the 18" light-alloy wheels enhanced the car's sporty look. In the back, the car featured a sporty bumper with one side exhaust.

Inside, the carmaker installed new sport bucket seats with higher bolstering and red SS logos embroidered on the front seats' seatbacks. Just as a final reminder for the driver, the carmaker dropped the bow-tie badge from the steering wheel and replaced it with the SS badge.

Chevrolet developed the car's suspension on the Nurburgring race track in Germany. The two-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with direct fuel injection provided 265 hp, which helped the compact MPV get the promised hot-hatch performances its customers asked for.