Chevy Cobalt

[rjastra]

Ignore the body (similar shutlines to old Astra)...

It's the engine thats interesting. 2L version of the 2.2L Ecotec matched to a turbo.

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/14288/2008-chevrolet-cobalt-ss.html?al=104

power = 195kW stock. All alloy and no cambelt changes :)

I wonder when they will dump the old 2L lump out of the SRiT/VXR and use this engine?

[btm]

i can definitely see a resemblance to the old G coupe there

also the rear looks a little bit like an R34... mainly the lights i think

[tuzinski]

shape like g coupe, but not as nice

back reminds me off au falcon, not the lights but like triangular joint near the lights.

[oneightoo]

give it some front qaurter windows and it looks very calibra'ish..

[USC]

looks a bit korean epicaish to be honest...

[rjastra]

LOL. so you all focus on the body when it's the engine that is of interest.

It's essentially an TS astra underneath

[Wraith]

LOL. so you all focus on the body when it's the engine that is of interest.

It's essentially an TS astra underneath

I agree with you on this one rjastra

It looks ok - that's it !

Now to the really interesting part, that 2.0ltr turbo powerplant - very nice and about time !!!

I've always wondered how long it would take the Europeans and others to have or offer some small 4 pot turbo powerplants as powerful as their Jap counterparts, certainly would be something if you could buy a 206kw Astra :)

[USC]

LOL. so you all focus on the body when it's the engine that is of interest.

It's essentially an TS astra underneath


mate if the body does not look appealing, i would not even look at the engine...unless im using it as a track car...

[USC]

I agree with you on this one rjastra

It looks ok - that's it !

Now to the really interesting part, that 2.0ltr turbo powerplant - very nice and about time !!!

I've always wondered how long it would take the Europeans and others to have or offer some small 4 pot turbo powerplants as powerful as their Jap counterparts, certainly would be something if you could buy a 206kw Astra :)


would have to be a rear wheel drive astra :D
remember the days when corollas, 323`s etc were all rear wheel drives(in the 80`s)....no idea why they got converted to front wheel drives!!

[rjastra]

would have to be a rear wheel drive astra :D
remember the days when corollas, 323`s etc were all rear wheel drives(in the 80`s)....no idea why they got converted to front wheel drives!!

MOst had dissappeared by 1980. Only the corolla (and predeluvian Gemini) soldiered on with rwd until the early 80's. If you ever compared (are you old enough?) a 1980 Mazda 323 FWD with the comparible Corolla you WILL know why small cars moved enmass to FWD. The fwd 323 (in this market) instantly made those rwd cars seem sooooo outdated.

The fwd Escort and Kadett repeated this trend in Europe and UK in '79/80

[bornwild]

That outdating thing has nothing to do with it being RWD...rather only having more money to spend on other things if the car is FWD.

[Wraith]

Correct !!!

FWD was introduced as a "cost cutting" measure, nothing else and became so popular that for a long time even the yanks were making all their tank V8 cars as FWD as well....absolutely dreadful phase.....!!!

Thank goodness, some car makers have tried to stick to a "proper" drive system for certain cars and others are reverting back to RWD :)

FWD cars are ok, but ideally you'd want to have either RWD or better AWD for a car that has any high/very high performance capability.

[rjastra]

Correct !!!

FWD was introduced as a "cost cutting" measure, nothing else and became so popular that for a long time even the yanks were making all their tank V8 cars as FWD as well....absolutely dreadful phase.....!!!

Thank goodness, some car makers have tried to stick to a "proper" drive system for certain cars and others are reverting back to RWD :)

FWD cars are ok, but ideally you'd want to have either RWD or better AWD for a car that has any high/very high performance capability.

Actually there were many reason for FWD
1. Space efficiency. There is very little doubt that a FWD car gives tangible space improvements over a similar sized RWD car. That driveshaft eats into interior space. Very important in a small car.

2. Fuel efficiency. Usually (well in the old days) the FWD equivalent was lighter. Also there is usually less drivetrain losses in a FWD car. This was important in the USA during the fuel crisises of the 70s and early 80s as well as meeting CAFE.

3. Cost savings. Sometimes this seems to balance out. Less componentry (drive shaft etc) but it can be balanced by more expensive design (CV joints etc)

4. Traction. FWD is much better suited to the climate extremes that alot of the uSA experiences. Traction IS better in a FWD in snow conditions.

[bornwild]

Traction is not better in a FWD in snow. It's just less dangerous(or the illusion of it) once you lose it. :)

[oneightoo]

i'd take a 4wd/awd in the snow any day..

anything else is to sketchy..

[rjastra]

Traction is not better in a FWD in snow. It's just less dangerous(or the illusion of it) once you lose it. :)

You are plainly wrong on that point grasshopper.
FWD = more weight over the drive wheels = more traction in snow.
Same as rear engine/rwd is equally good for traction.

[btm]

especially driving uphill in the snow... give me a FWD over a RWD anyday!

[bornwild]

You are plainly wrong on that point grasshopper.
FWD = more weight over the drive wheels = more traction in snow.
Same as rear engine/rwd is equally good for traction.

FWD doesn't mean more weight over the drive wheels. Usually is, not always. And, taking into account the friction coefficient of snow and the pitch of the car....it's rarely an influential factor.

And anyway...in this modern age we have thing's called electronic stability programs and ABS which will keep us safe no matter whether AWD, FWD, RWD or whatever-else there is.

[oneightoo]

ABS in the snow makes my car skip down the icey roads..

[bornwild]

especially driving uphill in the snow... give me a FWD over a RWD anyday!

You might actually want a RWD for that:p:p Even better of course is AWD:)

[oneightoo]

lol more fun in a RWD fo sho..

tho birnie was comparing rwd to fwd..

next winter i wont have this problem..

[btm]

yes, obviously AWD is the ultimate in these scenarios

[oneightoo]

thats why awd/4wd dont require chains in the snow..

[bornwild]

thats why awd/4wd dont require chains in the snow..

Don't know about that...depends on the tyres! :) Rally car's use them(well, metal-studded tyres) even though they're AWD :p:p:p

[oneightoo]

no, they dont require chains in the snow..

awd and 4wd cars are exempt from requiring snow chains to be carried at all times in the national park..

rally cars use them, because it's a race where seconds count..

[bornwild]

Oh yeah legally but I was just saying in terms of getting the best of performance :D

[oneightoo]

lol who cares about performance driving up to the snow fields?

all im thinking about is getting there safely, so i cant hurt myself falling over on the slopes haha

[btm]

so i cant hurt myself falling over on the slopes haha

that you know all too well about :D

[rjastra]

FWD doesn't mean more weight over the drive wheels. Usually is, not always. And, taking into account the friction coefficient of snow and the pitch of the car....it's rarely an influential factor.


Oh you reckon :) Considering there a VERY few RWD cars with a rear weight bias I think my statement is quite true. The vast vast majority of cars on the road (FWD, RWD, AWD) have more weight over the front of the car than the back.

The few that do (911, new ferraris, maseratis etc) were designed (well maybe not the 911 -lol) in that way to increase traction over the rear wheels.

From the RTA site:

"While four wheel drive vehicles may not be required to fit chains, it is still wise to carry them and will certainly assist if you lack experience driving on ice and snow. You may also need them in the event of extreme weather conditions."

AWD + summer tyres = go nowhere in some circumstances.

[poita]

well u know what i think

i think that they should bring that motor into a car over here in aus.
so u idiots can crash it in the snow
and i can by a cheap front cut!