Chevrolet prices turbo Cobalt SS

Chevrolet announced on Wednesday its 260 horsepower Cobalt SS will cost $22,995 including a $660 destination charge and should hit showrooms late next month. For that money, buyers get a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0 liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, Nürburgring-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes.



GM claims a 0-60mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds and another, less common performance number the company is throwing around is its lap time around the famed Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany of just 8 minutes and 22.85 seconds. The hot Cobalt's FE5 suspension and sticky 225/40-18 Continental summer-only tires return 0.90g on the skid pad.

The turbo SS will come only with a five-speed manual transmission that incorporates a no-lift shift feature. This means the majority of drivers will need to re-program their brains to keep their right foot planted to the floorboard while their left foot operates the clutch and right hands rows the stick shift through the gears. GM assures its engineers and test drivers performed about 600 consecutive sprints using this method, without any ill effects.

Other standard features include A/C, premium sound system with XM radio, remote entry, electronic stability control, and OnStar. Options are kept to a minimum, with a $295 sound system upgrade, big rear spoiler seen in the photos for $195 and a limited-slip differential for $495. The big ticket option is the $750 sunroof.

Highway fuel economy is expected to be 30 mpg or tops in its class, GM claims.

The price undercuts the admittedly more powerful Dodge Caliber SRT-4, which carries an MSRP of $23,015 including a $580 destination fee.