Chevrolet Cobalt Wallpapers and Pictures

The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The Cobalt replaced the Cavalier as Chevrolet's compact car.

It is available as both a coupe and sedan and is based upon the GM Delta platform, along with the Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion, Astra (Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, and Saturn marques), and the Opel Zafira (a seven seat van). All Cobalts are currently manufactured at GM's Lordstown Assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Although the EPA lists the Cobalt as a subcompact, the Cobalt is still a compact car. In 2009, the Cobalt and its sibling, the Pontiac G5 will get a restyling, with production being moved to Mexico while GM Lordstown gets the next-generation, U.S.-spec Cadillac BLS, a Pontiac sibling, and a small crossover based on the next-generation Chevrolet Aveo.

The front suspension is independent with MacPherson struts, while a semi-independent torsion bar is used in the rear. The wheelbase is 103.3 in (262.4 cm), longer than its competitors, and the width is 68.4 in (173.8 cm). Weight is average in-class, at 2681 lb for the coupe and 2747 lb for the sedan. (1216-1246 kg), and best EPA fuel economy is 25 mpg–U.S. (9.41 L/100 km / 30 mpg–imp) city/34 mpg–U.S. (6.92 L/100 km / 40.8 mpg–imp) highway. The car is notable for its use of an electric power steering system developed by Koyo Seiko, rather than a conventional hydraulic system. It is built at the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

The Cobalt is available with the SS performance package. There are two engine choices: the naturally-aspirated 2.4 L Ecotec rated at 173 bhp (130 kW) and the 2.0 L supercharged Ecotec engine rated at 205 bhp (153 kW). GM currently offers dealer-installed performance upgrade packages called "stage kits" that are covered by factory warranty. The Stage 1 kit consists of new fuel injectors and a reprogram of the ECU, and yields up to a 30 bhp (22 kW) improvement. The Stage 2 kit consists of new fuel injectors and the same reprogram with a smaller serpentine belt and pulley for the supercharger, producing a 40 bhp (30 kW ) improvement and 30 ft·lbf (40 Nm) of torque. Both stage 1 and 2 kits increase the engine redline to 7000 rpm. The Stage 3 kit consists of a smaller, 76 mm (3 in) supercharger pulley, a 2-pass intercooler end plate and a customizable replacement ECU. The Stage 3 ECU allows for the use of a 50-shot of nitrous, 100 octane fuel and an adjustable redline from 6750 to 8000 rpm. Stage 3 produces 248 bhp using 93 octane fuel, up to 260 bhp using 100 octane fuel, and much higher bhp with nitrous. Stage 3 is for off-road use only, and to emphasize this, air conditioning is disabled with the Stage 3 ECU. The Cobalt SS Turbocharged will have a turbocharged 2.0 L Ecotec engine rated at 260 bhp and will be on-sale in the second quarter of 2008. It also posted a front-wheel-drive record at the Nürburgring test track in Germany. It posted a time of 8:22.85 minutes, beating the previous record by more than 13 seconds.

According to the IIHS the Cobalt receives a perfect score for front collisions. However, it receives a poor overall score for side impacts without side curtain airbags, and an average overall score with side curtain airbags.

The Cobalt only offers stability control as an option on Sport models. Side airbags are limited to head-curtain type, thorax type side airbags are unavailable.

In early 2007, 98,000 Cobalt coupes were recalled after it was discovered they did not meet federal safety requirments because of a lack of adequate padding which may result in unacceptable head injuries.