Why do they keep taking pictures down? If an individual poster finds the pictures on the internet himself/herself, where is harm/foul in posting a picture???
Is the 2.4L 170hp Ecotec the base engine? If so... why? Doesnt this make Chevy's brand new and reasonably appealling, but larger and heavier... Malibu look bad?
"The Cobalt family will have four members, including a new supercharged tuner version that will help bring Chevy SS to a whole new generation of enthusiasts" - quote from Gary Cowger made during the Chevrolet future product event on Dec. 18th.
I agree. It looks good, in an import kind of way. It's like a Civic with Bu doors and kind of a European flavor on the outside. The front looks much better than the Bu too!
Does anyone have a picture of the SS? Or do I have to wait two days...hehehe
Than the smaller pic. Sedan exterior looks better than Civic, Corolla, Sentra for sure (easy task!). The coupe is a looker. The interior I'm not thrilled about, I prefer the Mazda 3 interior. Would like to see a black interior (deja vu on the Malibu) not a plood one.
way too much plood. GM seems to be having a problem with not going overboard with plood. It's all over on the Terraza and Relay too, with a bit on tan Malibu interiors. I hope it's optional. Looks quite a lot like a Civic. Especially the refreshed 2004 Civics.
Nice interior though I don't care for the fake wood trim (I'm sure its optional). Coupe looks like more like the Cavalier coupe but that's ok as I always loved the looks of the current Z24s. Even Reg can't complain much about the steering wheel either!
;-)
Looks like GM will be back in the small car game big time.
This looks like an incredibly promising entry in the class. I really hope GM nails its execution, and production quality. I really want to be a GM fan again, the much MUCH improved Malibu is a step in the right direction, I hope the Cobalt to be an even bigger one. As long as it isnt a frekin disaster like the uncompetitive ION, or a quality nightmare like the Focus (though finally, that has been ironed out), GM will do well with this vehicle, with its wide range of engines, options, and strong safety features. Creating a strong entry in this class with good resale value, good pricing... will really impress many a GM doubtful....
How come GM didn't do this to the Bu?? Anyways, it looks great! I love the deeply raked rear window of the coupe, looks better than a Civic! Looks like Chevy's got a winner!!!!
Actually I like it better than most small cars. It's clean and modern looking. Chevy has a good thing here, my only disappointment is not having 4 wheel discs on more models. Base model does not need them but only the SS has them. I think LT and SS should have them at least. With that, I think 3 trims would suffice also!
It seems a little abrupt, but is non-offensive and clean. Certainly no worse than the very busy and borderline offensive front end of the Malibu.
dindak- who cares about rear discs on a non sporting compact model? As long as the SS has them, fine. Its odd that lacking this newer tech feature bothers you, but you have no problem with pushrods. Arent you of the mentality that as long as the job gets done effectively and unobtrusively, it doesnt matter that GM saved a few pennies? This seems to be your position on the pushrod issue (which I do agree with, by the way).
I prefer discs, they actually are better IMO though drums can do a good job if set up right. Hopefully this is the case on the Cobalt. Older pushrods do suck vs OHC mills (GM 3.1L comes to mind), but the newer ones (GM 3.5L for example) are much more refined, offer superior mileage and can/will offer features like DOD in the next year or two.
I'm with you. If I can stop short, under control and with good pedal feel, drum or disc in the rear is fine with me. Brake fade has never really been an issue for me, because I dont tow trailers or stop at max pressure ten times in a row, as the auto publications test, and cant think of any reason I would have to.
Looks like VW, but tach and speedo dials swapped places. They must be thinking this is enough to convince the jury that it is not stolen:) I'd like to see some aluminum/titanium instead of that faked wood, but this is my wishful thinking.
I think that the 2004 Malibu proved that Chevy can at least play in the same game as everyone else. By the looks of it, the Cobalt may just show that Chevy can not only play in the same game, but can win at it.
Brushed aluminum is real nice. I suspect the wood is an "upgrade" for those who like that stuff. SS models sound like it will be right in the thick of things for the crowd that like pocket size power. It's about time GM got back in the game, too much has been given up over the years.
need to tow trailers- I'll just rent a truck if I have to. It's not like I'd tow something on the back of my non-trailer hitch equipped Odyssey any time soon.
Coupe: Quite nice actually, and it comes together well outside, especially the rear quarter view. I bet this will be a big seller.
Sedan: This is much less successful, especially the "unresolved" rear view. The middle to the back looks unrefined, like there were hardpoints set before the stylists ever got there.
Interior: Styling and design looks a good decade newer than the Malibu. And the color combos show someone has been paying attention to VW. With this car on the lot, why get a Malibu? It's certainly nicer inside than the new Focus (I never thought I'd say that about a Chevy model!) and even looks better than all maybe save the Mazda 3, which is more expensive. The only thing we can't tell yet is plastic quality and how well it's all screwed together (and I agree the fake wood is terrible).
Again, all in all, better than I thought we'd get and, assuming the ride and drive are there, a fully competitive entry.
Given the rear end look of cars like the Civic, Sentra and a few others, I think the Cobalt is better than some of those in terms of back end looks.
Wood option is not needed for compact cars but I guess some people like it so..
I've seen a few Mazda 3s and I like them, but I think I prefer the look of the Cobalt. Chevy MUST nail quality out the door but given what GM has done lately I have more confidence than ever they can pull it off. Time will tell.
The interior is the biggest improvement. Even the plood is not too bad, it does warm it up a little, break the monotony of gray that the 'bu interior has.
The rear end of the sedan isn't well sorted, but the coupe looks good all around.
Comments
Can a host please explain this to me?
~alpha
:-(
Missed it, nuts.
Saw 2 Mazda 3s today. Not bad at all. Noticed they have slapped on 2.9% financing from the get go though. I guess it's the way of the auto world now.
~alpha
jchan : Pursuit is Canada only so it's unlikely. It will likely be intro'd at Toronto in Feb.
http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/data/attached_files/4959/2630.1- .cobalt.jpg
Higher-res shots will be up at midnight eastern time tonight.
certainly not the styling atrocity of its bigger brother.
Does anyone have a picture of the SS? Or do I have to wait two days...hehehe
Look real chromed interior door opening handles.
;-)
Looks like GM will be back in the small car game big time.
~alpha
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/sixcms/media.php/23/cobalt4h_4- 50.jpg
dindak- who cares about rear discs on a non sporting compact model? As long as the SS has them, fine. Its odd that lacking this newer tech feature bothers you, but you have no problem with pushrods. Arent you of the mentality that as long as the job gets done effectively and unobtrusively, it doesnt matter that GM saved a few pennies? This seems to be your position on the pushrod issue (which I do agree with, by the way).
~alpha
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/50184
The coupe looks really sharp.
There were rumors about a hatch Cobalt. With the HHR also on the Delta platform, does this mean GM will not do the hatch?
~alpha
http://x.wieck.com/pv/WKA/2003/12/26/WKA2003122633718_pv.jpg
Coupe: Quite nice actually, and it comes together well outside, especially the rear quarter view. I bet this will be a big seller.
Sedan: This is much less successful, especially the "unresolved" rear view. The middle to the back looks unrefined, like there were hardpoints set before the stylists ever got there.
Interior: Styling and design looks a good decade newer than the Malibu. And the color combos show someone has been paying attention to VW. With this car on the lot, why get a Malibu? It's certainly nicer inside than the new Focus (I never thought I'd say that about a Chevy model!) and even looks better than all maybe save the Mazda 3, which is more expensive. The only thing we can't tell yet is plastic quality and how well it's all screwed together (and I agree the fake wood is terrible).
Again, all in all, better than I thought we'd get and, assuming the ride and drive are there, a fully competitive entry.
Bret
Wood option is not needed for compact cars but I guess some people like it so..
I've seen a few Mazda 3s and I like them, but I think I prefer the look of the Cobalt. Chevy MUST nail quality out the door but given what GM has done lately I have more confidence than ever they can pull it off. Time will tell.
The rear end of the sedan isn't well sorted, but the coupe looks good all around.
-juice