2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged

• Competes with: Mazdaspeed3, Dodge Caliber SRT4, VW GTI
• Looks like: Last year’s Cobalt SS
• Drivetrain: 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

We know. You’re asking: What’s so special about a 2008 Cobalt SS that was a pricey underachiever the past few years? Well, Chevy has swapped out a 215-hp supercharged four-cylinder for a 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that the company says now lives up to the SS badging.

We won’t ask why they gave the SS badging to the old supercharged version if it didn’t live up to the name, but we guess this is an improvement. All told the Cobalt now has the same set-up as the Chevy HHR SS due out early next year and the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line roadsters, except that those last two are rear-wheel drive.

The limited nature of these trims means most buyers won’t be too concerned about the new power to an otherwise unremarkable compact coupe. However, there are fans out there. We’d expect prices to be only slightly higher than last year’s SS Supercharged $20,795 despite the improvement in power.

Big Names Coming to Specialty Show

Toyota will use the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas this week to introduce the 2009 Corolla and Matrix, while Chevy will have a new Cobalt SS that goes on sale in the second quarter of next year as well as an HHR Panel SS that goes on sale for the 2009 model year — vehicles aimed at the youth and, especially, the tuner markets.

Most new vehicles are unveiled on the major auto show circuit — Detroit, L.A., Chicago and New York — each year to determine public reaction, but the annual SEMA industry trade show will also play a role in attracting the attention of consumers — especially the youth market.

SEMA has always been the place where those who make and sell performance and dress-up parts, components and accessories to customize cars have chosen to display their latest wares.