2005 Chevy Cobalt SS Coupe Time Attack
(from General
Motors Press Release) To turn a
street machine into a track racer you need the right pedigree: a
hot, lightweight performer with plenty of handling capabilities, and
a team of battle-tested racing engineers to make it happen. That
explains why Chevrolet and GM Performance Division have taken the
sizzling Cobalt ss Coupe Supercharged coupe and turned it into an
Unlimited class Time Attack machine, which already bested the
legendary Nissan Skyline’s times by seven seconds in Street Tuner
Challenge’s Time Attack on July 21.
The premise behind Time Attack is to take a street vehicle and –
using tires that are legal on public streets – turn in the fastest
lap on a racetrack for the vehicle class. The vehicle must be from a
model originally produced for legal street use and it must have a
silhouette largely faithful to the original.
Because Time Attack challenges involve multiple runs, the engine
must be powerful and durable. The Time Attack Cobalt ss Supercharged
coupe’s Stage 2+ Ecotec engine is certainly up to that challenge.
Developed by GM Performance Division and GM Powertrain, it features
an Eaton M-62 Gen 5 Hybrid supercharger and delivers 264 horsepower
at 7000 rpm and 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. When nitrous
boost is added, performance jumps to 344 horsepower at 6800 rpm and
350 lb.-ft. of torque at 3600 rpm.
Because weight is the nemesis of performance, many of the production
Cobalt elements have been replaced with carbon fiber counterparts.
These include the fenders, hood, doors, roof, decklid, spoiler, side
splitters and Sparco car seat. The vehicle’s glass has also been
replaced with Lexan, and interior trim has been kept to a minimum.
The result is a vehicle that weighs a mere 2,350 pounds.
Inside, the Time Attack Cobalt ss Supercharged coupe incorporates
safety systems per National Auto Sport Association (NASA) race
rules, including a full roll cage, side net and fuel cell. It also
features a full complement of race gauges, as well as a Sparco race
steering wheel and GM Accessories pedals.
The Time Attack Cobalt ss Supercharged coupe runs in NASA’s
Unlimited class, which includes FWD, RWD and AWD vehicles. Following
SEMA, it will race on Nov. 8 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in central
California – the same track where it beat the best times of an
801-horsepower AWD, twin-turbo Nissan Skyline and a nitrous-charged
Volkswagen Jetta.
Vehicle Highlights
Stage 2+ Ecotec engine developed by GM Performance Division and GM Powertrain
264 hp @ 7000 rpm (344 horsepower @ 6800 rpm with nitrous boost)
230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm (350 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm with nitrous boost)
Eaton M-62 Gen 5 Hybrid supercharger
Carbon fiber body panels (fenders, hood, doors, roof, decklid, side splitters and spoiler)
Modified suspension, tires and brakes
Glass replaced with Lexan
Corsa exhaust system
Fuel cell
Nitrous oxide system
Race paint scheme with sponsor logos
Race wheels
Minimal interior trim
Full roll cage and side net
Sparco race steering wheel
Safety system per National Auto Sport Association race rules
Sparco carbon fiber race seat
Race gauge package