President Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers, MTV began broadcasting and moviegoers flocked to theaters to see Raiders of the Lost Ark.
In 1981, I was a fifth grader playing Pacman at the arcade the last time Chevy introduced an all-new small car.
For more than 20 years, the auto maker has fought it out in the compact-car segment with the Cavalier. But that battle-weary soldier finally is retiring and being replaced by a new recruit, the Cobalt.
The changing of the guard takes place in Santa Barbara, CA, during test drives in late December. Cobalt actually is an adequate counter attack against the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and VW Jetta.
Given that the Cobalt is based on the same platform as the miserable Saturn Ion, it was easy to surpass expectations. But Cobalt, which like Ion rides on GM's Delta front-wheel-drive architecture, does more than avoid disappointment. It is satisfying, thanks to many post-Ion upgrades such as better tires and enhanced door seals that make the cabin quieter.
There are two 4-cyl. engine offerings (a third 2.4L 175-hp mill is due next year). The 145-hp Ecotec DOHC 2.2L powerplant is standard with the base Cobalt, LS and LT models, while the supercharged 205-hp 2L is standard with the SS performance car.
Both horsepower figures massacre the on-paper output for most competitors. But while the 2.2L is polite, it needs more refinement. The base Ecotec lacks punch at low speeds, and the noise at higher rpms rips through the cabin, despite attempts to improve sound absorption.
The 2.2L is paired with the standard Getrag 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmissions. The manual's first gear is a smidgen too short. The supercharged 205-hp 2L, mated to a 5-speed manual, is as lethal as an armor-piercing bullet. The only competitor more powerful is Chrysler Group's Dodge Neon SRT-4.
The front suspension is an independent strut-type, while the rear suspension features a semi-independent torsion beam. (The SS is equipped with a bigger front stabilizer bar). The ride and handling clobbers the roughshod Ion and stands up vs. competitors. Cobalt deflects bumps and dips and hangs on well through corners. Steering is direct but a tad laborious.
Most Cobalt dimensions are bigger than the majority of entrants in the segment. But the Cobalt is porky, with a relatively high curb weight. And the Cobalt's fuel economy is the worst in the segment, beginning at 23 mpg (10 L/100 km) with the 2.2L.
However, the exterior styling disguises the Cobalt's bulkiness while the interior benefits from spaciousness. The cabin is tastefully done. A chrome strip stretches across the instrument panel and adorns most controls. But there is too much hard plastic, including the door armrests and the top of the instrument panel.
The sheet metal highlights a low-slung body and curvaceous roofline. The design ranges from routine to rowdy depending on the model. Let's just call the sedan model boring. It has nothing on the forthcoming '05 Jetta and the vibrantly designed Focus, which looks fresher than the Cobalt even though it debuted four years ago.
The Cobalt coupe, however, incorporates four round taillamps, reminiscent of recent Mazda Motor Corp. designs. The SS is outfitted with a wild wing-type spoiler, body-color ground effects and rocker moldings. It lurks on the open highway like a sniper in the woods, waiting to ambush an unsuspecting victim.
Cobalt clearly is a coup d'Ètat for Chevy.
'05 Chevrolet Cobalt LT (sedan)
Vehicle type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger 4-door sedan
Engine: 2.2L (2,189 cc) DOHC I-4, aluminum block/aluminum head
Power (SAE net): 145 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 155 lb.-ft. (210 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm
Compression ratio: 10:1
Bore × stroke (mm): 86 × 94.6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 103.3 ins. (262 cm)
Overall length: 180.5 ins. (458 cm)
Overall width: 67.9 ins. (173 cm)
Overall height: 57.1 ins. (145 cm)
Curb weight: 2,989 lbs. (1,356 kg)
EPA fuel economy, city/highway (mpg): TBD
Competition: Dodge Neon; Ford Focus; Honda Civic; Toyota Corolla; Hyundai Elantra; VW Jetta
