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BAKERSFIELD, CA – Cobalt, the element, has a split personality.

Its name is derived from a German word that equates to “goblin” in English. And it can be morphed into a nuclear weapon with enough destructive potential to wipe out every life form on the planet.

So, according to these criteria, if the base-model Chevrolet Cobalt were a mischievous gnome, the ’08 Cobalt SS coupe would be “the bomb.”

Not even Chevy would go that far. But the performance-oriented iteration of the bow-tie brand’s compact segment offering boasts the basic chemistry of affordable street cred.

Start with the ’08 model’s taut exterior, uncontaminated by hood scoops and side air extractors.

Its front fascia yawns politely, framing a heat exchanger that serves the 20-psi (1.4-bar) BorgWarner turbocharger. Meanwhile, Brembo front calipers suggest potency as they peek through 18-in. forged aluminum wheels.

For tuners who just can’t help themselves, there’s a $125 raised-wing option. And according to Chevy, it’s functional, adding more than 100 lbs. (45 kg) of down-force at 120 mph (193 km/h).