Engine: 2 liter inline-4

Aspiration: turbocharged & intercooled

Torque: 260 lb-ft

HP: 260 hp

HP/Liter: 130 hp per liter

1/4 mile: 14.8 seconds @ 98.5 mph

0-60 mph: 6.3 seconds

Top Speed: over 150 mph

(from General Motors Press Release) With the SS moniker on its front doors and liftgate, GM Performance Division (GMPD) engineers made sure the ’08 Chevrolet HHR SS lived up to the heritage of those badges. The HHR SS is not the first production SS model developed by GMPD, with such standouts as the TrailBlazer SS and Cobalt SS Supercharged under its belt, but it is certainly the most important since the group is now responsible for the “go, stop and turn” credibility of all future SS models.

The HHR SS is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter Ecotec DI engine that delivers 260 horsepower (194 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm) with the standard five-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 235 horsepower (175 kW) with the available automatic transmission.

Features such as “no-lift shift” and other driver-selectable performance modes help the HHR SS achieve 0-60 mph performance in 6.3 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds at 98.5 mph. The top speed is more than 150 mph, with the manual transmission.

“The HHR SS offers drivers a totally integrated performance driving experience,” said John Heinricy, GM Performance Division executive. “It was developed on some of the most challenging tracks in North America and Europe, and has been tuned to deliver confident handling and road manners, while also maintaining overall ride comfort.”

As with other GM Performance Division-developed vehicles, the HHR SS was validated on Germany’s famed Nürburgring racing circuit, where it set a new lap record of 8:43.52 minutes for its class, besting the previous record of 8:54.38 held by the Opel Zafira OPC.

“It’s not often that you see a vehicle like the HHR at Nürburgring – and you certainly don’t see one lapping the track as quickly,” said Heinricy. “Frankly, the HHR SS is going to surprise a lot of enthusiasts with its improved control and feel on both the street and the track.”

2.0L Ecotec DI turbo engine details

The Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo engine produces 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch of displacement (130 hp / 97 kW per liter) and is the most powerful engine in the Ecotec family. Gasoline direct-injection technology helps the Ecotec engine produce more power while maintaining the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement port-injected engine.

With direct injection, fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn of the air/fuel mixture. Less fuel is required to produce the equivalent horsepower, especially at normal cruising speeds, of a conventional port-injection combustion system. Direct-injection technology works well with turbocharging and helps deliver a great balance of power and economy.

Highlights of the HHR SS’s Ecotec 2.0L DI turbo engine include:

* Steel crankshaft
* Forged connecting rods
* Oil-spray piston cooling
* 9.2:1 compression ratio
* Aluminum cylinder head with stainless steel intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves
* High-pressure engine-driven fuel pump
* Mobil 1 synthetic oil

Components including the steel crankshaft and forged connecting rods are high-strength items that provide strength and enhance durability. Oil-spray piston cooling helps reduce cylinder temperatures and promotes longevity by delivering pressurized oil that continuously lubricates the pistons, which reduces friction. To enhance combustion, the piston tops feature a dish shape that deflects incoming fuel toward the spark plugs.

To accommodate the direct-injection system, the Ecotec 2.0L DI turbo has a unique cylinder head and intake manifold. The cylinder head incorporates mounting locations for the fuel injectors – items that are typically mounted in the intake manifold on port-injection engines. Specialized and extremely precise multi-hole fuel injectors are used to meter fuel and deliver it in a finely atomized manner. They are supported by an engine-mounted high-pressure fuel pump.

Apart from the mounting positions of the fuel injectors, the cylinder head has conventional port and combustion chamber designs. Large stainless steel intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves are durable components designed to stand up to the high-performance capability of the engine.

The unique cylinder head, fuel system, pistons and intake manifold are the major components that differentiate the 2.0L DI turbo from other members of the Ecotec engine family. Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil is installed at the factory. Synthetic oil was selected for its friction-reducing capabilities and high-temperature performance.