Driving Impressions: Chevy HHR SS & Subaru WRX Sti

2008 Chevrolet HHR SS

by Jim Hall

The all-new Chevy HHR SS adds a ton of impressive performance-oriented features to General Motors' hot-selling, retro-styled 5-door.

The new 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected Ecotec engine boasts a stout 260 bhp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (available from a low 2000 rpm in the 5-speed manual; an even lower 1650 rpm with the 4-speed automatic). An all-new suspension design helps to all but eliminate torque steer from its front-wheel-drive layout. And while we experienced this improved handling firsthand as we ran laps in the HHR SS at the Bondurant Racing School in Chandler, Arizona, the car's engineering team did their development tuning at the famed Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

A new-look body kit and sporty accessories including 18-in. polished forged aluminum wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport all-season tires, a smaller-diameter sport steering wheel and chrome exhaust tip help to compliment the new mechanicals.

GM says that this SS version will go from 0-60 mph in only 6.3 seconds, pulls an impressive 0.86g on the skidpad, has a top speed of well over 150 mph and achieves a thrifty 29 mpg on the highway (manual transmission).

Options are few but include a more supportive driver's sport seat ($95), power sunroof ($750), side curtain head airbags ($395), and a performance package including a limited-slip differential and Brembo front brakes ($495).

What is the cost of all of this performance and economical utility? Only $22,995, including destination charge.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

by Mike Monticello

It was obvious within the first few turns that the all-new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is nothing like its toned-down-for-2008 little brother, the WRX. The STI can get angry! Yet it also possesses refinement previous versions lacked.

Right off the bat, the big news is that the new STI is a 5-door hatchback, versus the previous car's sedan body style. This helps give it a more grown-up appearance, but the flared fenders, engine-heat-extracting vents, high-mount rear wing and quad exhaust give notice this is still one serious machine.

The 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder remains similar to last year's, though with a 12-bhp increase to 305 bhp. Torque remains the same at 290 lb.-ft., but now peaks at 4000 rpm (400 rpm lower). The goal was to improve the midrange punch of an engine that was already startlingly quick. The downside is that the power now starts to drop off at 6000 rpm.

But the most important news is that the all-wheel-drive STI has not gone the wallowy-way of the WRX. The new double-wishbone rear suspension works wonders at keeping the STI planted over bumps, yet its lack of body roll helps it achieve big corner speeds on a smooth race track as well; the previous STI's choppy ride does not live on.

Bottom line: There are few cars better for attacking a twisty, unfamiliar back road than the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI.