<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Hhr]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Hhr]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/hhr http://jalopnik.com/tag/hhr <![CDATA[GM Axes Every High-Performance Trim Level Except Important Ones]]> GM's already axed the Chevy Impala SS, Cobalt SS Sedan, Pontiac G6 GXP, Cadillac STS-V. Confirmed dead now include HHR SS and Cobalt SS coupe. But the Camaro SS, CTS-V and ZR1 still live. [KickingTires] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5246047&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[HHRamino Makes Chevy HHR Seem Palatable]]> In any form other than the Chevy HHR SS, the too-retro, too-small station wagon "High Heritage Roofline" leaves a strange aftertaste. It borrows liberally from Chevrolet design themes of the fifties, and yet pays no respect to what made them timeless classics. It's a car with a stolen identity. And yet, somehow, when you lop the back end of it off, put a stainless steel bed and a tail gate in there, it looks damn good. Senor htrodblder found this shining example of caminoization at the HHR Club, and we are happy to pass on the coolness on to you — especially since it reminds us of the '51 Chevy 3100 we have back home, awaiting restoration and a fresh 350. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398201&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chevrolet HHR SS, Part 2]]> Why You Should Buy This Car: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=335066&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chevrolet HHR SS, Part 1]]> Chevrolet is pretty serious about their new HHR SS, so they schlepped out the biggest gun in their arsenal to introduce the fast wagon to us; Maximum Bob Lutz. While he did admit that SS is "an unfortunate badge" in Europe, Lutz's talk was your standard corporate hyperbole. Chevrolet has reinvented the wheel, put a man on the moon, cured cancer and figured out a way to slice bread better. Most of the other journalists were busy taking notes while I was deep in thought trying to figure out how many point font to make our "Yeah, right" headline. After all, it's just a hopped up HHR, right? Suddenly my ears perked up as I heard Bob say, "A stock HHR SS lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes and 43 seconds." Alarms start going off in my head. What? More accurately, "Yeah right." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=334563&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2008 Chevy HHR SS First Drive Preview: World's 2nd Fastest Breadvan, Priced At $22,995]]> I woke up this morning in Arizona and spent the day happily hooning the go fast Nurburgring-tuned version of Chevrolet's HHR on freeways, twisty mountain two-laners and the Bondurant Road Course. How does the car drive? How's the Launch Mode? How do 260 horses and 260 ft-lb of torque feel through the front wheels? How much does it cost? Why did Bob Lutz call me a "pinhead?" We'll answer a few questions — and show you the Chevy press release — after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=333870&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[SEMA 2007: Chevrolet HHR Panel SS Revealed Live, We Check Out The Big Red Rear End]]> Check out the inside of the back end of the newly revealed Chevy HHR Panel SS custom concept. How bad of a case of the red-ass does this SuperSport have with all of that hot red leather? Yeah, that's right — that's all red leather covering the interior of the cargo bay from the waistline up. Because this HHR SS is for show, for go and for hauling. Or as one PR person for Chevy claimed, "if the HHR Panel Van is for the small businessman, the HHR Panel SS is for the sporty small businessman." Or at least it's for the small businessman with a flair for Moulin Rouge. We'll have more later we're sure. For now, hit the jump for the press release. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=316594&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2009 Chevy HHR SS Panel SEMA Concept]]> In addition to the 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS we showed you earlier this weekend, the 'merican Revolution will also be showing off a concept panel van built off the 2008 HHR SS. It's one of those "concepts" in the loosest sense of the term as it "previews a forthcoming production model differing only slightly from the stylized SEMA concept." The Panel SS takes the production 2008 HHR SS's turbocharged powertrain that we showed you first during the Woodward Dream Cruise this past summer and rips off the windows on the rear two-thirds of the vehicle to give you the full tunnel effect you expect from the HHR panel van. Expect to see the HHR Panel SS limited-edition production model, with it's front-wheel drive and all 260 horses, to be offered at Chevy dealers starting in the 2009 model year. Don't expect the red leather-wrapped dash on the production model. Full press release after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=315971&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2008 Chevy HHR SS In Black Gives Us A "Show", But Can The Car Also "Go"?]]> One of us likes his cars black, the same way he likes his coffee. But the black Chevy HHR SS we spotted at the HHR SS reveal yesterday and that we've got pictured up above and in the gallery below — may have some "Go" to go along with the "Show." You see, this particular tester is the actual prototype HHR SS the GM engineers took around the Nurburgring with a lap time of 8:43.52 minutes. The engineering team's even commemorated the run by dropping an adorable little red 'ring graphic on to the back of this particular esh-esh tester. There's also something fun we learned about the traction control system in the new HHR SS — the system llows the driver to slip into several SS-specific modes, including a "competition" mode that is designed for closed course performance driving and adjusts chassis controls (including turning off traction control) in controlled driving conditions. The second non-normal mode is a "Launch Control" function — similar to what can be found in performance models from other automakers — that's part of the competition mode and enables consistent acceleration performance. That'll be good for all of those drag-strip racers... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290654&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Live From The Woodward Dream Cruise, It's The Chevy HHR SS Reveal!]]> After all the hoopla, we're now done with our coverage of the Chevy HHR SS. We've just seen "Maximum" Bob Lutz drive the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS into the parking lot here at the Athens Coney Island on Woodward Avenue in lovely Birmingham, MI and we now feel we can die complete. OK, that's a lie. Really, it was kind of a let-down. No fireworks, no explosions of flame. It was actually all rather pedestrian. Other than some quick words from Chevy chief Ed Peper and Bob Lutz making the worst joke ever (something involving putting the "Bob" in "Bob-She-Bop" wethinks), you didn't miss much other than the opportunity to see the HHR SS live and up-close. So if you can't make it down here to check it out this weekend, instead feast your eyes on the turbocharged red-hotness in our gallery below. We're going to go find out what those dastardly boys from the Blog all about Autos are doing with a video camera and Ed Peper. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290386&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Chevy HHR SS Is Getting Restless...]]> There, there boy — hold yer horses — all 260 of them. They'll be lettin' you out from under that thar new-car condom shortly. For the time being, just relax. The reveal is set for 4:00 PM and we'll be there live. For the time being, sate yourself with our press shots, "Maximum" Bob and the sounds and video of the newly SS-badged HHR running 'round the road. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290312&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS Lets Us Hear Its Engine As It Runs Away From "Maximum" Bob Lutz]]> More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290084&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Bob Lutz On The Chevy HHR SS: "Muscle Car Performance...That Goes Like Hell"]]> More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=290056&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2008 Chevrolet HHR SS: 260 HP Of Turbocharged Retro-ness]]> There's a new member of the SS family hitting the streets of Detroit tonight in honor of the Woodward Dream Cruise — it's the new 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS. The new all-capital letter retro-truckagan gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled Ecotec engine under the hood. That engine hits 260 horses on the top end, but that's not the limit to upgrades from Chevy. The SS edition will also get a "Nürburgring-tuned FE5 sport suspension" to keep those tires as best to the road as the front wheel drive can get it. In addition you'll also get some interior and exterior visual enhancements from the folks at GM's Performance Division. Hit the jump for the full release and head back over here tomorrow afternoon as we'll see the new edition Chevy HHR SS revealed in person on Woodward Avenue. You'll be able to see it in person in Chevy dealerships beginning in the fall of this year. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=289483&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ Chevy HHR SS will have an available automatic...]]> Chevy HHR SS will have an available automatic tranny. [Autoblog] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=282246&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spy Photos: Chevrolet HHR SS]]> Well, we told you we spotted one over in Ann Arbor a while back. But while our camera wasn't quick enough to take a snappy pic of the SS-flavored Chevy HHR, Chris Doane's of Priddy's pride of spy photogs was. And here's what they've told Car & Driver about the Super Sport version of Chevy's not-a-PT Cruiser:
"The hopped-up HHR will don Chevrolet's ubiquitous SS moniker, but unlike certain cars bearing those once-hallowed letters—namely, the nonsupercharged Cobalt SS and the outgoing Malibu SS—the HHR SS will mean it, powered as it will be by the 260-hp, 260-lb-ft, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line mated to a six-speed manual transmission."
That's nice and all, but given the vehicle's only built for front-wheel drive, that power boost will more than likely create a heck of a lot of torque steer. Still — for lovers of the PT Cruiser HHR, we're assuming this'll be some good news. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=271816&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Super Bowl Ad Watch: Men Want To Bump N' Grind With The Chevy HHR???]]> Eew. Gross. And really, on this college kid produced Super Bowl ad for the General's Chevy brand — that's all we're gonna say about that. I think we may have just vomited in our mouths a little. Although we've got to look on the bright side — at least Johnny O'Connell wasn't in this one as well. I can take the man singing in good humor, but stripping...umm, no. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=233786&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Jalopnik Exclusive: We Test GM's Patience And Personal Audio Link System For The iPod]]> The ability to run your iPod in your car through your head unit (either via the radio faceplate or the steering wheel) is kind of like the Holy Grail to auto-loving audiophiles with a hankering for digital audio. I already drive, eat, drink and e-mail all at the same time, so throwing the iPod into the mix doesn't help much. So any opportunity I've got to use the iPod via the radio interface makes me almost giddy. Given that, I have to say the General's Personal Audio Link system (PAL) is better than what I've currently got, but nowhere near as robust as other systems out there, but at $159 — it's also cheaper than any other system currently on the market as a dealer-installed feature. Given that, I feel kind of bad for the engineer who had to get into the car with us outside of Cobo Hall the other day at the Detroit Auto Show. I mean, it's hard enough trying to ride in the same car as me when I'm driving — but to also have to deal with my eclectic musical tastes — that's more punishment than anyone should ever have to deal with. Check out the video above for more details on the system and for the fun we had the other morning. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=228104&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Detroit Auto Show Preview: Attack Of The Variants! Chevy Unveils HHR Premiere Edition]]>
Oh yay — another Chevrolet HHR variant. I am so very excited about the prospect of seeing Chevy's most recent preview for the Detroit Auto Show up close and personal next weekend. It's yet another unveiling of a vehicle we've already seen, only in a new color combination. I find myself hardly able to contain the joy inside of me. In fact, I'm so excited I think I've found it's caused me to spontaneously wiggle my little toe. That is how excited I am. And who, other than the four people who aren't Bob Lutz collecting the whole set, wouldn't be excited over the prospect of another HHR variant? I mean, come on — this one has 17" black chrome wheels, a black chrome exterior package, a "special" Cappuccino Frost Metallic exterior color and a "special" Ebony/Gray two-tone interior. Especially with all that special beginning production early in the first quarter of 2007. If you're really still interested, hit the jump for the press release. We're going to go and do something extreme now, like drink some weak tea. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=224585&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Like A Rock? Chevy HHR Panel Van Gets A Starting Price Of $16,750]]> Judging by the number of comments we received on the post for the unveiling of the Chevrolet HHR panel edition, some folks are really excited about it — and have we got some news for the five of you. Pricing is now available for the General's exercise in fleet average fuel economy reduction through selling a car as a truck. You'll be looking at a starting price of $16,750, and that means that for a price setting you back 200 extra clams than the base price of the "normal" five-seat version, you'll get 3 less seats, five less windows and one less door. Now that's the value we expect from a value-branded badge of General Motors. No wonder the automaker's in the state it's in. Full release after the jump. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=220588&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spy Photos Without Photos: Chevrolet HHR SomethingSomething Spotted In Ann Arbor, We Forget Camera]]> While walking back from dropping a few quarters into the old parking meter outside of Zingerman's deli on Detroit Street in Ann Arbor today — where I spent the morning ingesting coffee and a egg n' cheese bagel sandwich after a night of liquor with recent Jalop alumn Mike Austin— where what should I see driving by, but a black Chevrolet HHR in fascia obscura black mask. The black-as-night cladding appeared to be covering an intercooler in the front, which matches what we've heard from spy photogs and "people in the know" at the General that the HHR Super Sport would receive Pontiac Solstice GXP's turbocharged four-cylinder with a rating of 260 hp. Unfortunately, I had left my camera in my bag in the deli of delicious delectables, so we were unable to provide you any photographic proof — not that anyone cares, as there's more than enough of that already out there and anyways, it's still an SS-badge on a FWD vehicle. Of course, because it still had the LT badge on the back, it could have been anything — but oh yeah, it's still an HHR. But, there's a picture of Zingerman's up top, just because the sandwiches are epic. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=218854&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spy Photos: Still More on the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS]]> Edmunds Inside Line says the (sort of) confirmed Chevrolet HHR SS will get GM's new, 2.0-liter, turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine, which makes 260 hp in the Pontiac Solstice GXP. That's one of the engine options speculators have been kicking around; the other being the 173-hp 2.4-liter four in the Cobalt SS. N rburgring-tuned suspension tweaks are expected to give the wafty wagon a tauter feel, as will revisions to the power steering kit. A front air dam will also denote the SS from its pedestrian siblings, though hopefully a scary amount of torque steer will not. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=214917&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chevrolet HHR SS Confirmed]]> A Chevrolet marketing executive confirmed to Automotive News that the company is indeed planning an SS version of the Chevrolet HHR. While the engine choice has yet to be confirmed, some believe it will get the same 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four that'll power the Pontiac Solstice GXP, while others expect the less-powerful (173 hp) 2.4-liter four from the Cobalt SS. The latter engine is the most likely, considering the HHR is built on the same platform as the Cobalt, though we'd hope GM has the cojones to aim just a bit higher. Spies who've seen (and heard) the SS on Germany's N rburgring say that may be likely. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=209512&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Chevrolet Unveils HHR Panel Van in Miami]]> It was bound to happen, though we thought Chrysler would beat it to market. Chevrolet today at the Miami auto show (oye, mami!) announced it will offer a windowless, panel van version of its HHR retro wagon. The Chevy HHR Panel also has a set of rear cargo doors instead of conventional ones. Seems like an awful lot of to-do just to try and win the Geek Squad account. Press release after the jump. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=205857&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GM Releases An HHR Variant, Jalopnik Underwhelmed]]> Lame. Seriously. In fact, we haven't seen an idea this lame since the silliness that is each year's "Dream Cruise Edition" PT Cruiser. We're not even going to dignify this by writing about it. If you're seriously interested in an all-black Chevy HHR called the "Fall Limited Edition" there's a press release after the jump. Normally we'd also tell you there's more pictures after the jump, but it's so lame the General didn't even bother giving out more than one picture of the li'l 4-banger with the li'l gangsta delivery look. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201779&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spy Photos: Release the Chevrolet HHR SS Already!]]> C'mon. How much more of this Chevrolet HHR SS do we have to see before the General ships it to the curb? These shots find the SS down N rburgring way, where GM is becoming quite OCD about testing its performance-oriented models — tuning the suspension, brakes and steering to the Green Hell's tricky bends, blind corners, and "i've killed more Grand Prix racers than you can name" comport. As is oft stated, the SS model will get the same 260-hp direct-injection turbocharged four found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line. Word is, opening day will be in mid 2007. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=201340&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[GM Says To Dealers: No Gas For You!]]> Like the Soup Nazi, the General's laying down the law on dealerships in the latest missive from the bean-counting bureaucrats at the RenCen (Note — in today's episode, the part of "bean-counting bureaucrat" will be played by GM Veep of Industry Dealer Affairs, William Powell), by making it clear they'll no longer reimburse dealers for a full of tank of gas upon delivery. Instead, the Detroit-based automaker will be handing the dealership $20 for cars and $30 for trucks — which if we've calculated correctly, will mean the dealer will be able to pump just over six gallons into a car and ten gallons into a truck without dipping into their own pockets. Hmm...since the tank of a Chevy Aveo (pronounced with the em-pha-sis on whatever syll-a-ble feels right on to ya) holds 11 gallons and a Chevy Silverado holds 34 gallons — that'll be a differential of five gallons and 24 gallons in a truck. So who's gonna pick up that cost? Well, the dealer will initially...but fear not consumers, we expect you'll start seeing a "fuel delivery charge" soon added as a box on your next car purchase or lease agreement. We've got the full dealer communique just a click of the jump away — as well as the Ministry of Truth-like graphic from the General explaining which products are cars, and which are trucks. In case you're confused, the car-based HHR is a truck, but the truck-based Chevy SSR is a car. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=195512&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spy Photos: Chevrolet HHR SS]]> We appear to have angered some members of one Chevy HHR forum, who've gotten all grumpy about how their beloved wagons have been portrayed of late on this site, f-in squids that they are (whoops, did we say that out loud?). Maybe they'll be less defensive when Chevrolet puts out a proper performance version, which could be soon if these pics on The Winding Road are an indication of HHRs to come. A telltale intercooler seems to suggest the HHR will get GM's new 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Ecotec four banger, which will put out 260hp in the upcoming Pontiac Solstice. It'd be a great move on GM's part, since such an HHR SS will best the Chrysler PT Cruiser GT's 230 hp. See guys? Good frickin' news, here. Come and get it. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=178757&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Rental-Car Reacharound: Chevrolet HHR]]> Imagine you've landed on a tropical island and your first stop after baggage claim is the unnamed, ubiquitous car rental agency. You could go for the convertible Ford Mustang, but the price of admission is out of your league. The Chevrolet Impala is the reasonable choice but its vanilla appearance (and performance) annuls any umbrella-drink fantasies yet to be fulfilled. After exhausting all of the options and the patience of the folks behind you in line, a silver HHR is insured, signed for and piloted onto the H1, the major interstate (yes, interstate) that leads to Honolulu, Hawaii. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=178094&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dan Neil on the Chevrolet HHR]]> This week, the LA Times's Dan Neil takes his Pulie and sticks it up the Chevrolet HHR's tailpipe with such figurative vigor, we're tempted to just hit copy-and-paste, shut the lights, and go get sugarplummed on Applebee's margaritas. Instead of wasting the HHR with a single, jungle-clearing BLU-82, labeled "poseur," he addresses the HHR's cultural failings like a lone Delta Force operative.
There is a Detroit-cloistered quality to the HHR, and not simply because it is such a pointed response to a crosstown rival. The HHR wants to capitalize on a sentiment.
More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=145872&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[More Custom GM Cruisers, Er, HHRs]]> As if we needed further proof that the Chevy HHR is following way too closely in the PT Cruiser's footsteps, the raft of customized HHRs at the SEMA Show tend to feature all of the same tricks that have been pulled on DCX's retro-wagon over the last five years. The woody and/or panel truck trend seemed especially prevalent this time around, with Godfather Customs' example above being the most extreme example we saw. We're all for traditional hot rod cues used judiciously on modern vehicles, but it's highly debatable whether airbrushed wood counts as such. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=135248&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fast Impressions: The (Ambiguously) Gay Pumpkin]]> So we stopped into the rental agency at LAX yesterday and asked what we might hope to score for our drive to San Diego. The woman behind the counter said, "Oh, an Aveo or a Cavalier." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=134564&view=rss&microfeed=true