Following hard onthe heels of its successful Cavalier front-drive sport-compact dragster,Chevrolet has created the Cobalt Phase 5 to give amateur racers something to buildwith parts from GM's own accessory house and other aftermarket suppliers.
Theproduction-based race car features powertrain, chassis and safety componentsdeveloped by GM Racing, including a race-prepared Ecotec engine that puts outmore than the 500 hp that inspired the Phase 5 name.
GM Racingdirector Doug Duchardt says quite candidly that Chevrolet hopes to earn thesame kind of success that it's had in almost every other type of racing, thekind that made it the ''winningest'' brand in North American racing.
''Now Chevroletwill revolutionize this distinctly North American sport again with the introductionof the Cobalt Phase 5,'' says Duchardt. Developed and tested by GM engineers, ''thisrace car is an example of what sport compact performance enthusiasts can do tocreate their own Cobalt race cars.''
Indeed, Duchardthopes to see some privateers running the Cobalt Phase 5 in the 2005 racingseason. The Cobalt Phase 5 dragster was created by the same team of GM Racingengineers who developed the championship-winning front-wheel-drive race carsdriven by Nelson Hoyos and Marty Ladwig.
The heart of thePhase 5 Cobalt is a turbocharged 2.2-liter Ecotec engine that's been modifiedto produce 535 hp at 7,800 rpm and 367 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm, whileretaining 65 percent of the production engine parts.
According toDuchardt, the race car features GM and aftermarket components, including arace-prepared Hydra-Matic 4T65-E automatic suspension, suspension upgrades, andperformance electronics.
''Chevrolet hascaptured the attention of sport compact tuners across the continent through itsPRO FWD sport compact drag racing and top-level NHRA programs," says FredSimmonds, GM Racing drag racing manager. ''Now GM is opening the door for themto race with Chevy by offering components specifically engineered for sportcompact drag racing. Starting with the new Cobalt's world-class architecture, asport compact racer can install components of the Phase 5 package as his or hertime and budget allow.''
To make it aseasy as possible to campaign a Phase 5 privately, GM has created an instructionmanual that Simmonds says will ''guide enthusiasts through the step-by-step modificationsto prepare a production Cobalt for quarter-mile competition.''
The car was designed to allow for ''astraightforward installation of the individual components,'' explains CarmenSmith, GM Racing program manager for sport compact drag racing. ''We havecreated a car that racers can build in their own shops using available parts.For example, the front suspension includes GM production uprights and anaftermarket coil-over kit.''
Many of thecomponents of the Phase 5 package are available from GM Performance Parts,Smith says, including a ported Ecotec cylinder head, competition camshafts,adjustable camshaft drive gears, neutral balance shafts, and a race-preparedtransmission. The rear suspension is a bolt-on assembly from the Cobalt SSSupercharged with an upgraded sway bar, five-bolt hubs and disc brakes.
Items such asthe turbocharger, engine management system, struts, shocks and safety equipmentare available from aftermarket suppliers.
Duchardtunderscores the point that ''safety is the No. 1 priority at GM Racing, andlessons learned in other GM programs have been applied to the Cobalt Phase 5dragster.''
Theproduction-based race car features powertrain, chassis and safety componentsdeveloped by GM Racing, including a race-prepared Ecotec engine that puts outmore than the 500 hp that inspired the Phase 5 name.
GM Racingdirector Doug Duchardt says quite candidly that Chevrolet hopes to earn thesame kind of success that it's had in almost every other type of racing, thekind that made it the ''winningest'' brand in North American racing.
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Indeed, Duchardthopes to see some privateers running the Cobalt Phase 5 in the 2005 racingseason. The Cobalt Phase 5 dragster was created by the same team of GM Racingengineers who developed the championship-winning front-wheel-drive race carsdriven by Nelson Hoyos and Marty Ladwig.
The heart of thePhase 5 Cobalt is a turbocharged 2.2-liter Ecotec engine that's been modifiedto produce 535 hp at 7,800 rpm and 367 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm, whileretaining 65 percent of the production engine parts.
According toDuchardt, the race car features GM and aftermarket components, including arace-prepared Hydra-Matic 4T65-E automatic suspension, suspension upgrades, andperformance electronics.
''Chevrolet hascaptured the attention of sport compact tuners across the continent through itsPRO FWD sport compact drag racing and top-level NHRA programs," says FredSimmonds, GM Racing drag racing manager. ''Now GM is opening the door for themto race with Chevy by offering components specifically engineered for sportcompact drag racing. Starting with the new Cobalt's world-class architecture, asport compact racer can install components of the Phase 5 package as his or hertime and budget allow.''
To make it aseasy as possible to campaign a Phase 5 privately, GM has created an instructionmanual that Simmonds says will ''guide enthusiasts through the step-by-step modificationsto prepare a production Cobalt for quarter-mile competition.''
The car was designed to allow for ''astraightforward installation of the individual components,'' explains CarmenSmith, GM Racing program manager for sport compact drag racing. ''We havecreated a car that racers can build in their own shops using available parts.For example, the front suspension includes GM production uprights and anaftermarket coil-over kit.''
Many of thecomponents of the Phase 5 package are available from GM Performance Parts,Smith says, including a ported Ecotec cylinder head, competition camshafts,adjustable camshaft drive gears, neutral balance shafts, and a race-preparedtransmission. The rear suspension is a bolt-on assembly from the Cobalt SSSupercharged with an upgraded sway bar, five-bolt hubs and disc brakes.
Items such asthe turbocharger, engine management system, struts, shocks and safety equipmentare available from aftermarket suppliers.
Duchardtunderscores the point that ''safety is the No. 1 priority at GM Racing, andlessons learned in other GM programs have been applied to the Cobalt Phase 5dragster.''