Topic: Cobalt XFE.... best in class Highway Economy

[drederick]

I can't find a link directly to it - but here is a link to the GM site that has the info posted:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f38/cobalt-fuel-milage-improvement-63093/

This is from GM Dealerworld:
Subject:2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Fuel Economy Improvement Announcement Effective March 17, 2008
Cobalt

The Chevrolet Cobalt Marketing Team is excited to announce a significant fuel economy improvement on the 2008 Cobalt. Effective March 17, 2008 , any LS or 1LT Cobalt Coupe or Sedan model ordered with manual transmissions will get 36 miles per gallon on the highway. This three mile per gallon improvement now gives Cobalt the best in class manual transmission highway fuel economy.

To make these Cobalt models stand out a new badge has been added to the right side of the trunk lid labeled "XFE" (Xtra Fuel Economy).




Quick Answers Regarding Cobalt XFE

How do I order a Cobalt that gets 36 miles per gallon on the highway?
-Effective immediately, any LS or 1LT model coupe or sedan ordered with a manual transmission will get 36 miles per gallon highway.

With 36 MPG what competitors does this Cobalt beat in highway fuel economy? Just a few are:
-2008 Honda Civic 34 MPG
-2008 Ford Focus 35 MPG
-2009 Toyota Corolla 35 MPG
-2008 Mini Cooper S 34 MPG
-2008 Mazda3 32 MPG
-2008 Dodge Caliber 29 MPG
-2008 Honda Fit 34 MPG
-2008 Toyota Matrix 33 MPG
-2008 Nissan Sentra 33 MPG
-2008 Nissan Versa 33 MPG

Is there a special badge?
-Yes, there is all new XFE badge located on the right side of the trunk deck lid.

Is the Cobalt window sticker revised to reflect 36 MPG?
-Yes, starting with production on March 17, 2008 and after, LS & 1LT models with manual transmission will have a widow sticker that reads 36 MPG.

What does XFE stand for?
-Xtra Fuel Economy.

How did this improvement in fuel economy happen?
-Engine calibration, improved tires and a few other special items we don't want the competitors to know about..

Does this improved fuel economy apply to both Coupe & Sedan LS and 1LT manual transmission models?
-Yes.

[rrocket]

I don't know if this is a US press release or now....But at the US site it shows the "regular" Cobalt getting 31MPG...so this would only be 34MPG.......(According to US EPA) 

And the Corolla gets 37MPG, by the way...(nice try GM)......

[Ice]

I don't know if this is a US press release or now....But at the US site it shows the "regular" Cobalt getting 31MPG...so this would only be 34MPG.......(According to US EPA) 

And the Corolla gets 37MPG, by the way...(nice try GM)......

According to the Toyota website its 27/35mpg (city/highway) for the 1.8L engine.

[rrocket]

According to US EPA it's 37......And those are the numbers that you get on the window sticker...

[LBJGH]

The problem is that the car is a GM.

Depreciation alone will more than kill 1 or 2 mpg.  Look at the big picture.

[Serniter]

Depreciation alone will more than kill 1 or 2 mpg.  Look at the big picture.

At least it won't be fuel economy that killed the sale...

[EV Dan]

According to toyota.ca the corolla is 38-50 (!) MPG. So it all depends on how you count..

[The Mighty Duck]

Is there a special badge?
-Yes, there is all new XFE badge located on the right side of the trunk deck lid.

What does XFE stand for?
-Xtra Fuel Economy.

 

Wow...

[Wolfe]

How did this improvement in fuel economy happen?
-Engine calibration, improved tires and a few other special items we don't want the competitors to know about..

Low rolling resistance tires are not an improvement IMO.



Good for GM to increase the fuel mileage of the car but this hardly matters (aside from PR) unless they apply this to the automatic transmission Cobalts.

[drederick]

I don't know if this is a US press release or now....But at the US site it shows the "regular" Cobalt getting 31MPG...so this would only be 34MPG.......(According to US EPA) 

And the Corolla gets 37MPG, by the way...(nice try GM)......

http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/

Look at the Cobalt fuel economy for the 2.2 5speed manual.... 24/33 hmmm I think your confused and looked at the auto mpg

and now for Toyota:
http://www.toyotausa.com/corolla/specs.html

Oh geez Toyota got it WRONG because they say the 09 Corolla gets 27/35 on their 'official' website

Nice try Toyota!

[rrocket]

^^^^Give it up already.  All MPG figures on stickers are by the EPA or Ministry.  NOT what the manufacturer says.  And not only that...according to the US EPA, the Cobalt is a SUBCOMPACT and the Corolla a COMPACT.  So Chevy is trying to put one over by comparing Subcompact mileage to some cars on that list that are Compact.

So Chevy's "Best in Class" statement is dubious at best....

[drederick]

^^^^Give it up already.  All MPG figures on stickers are by the EPA or Ministry.  NOT what the manufacturer says.

OK so now your saying Toyota is WRONG as well? is this artic? So if what your saying is true, then answer this:
why would Toyota put a lower mpg on their Official website than they could?

P.S. I am not sure where your getting your info from as I could find nothing for the 2009 Corolla at www.epa.gov and there is no 2009 info at the http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ site that I could find

maybe it is wishful (and incorrect) thinking?

[rrocket]

^^^^In it's class of Subcompact, the Yaris, the Mini Clubman and the Civic (to name a few) all achieve same or better mileage than the Cobalt.  Definitely NOT class leader.

And yea...the EPA site has no listing for the 2009 Corolla.  Curious.  I'll stand corrected that the new Corolla is 35 MPG until I see the figures on the EPA site.  But it's a moot point anyways...others in the same class achieve same or better mileage than the Cobalt.

And again..just so you're clear..."official" MPG figures come from the testings of the EPA or Ministry, and not what the manufacturer says (for obvious reasons.)

[wing]

Good for GM is all I say.  Except crappy tires is a shitty way to do it, I'm sure they aren't the only company that does it.

[Cord]

All MPG figures on stickers are by the EPA or Ministry.  NOT what the manufacturer says.

From the EPA site:

Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

So GM has increased the fuel economy of the Cobalt to what is arguably best in class. Why the derision? Why the scorn? And what's all this hand wringing about the tires? Does anybody seriously believe that the Fit, Versa, Yaris, Focus, etc. don't come with low rolling resistance tires?

(The name is dorky though) 

[RunsinLight]

I didn't think it was possible to make the back of this car any uglier but another badge would do the trick.

[rrocket]

All MPG figures on stickers are by the EPA or Ministry.  NOT what the manufacturer says.

From the EPA site:

Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

So GM has increased the fuel economy of the Cobalt to what is arguably best in class. Why the derision? Why the scorn? And what's all this hand wringing about the tires? Does anybody seriously believe that the Fit, Versa, Yaris, Focus, etc. don't come with low rolling resistance tires?

(The name is dorky though) 

But it's NOT best in class.....

I will say that's I don't doubt the mileage the Cobalt gets though..and would not be the least bit surprised if a driver who is VERY easy on the pedal could even get better than EPA mileage....

[tpl]

Our Fit may be only a mere 2007 but it gets more than 34 mpg in the freaking city with snow tires at -10 to -20... nearer 37 in fact

As the weather warms up we are back to 39-40mpg and now the regular tires are on I'll expect to be back to the 42-44mpg overall that we got last summer & fall.

Cord, I am sure that the Dunlops that come on the fit are low rolling resistance... they sure are low grip.

[rrocket]

^^^^I agree.  My Echo is very near to 50 US MPG. 

[EV Dan]

Canadian Toyota website provides 38-50 MPG for 09 'rolla referring to EnerGuide test results. GM.ca "estimates" 2008 cobalt manual to be within 31-48 MPG, I'm not even sure where they get the numbers from.