At first glance, a Chevrolet Cobalt might strike the average person as a featureless economy car with an attractive price tag that compensates for its lackluster appearance. On some level, that assessment is correct. Even the word “turbo” on the higher-end model does not compel one to place this car in the same strata as legendary sports cars like the Mustang or Corvette. But when a customizer like Todd Weaver sees a small car like this, his first thought is how he can take an underdog vehicle and push it to the next level. So despite its sport compact status, it doesn’t hurt that the car’s 2-liter Ecotec turbo engine is factory-rated at 260 horsepower. With a curb weight below 2,700 pounds, that kind of power allows Weaver to take on an unmodified Mustang or two off the line.
Weaver knows higher-end performance. His previous car was a modified 2002 BMW M3. But with a slouching economy and new EPA mileage standards that went into effect in 2009, Weaver traded in his European import for a practical American driver that would burn less fuel. After researching the market, the Chevrolet Cobalt seemed like the all-around best choice. Nevertheless, it was hard to leave his modification program behind. And Weaver knew he could push the car past stock configuration without degrading its fuel economy. So he went to Kelley’s Performance shop in Bladensburg, where he began picking up parts including a high-performance Flowmaster exhaust and down pipe. The tunes emanating from the factory speakers were in need of a serious sound boost, so Weaver installed two 10-inch subwoofers in the trunk, powered by an 850-watt amplifier.
