Chevy Cobalt

During this age of high awareness of fuel economy and cost saving, the Chevy Cobalt XFE is a vehicle that meets the needs of today’s drivers.  While waiting with anticipation for the 2010 introduction of the Chevy Volt and the even more anticipated completely revamped version of the Cobalt, the Cruze in 2012, Chevy has introduced the Chevy Cobalt XFE.

What is XFE?

XFE stands for eXtra Fuel Efficient.  This is Chevy’s newest introduction into the fuel efficiency wars that have been inspired by the past two years of rising gas prices and economic turbulence.  GM needs a winner and they may have found it with the Cobalt XFE.  The XFE boasts (and delivers) 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.  This is a significant improvement from the 2008 Chevy Cobalt (20/32 mpg) and from other similar small cars available on the market.

The XFE project was actually started over a year ago, back in 2007 and with the jump in fuel prices in 2008, the introduction of the Chevy Cobalt XFE version could not have been timed better.  For GM, the success of this car may be the key to helping them survive this difficult economic period in their history.

How Has Chevy Accomplished XFE?

In very simplified terms, GM has made modifications to the existing Chevy Cobalt to create the XFE model.  Some of the modifications include stripping down the car to eliminate non-essential features like power windows or other things that add to the weight of the vehicle and drag down the fuel efficiency.  If you are interested in the Chevy Cobalt XFE, be prepared.  This is not a luxury car by any means.  It is a simple vehicle to get you from point A to point B, although it does retain essentials like air conditioning.

The other way that GM approached the problem of improving fuel efficiency was to make changes to the intake and exhaust system that resulted in a boost in power from 148 hp to 155 hp, making it possible for the Cobalt XFE to cruise at speeds of 60 miles per hour while still in second gear.  The XFE package is standard with all five speed manual transmissions but is not available with automatic transmissions.

GM also changed the type of tires they equip the Chevy Cobalt XFE with to tires that are harder and have less road resistance than other tires.

Summary

The Chevy Cobalt XFE is the newest introduction to the fuel efficiency race from GM.  By stripping down non-essential features and reducing the weight of the automobile, GM has been able to increase fuel efficiency.  Other means by which they accomplished their goal of fuel efficiency include improving horsepower and changing standard tires.