[AirGoya]

While General Motors may still have reputation for making gas-guzzling vehicles — largely due to vehicles like the Hummer H2 – the Detroit-based automaker does produce some rather thrifty vehicles. The Cobalt is one of those vehicles and GM just announced that the compact will be getting a little more economical.

Thanks to some engine tweaks and low roll resistant tires, all LS and 1LT model Cobalts — both coupe and sedan — equipped with a manual transmission will now achieve 36 mpg on the highway. According to GM, this puts the Cobalt at the head of the segment for fuel economy.

To commemorate the increased mileage, LS and 1LT Cobalt models with manual transmission will wear special 'XFE' (Xtra Fuel Economy) badging.

The bump in mileage is especially impressive when you consider the Cobalt has one of the biggest engines in its class — a 148 horsepower 2.2L. Most other cars in the class use either a 1.8L or 2.0L powerplant and achieve fewer highway MPGs. The Mazda3 and Dodge Caliber offer slightly larger powerplants, but come no where close to the 36 mpg mark.

The new mileage is effective for vehicles built on or after March 17. Cobalts equipped with an automatic transmission will see no changes.

Now only if GM would get rid of their 4 speed autos.
I remember hearing that they had plans to kill the 4 speed auto but has anyone heard anything else on GM actually going through with the plan?

[stovt001]

Yup, the 4 speed auto is a bit antiquated. Yup, its amazing how GM can have one of the biggest, most powerful engines in this class and still gets the best economy. Now if they'll only work on that interior a bit.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by AirGoya

Now only if GM would get rid of their 4 speed autos.
I remember hearing that they had plans to kill the 4 speed auto but has anyone heard anything else on GM actually going through with the plan?

Slowly but surely. It's not easy to switch millions of vehicles over to a new transmission.

But it is happening. They just invested in their tranny plant to increase output. The GMT900's are getting more models with A6s in them, and next year, they will offer the Malibu with a 4cyl/6speed auto pair. Only a matter of time before the 4 will be all but extinct.