<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"   LOS ANGELES \u2013 General Motors may be racing the clock for a 2010 debut of its $40,000 Chevy Volt plug-in halo car, then following it up with electric models from its other brands using the same technology. But that&amp;#039;s not helping right now. We need cars with better fuel economy today. So until mass-market efficiency from the Chevy Cruze and buzz-worthy electrification from the Volt touch down, less glamorous GM models like the Chevy Cobalt have been scrutinized for improved mpg. A package dubbed &amp;quot;XFE&amp;quot;\u2014for, ahem, &amp;quot;extra fuel economy&amp;quot;\u2014offers mileage tweaks so popular that it required an extra shift at the Lordstown, Ohio, plant where Cobalts are built.   We spent a week driving a 2009 Cobalt XFE sedan around town, pussyfooting the right pedal and keeping an eye on efficiency. Logging over 500 miles through a variety of conditions\u2014mostly long freeway drives punctuated with stop-and-go traffic\u2014we eked out a combined fuel economy average of 32.3 mpg, a number fairly consistent with its EPA estimate of 25 city, 37 highway. \u2014Basem Wasef  The Specs  The Chevy Cobalt sedan starts at $15,010, and our lightly optioned test car came with precious few add-ons\u2014such as ABS ($400), a spare tire and wheel ($75), floor mats and body color-moldings ($180) and a destination charge ($660). The grand total ($16,325) makes our XFE $250 more than the cheapest Honda Civic you can buy.   The XFE package consists of 15-in. wheels when ordered with a manual transmission. Though premium LT trim can be had with the XFE package, our test car was a base LS\u2014stripped of amenities like power windows and power door locks. Incidentally, LTs are slightly heavier, yet have essentially the same performance and fuel economy as LS models.   The Cobalt XFE is unassuming on the outside and spartan on the inside. Hard plastic blankets everything from the doors to the dash. And the synthetic seat fabric feels, uh, thrifty. Let&amp;#039;s just say the built-in XM satellite radio is like an oasis of luxury.   The XFE project began about 18 months ago, focusing on the overlooked ways in which fuel economy can be improved in everyday cars. &amp;quot;Every tenth [of a mile per gallon] counts,&amp;quot; explains Al Manzor, Program Engineering Manager for Cobalt and G5, who led the quest for extra mpg. The GM team worked with tire manufacturers to develop low-rolling-resistance rubber specific to the Cobalt. XFEs are equipped either with Goodyear Integrity tires (running at 35 psi), or Continental Touring Contact AS rubber (which specify 33 psi).   By adding intake and exhaust variable valve timing to the 2009 model&amp;#039;s 2.2-liter Ecotec inline Four, peak power is boosted from 148 to 155 hp, with enough of an increase in low-end torque to encourage engineers to drop the rear axle ratio from 3.74 to 3.63, for improved fuel economy. The taller ratio enables this Cobalt to reach 60 mph in second gear instead of third, and its 0-to-60 mph time remains unchanged at 8 seconds flat.   In spite of the tougher EPA certification guidelines in 2008, the highway fuel economy number jumped from 33 to 36, and again to 37 mpg for 2009. A few calibration changes also assist the fuel economy gain, including a fuel cutoff feature during deceleration, which GM engineers emphasize is transparent to the driver.  The Drive  Thanks to the tall gearing, it takes a bit of clutch slip to help get the XFE get off the line smoothly. But once underway, low-end torque is adequate to encourage short-shifting. However, there isn&amp;#039;t much temptation to push this car hard, especially since the engine isn&amp;#039;t really all that happy to hit its 6500 rpm redline.   Adjacent to the tachometer is a cog-shaped shift light that encourages optimum fuel economy. Though it tends to light up between 2000 to 3000 rpm, we found it entirely feasible to shift earlier than indicated. Instant and average mileage readings can be displayed on the small &amp;quot;Driver Info Center.&amp;quot; But getting to the information you want requires tedious scrolling through cruising range, outside temperature and trip odometers. Coast downhill, and it&amp;#039;s easy to hit 99 mpg; floor it at low speeds, and economy can dip into the single digits.   The clutch pedal feels light, but the shifter is somewhat notchy\u2014and we&amp;#039;re guessing it could become smoother with more miles on the odometer. The tall gearing might take some getting used to, but the upside is that the engine doesn&amp;#039;t ever feel like it&amp;#039;s working too hard. Fifth gear at 55 mph translates to 2000 rpm, and zealous hypermilers will be happy to know that the engine churns along at only 1500 rpm at 40 mph in top gear.   Considerable body roll accompanies hard turns, and that&amp;#039;s when those low-rolling-resistance tires start howling. But it&amp;#039;s doubtful that XFE customers will be too concerned about lateral acceleration and skidpad figures. Performance enthusiasts will no doubt find a more tempting alternative in the 260 hp Cobalt SS, the deft big brother to the scrappy XFE.   The cabin is reasonably comfortable for longer hauls, though it&amp;#039;s neither cozy nor cushy, and the absence of cruise control makes optimizing fuel economy a constant exercise. At least the Cobalt gets the job done cheaply, requiring not much more than 87 octane fuel and a light right foot.  The Bottom Line  The XFE project is a success story amidst a string of challenges and uphill battles for GM. And the XFE treatment will also be applied to the Silverado, the Tahoe, the GMC Sierra, and the GMC Yukon.   The Cobalt XFE&amp;#039;s numbers of 25 city and 37 highway are best-in-class at this time, though not all competitors&amp;#039; 2009 EPA numbers have been released yet. Truth is, the Cobalt is not the world-class compact we know GM can build. We&amp;#039;re guessing the new Chevy Cruze, its replacement, due in 2010, should get much closer to that mark. But as inexpensive, basic transportation with exceptional fuel economy, the Cobalt XFE is certainly what mainstream America needs right now.   RELATED STORIES \u2022 NEW ECONOMY TEST DRIVE: 2009 VW Jetta TDi Diesel vs. 2008 Prius Hybrid  \u2022 FIRST LOOK: Chevy Cruze &amp;amp;amp; Orlando Hint at GM&amp;#039;s Small-Car Future  \u2022 RAY WERT: Can GM Learn From Prius &amp;amp;amp; Take Volt to Mass Market?  \u2022 TEST DRIVE: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Is GM&amp;#039;s Best Sport Compact Ever   2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a12823/4284193/>