Meet the Chevrolet Cruze Sport6 SS, a concept vehicle that debuted at the São Palo Motor Show recently. All you really need to know about this latest application of the vaunted Super Sport badge: 295 horsepower. Again…a Cruze that is rocking more power than a 1993 Camaro Z28, even through the front wheels. In fact, it’s getting pretty close to the output of an LS4 V8-powered Monte Carlo or Impala, and is a good size smaller of a car. Hadn’t heard of it? We hadn’t either, until we found a quick bit by Carscoops on the car. After our last experience driving Cruzes, which happened a couple of years ago on a Chevrolet press event, we decided that the car itself was fine as daily-driver material but didn’t light our fire otherwise. 153 horsepower is just barely “adequate” in our jaded eyes. But nearly 300 horsepower in a car this size? Yeah, we can get behind that. 
Look back to the 2000s for a second and cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the Dodge Neon SRT4. Both of these cars had one thing going for them: they punched well above their weight. It didn’t matter if you had the blown or turbocharged Cobalt, it didn’t matter if you had a license plate on your winged Neon that proclaimed it as a “LIL VIPER”, they were something to actually aspire to owning. They were small, nimble, fun and potent and affordable, too. If you restrained yourself, you could get modest mileage out of them and when the urge overtook you, they would play like an eager puppy, ready for more.
Cars like this don’t exist anymore. Sorry, they just don’t. Dodge failed to make the Dart a proper heir to the throne, Ford’s done with cars that aren’t called Mustang, and even with this prototype in front of your eyes, don’t take it to heart…we don’t expect this to be much more than a styling teaser or factory encouragement on what you can do to a Cruze. Unless you can swing about thirty grand or so for a V6 pony car, why bother? What if GM actually pushed the Cruze SS into production…would you bite? Would you be even the least bit interested? Or are you content to stick to an older car for your kicks?
Good for a commuter that you dont want to fall asleep driving. If reasonably priced.
Wrong wheel drive…
Agree….
You can indeed buy cars that make silly power in a small package, yet today. Or at least, cars that can be properly unlocked with a bit of tuning, and perhaps some minor parts.
That said, what’s the point? FWD can’t put power into the ground for a crap, so the handling is a never-ending fight with understeer. Not enjoyable when pushing the limits. Fun perhaps when driving at 70%, but that’s not why we have this lust for performance, now, is it?
It has to be a manual to even have a chance, but drive by wire and turbocharging
has pretty much ruined the driving experience. For me, throttle response
is way more important than ultimate HP for a daily driver. Turbo lag makes
merging way too stressful.
Doesn’t stand a chance against the Honda Civic Si Type R. 300 hp, with a stick, if the wrapper didn’t look like Optimus Prime shat it out, I would jump for Honda’s little pocket rocket. FCA should bring back AMC and build a Gremlin with a turbo 4 and an optional hemi.
Blah blah blah – now go and have a look at the Focus RS that will blow this Shitrolet into the weeds where it belongs….