By: ROBINSON/BEINTEMA AUTOFILES

At the 2007 Sport Compact Performance show, Canada's premiere celebration of automotive tuner and performance enthusiasts, GM Canada unveiled the newest member of Chevrolet's SS family, the 2008 HHR SS.

Arriving in Canadian Chevrolet dealerships in the first quarter of 2008, the SS model combines uncompromising performance, with the style and capability of the popular HHR family.  It features a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L Ecotec engine that produces 260 hp plus unique exterior styling and an SS-specific interior.

Additional standard features include all-new front and rear fascias, new front grilles, a rear spoiler and 18-inch polished forged aluminum wheels wrapped with Michelin performance all-season tires.

Inside, SS-embroidered sport seats - with suede like inserts - a new gauge cluster with 225-km/h speedometer, an A-pillar boost gauge and a new, driver-oriented steering wheel and shifter support its serious driving capabilities.

The 2008 HHR SS was engineered by GM Performance Division (GMPD) with a team of engineers and designers dedicated to crafting only high-performance vehicles.  The HHR SS was engineered to offer more than simply increased power. An all-new FE5 Sport suspension was developed and tuned at Germany's famed Nürburgring racing circuit. It includes specific stabilizer bars, spring rates and damper tuning - all designed to complement the turbocharged powertrain.

Consequently, the HHR SS delivers a sports car-like maximum lateral grip of 0.86 g (with manual transmission). Braking is also enhanced with four-wheel discs with standard ABS. StabiliTrak electronically controlled stability control system is standard.

The HHR SS's performance rubber meets the road via Michelin Pilot Sport MXM4 P225/45R18 tires mounted on 18-inch polished forged aluminum five-spoke wheels.

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