http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/a ... 37014.html
260 lb/ft of torque from a 2.0L turbo. My 3.8 SC'd is rated at 280. That thing sounds like a hoot to drive. Several different reviews have given high marks for its handling.Popular Mechanics wrote: Speaking of forward thrust, the HHR SS has plenty of it. Drop the clutch on a manual SS and the 260 lb.-ft of torque will burn the front tires into a white haze. Torque steer, however, is virtually non-existent. Until that limited slip diff becomes available, Chevy has a few tech tricks up its sleeve to help owners cut a quicker 1/4-mile time at the local dragstrip and save a few trips to the tire store.
The first is Launch Control. Set the stability control to “Competitive Driving Mode” and floor the throttle with the clutch depressed. The engine will rev to 4100 rpm and stay there. Then, simply dump the clutch and Launch Control will mitigate wheelspin and help the HHR SS scoot off the line. An experienced driver may able to accelerate quicker with the system off by experimenting with different rpms and feathering the clutch, but Launch Control makes it easy. It’s perfect when that unsuspecting Dodge Caliber SRT-4 rolls up to the lane next to you at a stoplight.
The other neat drag strip-inspired feature is called No Lift Shift. This takes some getting used to, but essentially you shift gears without easing up on the throttle—you keep it floored. So what’s the difference between this feature and any other car with a rev limiter? Well, a rev limiter only keeps the engine from over-revving. No Lift Shift uses software to keep the turbo spooled up. So when you engage the clutch with the gas pedal floored, the turbo maintains boost and you get up to power quicker. Chevy says it shaves 0.07-seconds per shift. It’s weird to get used to, but it does work, so kudos to Chevy for thinking of us hot footers.
