Photo Credit: MotorTrend.com

This week Volkswagen broke the front wheel drive Nurburgring record with the special edition GTI Clubsport S. This Europe exclusive GTI features a 310 horsepower engine and improved aerodynamics, making it possible to set a scorching lap time of just 7m49s, unseating the Civic Type-R as the fastest front driver around the Green Hell.


The GTI Clubsport S is now part of an elite group, high performance front wheel drive cars that challenge the lap times of revered sports cars from around the globe. This elite group of cars has a very surprising member, amongst the sea of limited Edition Renaults and high-powered Hondas lives a humble coupe from America.

In 2007, Motor Trend set a Nurburgring lap of 8m22s in a Cobalt SS Turbo coupe, making it the fastest front wheel drive car around the track. This underdog from America shocked the world with its stunning performance and unbelievably fast lap time. The Cobalt’s lap is only 2 seconds off the 2010 Camaro SS and 3 seconds faster than a 2008 Lotus Exige S. Not only did the Cobalt SS surprise sports cars, it also changed the performance expectations of front wheel drive cars.


Almost a decade ago a cheap economy car from America shocked the European establishment and proved Chevy could make an amazing sport compact. The Cobalt SS was a revelation, and elevated the American sport compact to a new level of performance. It wasn’t a stripped out limited production run like many other record breakers but rather a performance trim of a basic economy car.

Watch this 2007 quality video of the Cobalt SS lapping the Ring.