I know the HP for my 2009 2.2 was increased from 143 to 155 HP. Does anyone know exactly what GM did to get those HP gains?

 

vvt for the 2.2 now.

 

Bigger rubber band....or maybe the increased the spring tension for the wind up key.

 

aren't they DI now too?

 

they installed the 2.4 intake on the 2.2

 

Car makers love to pull this crap I guess. I'm sure they could have upped the H.P. at the start to 155, but they use this, and other ploys, like a "Carrot on a Stick" to make people want to trade for a newer model because of a few changes. It must work well enough for them to do it I suppose.

 

Actually, the 2.2 has been incrementally improved throughout the HHR's product run. Initially it was released with 143 HP, but that was back for the 2006 model year. Currently I have a 2008 with the 2.2, and mine's rated at 149 HP and 150 ft/lbs. It's not like Chevy went and changed it from 143 to 155 in one model year. Sure, mine may be down a whole 6 HP compared to 2009 models, but who cares.

 

I realize they didn't make that change in one Year. What I'm saying is that they didn't have to do it "incrementally" at all. They could have made it 155 H.P. right from the start back in 2006, but I'm sure that isn't the way automakers do things, not just Chevrolet. They have to hold some things back and "Tweek" this or that every Year to hold the car buyer's interest.
Especially so on a "Model" such as the HHR, when the 2010 looks the same as a 2006. With barely 20,000 miles on our '06, there haven't been that many changes to make me want to run, "Panting", down to the Dealer to make a trade!

 

Part of it is marketing but much of it is they continue to work on them and put in update each year. The engneers never stop working.

Sometimes it could be a change in programing or the way the dyno test were conducted.

The Fiero V6 was 140 Hp in 1985 135 in 86 and 87 and bact to 140 in 88. From what I was told it was all mostly in the dyno testing and changes in fuel injectors. In other words engineers tweeking.

 

When you're driving a 4banger without a blower who cares anyway. This is the first car I've owned that can barely get out of it's own way, but I just love it.
A small part of me wishes I would have gotten the SS but day to day it really doesn't matter to me.

I wouldn't worry about a few horses. My neighbor has the 2.4 but we both drive the same & we're not out racing our grocery wagons.