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The formula for a successful car at Chevrolet requires a dash of “zip,“ a dose of “vitality“ and a heathly serving of “life,“ and just to ensureit doesn`t get a half-baked reaction from the public, you “add a bit ofschmaltz.“

That`s how Chevy marketing manager Tom Staudt describes what went intocooking up the Cavalier Z-24 for 1988.

The zip, vitality and life comes from the standard 130 horsepowermultiport, fuel-injected, 2.8-liter V-6 under the hood. All other Cavaliershave a 90 horsepower, fuel-injected, two-liter, 4-cylinder as standard.

The schmaltz comes from the decorations the Z-24 is wrapped in-theplastic ground-effects rockers and flared extensions, air dam, color-keyedbumpers, styled aluminum wheels, deck lid spoiler and hood bulge.

The Z-24 has been around for two years. It started life as a ratherordinary Cavalier economy subcompact with a few decals strategically located. For `88, Cavalier coupes have been restyled and feature a semi-slant-back rearend similar to the larger and more expensive compact Beretta. The Z-24performance package is added to a more stylish vehicle. And for the firsttime, the Z-24 is available as a convertible.

“Some of our cars are of the bland variety,“ Staudt said in anunderstatement. “When you only have $12,000 to $14,000 to spend but likeperformance, you should have access to a car that`s still a turn on. The Z-24 draws on the (Camaro) Z-28 heritage.“

We test-drove the Z-24 in Detroit and Chicago with the standard five-speed manual and optional automatic ($415). With either the car is quick,but the manual is a bit notchy and automatic is preferred-especially when you consider resale value drops sharply on five-speeds outside the Californiamarket.

In case you fail to glance at the 120 miles-an-hour speedometer for apsychological lift or overlook the nudge into the seat when stepping quicklyfrom the light, Chevy engineers have designed in a rumble-tuned exhaust toprovide the power sound effects for the powerful 2.8 V-6.

Complementing the effect are bucket seats with good support that don`tneed a bladder filled with air to hold you in and a thick steering wheel that adds to the feeling of driver control. Analog gauges are standard, electronic digital instrumentation optional.

Road manners were good. The Z-24 held flat in the turns. The suspension is firm but the Goodyear Eagle GT+4 all-season radials hugged the road withoutjostling the driver and with little or no trace of body sway or roll in tight corners. The sport suspension includes larger front and rear stabilizer bars, higher rate spring and shock valving and quick ratio power steering.

Drawbacks, namely the prop-held hood and the optional deck lid luggagecarrier that detracts from the performance effect, are few.

Pricing is of the package variety. To the base $10,725 Cavalier two-door coupe you add the Z-24 goo dies for $1,687-14-inch aluminum wheels,gauges, body side moldings, dual sports mirrors, sports wheel, power brakesand steering, power doors and windows, air conditioning, tilt wheel, tintedglass, automatic trunk lid opener, floor mats, intermittent wipers, cruisecontrol and auxiliary lights. In addition to automatic, individual options on the test car were electric rear-window defogger at $145, AM-FM stereo at $150 and deck lid carrier at $115, bringing the total to $13,237 to which you add a$400 destination charge.