Equinox SS in the works?
That's the best guess of Autoblog reader Johnathan Stein who runs the blog How Bourgeois. He snapped these spy shots of a lightly camouflaged Equinox with his Treo. It hardly appears as if any modifications have been made to the front and rear that are under wraps, but Stein notes that nearly all badging had been covered with tape, including on the wheel caps, and this Equinox was wearing big five-spoke rims that resemble the six-spoke ones on the Trailblazer SS. Could an Equinox SS be in the works? We think it's certainly possible as the SS moniker has been liberally applied across Chevy's lineup, although these shots don't provide much proof either way.
[Source: How Bourgeois]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Non-Bizarro Adam 11:12AM (5/23/2006)
Well, as long as they get rid of the worst engine in their lineup (that 3.4 should have died a long time ago) I could give a damn what they call it. Drop the 211 hp 3.5 in it, with the 3.9 as an option, and maybe they'd start selling better.
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Philbert 11:34AM (5/23/2006)
This SUV with a decent motor would be very nice indeed. They seem to have plenty available or in the works so we'll see.
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That One Person 11:37AM (5/23/2006)
#1 Adam...I was thinking the same thing. I never understood why they put the 3.4 in there. I have no clue how many times I have heard people complain about that engine...especially when it was in GM's minivans. The Equinox is just too big for the engine...
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Jason 11:40AM (5/23/2006)
Looks like the campaign to devalue the "SS" moniker marches on. I fully expect to see a Chevrolet Uplander SS any day now.
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Kowell 12:11PM (5/23/2006)
I hope GM will understand that SS versions won't solve all their problems BEFORE we get the Aveo SS and the Express SS......
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Carlton 12:16PM (5/23/2006)
I remember when SS actually meant something when applied to a GM automobile. Now it's just a few cheezy decals and a tire/wheel combination attractive only to ricer wannabees.
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Alex Nunez 12:26PM (5/23/2006)
What's the over/under on how long it takes Pontiac to get a Torrent GTP/GXP version of this thing?
As much as I hate to admit it, I kinda like the Torrent. The Pontiac front and rear fascias are better-looking than the Chevy ones, and a Torrent with decent horsepower wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
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JJ 12:29PM (5/23/2006)
I agree with ya Carlton... by my feeling SS should mean to Chevy... what the V series is to cadillac or SRT8/AMG is to daimlerchysler or SVT/Saleen is to Ford.... its a dang shame that SS to chevy is little more than a few fascia differences in most casses.
Only good SS i've seen is the Trailblazer and thats it.
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Edsel 1:15PM (5/23/2006)
Here is a summer vacation idea for the perennially bored among you. Take a pedestrian production car, mask it to look like a pre-production/prototype, and drive it across the USA. Let's see how many auto websites & magazines publish pictures of your poser car by October.
Don't forget the sunglasses and please, don't forget to wear "engineer type" clothing, leave the urban ghetto clothes @home.
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AutoFan 1:48PM (5/23/2006)
Edsel: If all my cars weren't old I'd so do that.
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Ryan 2:10PM (5/23/2006)
This SUV already tops out at about 30k or mabye even higher, which is already a ripoff.
It's funny my assistant has a 2005 Equinox, and I admit it, it does look damn good. She paid 28k (leather, onstar,etc.)
I have a 2004 (mind you, one year older) Mazda 3 that I paid 22k for.
Do you realize the Mazda almost surpasses her car for trade in value and it is a year older, not even an SUV, and was 6k less to begin with. That is awful, for her...
So honestly, if the regular tops off at about 30k, what the heck are they going to charge for this 30k-40k for a Geo Tracker? No way.
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Michael Karesh 2:42PM (5/23/2006)
GMInsideNews has had a thread about this vehicle since January:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25967&highlight=Equinox
Consensus seems to be that the engine will be the 3.9, and that Pontiac will also get a version.
As for devaluing the SS badge, I also believe GM should be careful. But let's not fool ourselves, even back in the 1960s they'd slap an SS on pretty much anything--it was a free-standing trim package on the Chevelle.
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MikeW 3:17PM (5/23/2006)
Drop those headlight, they have to be the most offensive 'glarelights' to be made in the last five years.
Screw the torque less oversquare 3.5.
6t70/75 + 3.6
Where is the foil for the Ford Edge?
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Howard Kerr 4:12PM (5/23/2006)
As per Kowell, it looks like it's only a matter of time before we get an Aveo SS.
The SS WAS applied to many Chevy models in the '60s, but ALMOST exclusively to hardtops and convertibles (cars that were reasonably sporty to begin with). Yeah, there were the SS El Caminos and in the late '70s or early '80s an SS 454 pickup, but Chevy should be going with RS on trucks/SUVs and SS on hot/sporty cars. At least nowadays, an SS doesn't have the badge...and a 6 cylinder/Powerglide combo.
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Art 5:05PM (5/23/2006)
it's gonna be a LTZ sport, sheesh.
unless the 5.3's under the hood.
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That One Person 5:13PM (5/23/2006)
#9 Edsel...haha I might actually do that. Even though I drive a 94 Regal, I think throwing a bra on the front and bunch of masking tape and put some crap on the dash, it would make people wonder...
hmmm good idea!!
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Bruce 5:35PM (5/23/2006)
Why complain? You don't have to buy it. But if it is their admittedly mediocre small SUV improved with better handling components, brakes, engine, and some trim items, good for them. We currently have a bmw, a saab, and a pickup, but I'd buy an SUV if they made any affordable ones that handled and braked well. If the real world price on some low end SS Trailblazers is around $30K, I would expect this one to come in somewhat lower than that, while getting decent fuel economy and offering a more compact package.
The more good handling SUV's they put on the road, the better for all of us out there with them.
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Tom Design 6:04AM (5/24/2006)
One of the nicest designs in an SUV. Especially pretty from the rear view. If they improve the content, seems to be a viable option. What doesn't go for high 20's, even VW, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Fords run up to that price very quickly.
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Tom Design 6:40AM (5/24/2006)
Priced it on MSN and with every option very well equipped, you should be able to deal a new one for about $25,693.
Consumer Reports is already bashing the new for 2005 car, in a very odd statement: "Five year reliability is below average." Not only are they negatively clairvoyant about GM, they can also create a negative phantom past. LOL!
This is a crowded segment. The base prices of the top competitors' top-of-the-line models are:
Toyota Rav4 Limited V6-269hp 4x4 5pd-Auto $25,870
Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport V6-185hp 4WD 5pd-Auto $22,799
Subaru Forester 2.5XT H4-230hp Limited 4spd-Auto $27,895
Saturn Vue AWD V6-250hp 5pd-Auto $23,050
Mitsubishi Outlander Limited AWD I4-160hp 4spd-Auto $25,949
Mazda Tribute s 4WD V6-200hp 4spd-Auto $24,700
Kia Sportage EX V6-173hp 4WD 4spd-Auto $22,000
Jeep Liberty Limited 4WD V6-210hp 4spd-Auto $26,190
Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 4WD V6-200hp 5spd-Auto $26,895
Honda CR-V SE 4WD AT I4-156hp 5sp-Auto $25,450
Ford Escape Limited 4WD V6-200hp 4spd-Auto $26,680
Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD V6-185hp 4spd-Auto $23,900
Only the Kia, Suzuki, and Vue are cheaper than the Equinox. Loading any of these cars up will certainly put them in the high $20's. It certainly makes the VUE stand-out for best value of these "baby" SUV's with the sweet Honda V6 and 5spd-Auto. The RAV-4 is the leader in hp.
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Chevrolet Equinox Tester 11:22AM (5/24/2006)
Seems like Chevy finally turns the Equinox into what it should have been from the start. The 3.9 will make it a lot better than the current 3.4. In contrast to most people here I think that the Equinox is well worth an SS version.
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