Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The story of the 2014 Chevrolet SS: "Luxury, power, refinement, handling"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/the-story-of-the-2014-chevrolet-ss-luxury-power-refinement/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/the-story-of-the-2014-chevrolet-ss-luxury-power-refinement/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/the-story-of-the-2014-chevrolet-ss-luxury-power-refinement/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Not including the women and men who built it, the 2014 Chevrolet SS has only been seen in person by a piddling number of people - fewer humans than would fill the gymnasium at a high school volleyball game. Not including the men and women who built it, no one has driven it. Even so, it is already saddled with two controversies: the way it looks and the way it shifts.

First to that shifting. Did we love the last Americanized Holden, the awesomely sportsome Pontiac G8 GXP, and its six-speed manual? Of course. Do we wish the SS came with a six-speed manual? Of course. But we'd like a toboggan to come with a manual transmission. We'd put a manual transmission on a weasel if we could because we're just wired that way; if it moves, it should come with a stick and a clutch. Or at least the option.

Let's climb down off the ledge, though. We haven't driven the SS and we have no idea how good (or not) the automatic is. And the Hobson's Choice in transmissions when it comes to sport sedans like the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Jaguar XFR-S and, oh yeah, cars-that-really-should-have-manuals like the Nissan GT-R and Porsche 918 and every single Lamborghini and Ferrari, for instance, hasn't stopped us from enjoying what is clearly the gruesome, dual-clutched demise of Western automotive civilization. Because in spite of our ululations at the dying of the six-speed light, we understand.

All we're saying is sure, we're disappointed, but let's drive it first - then we'll find out if this is something more than a philosophical tragedy. When we asked what were the chances of a manual we were thrown the bones of "it's a possibility down the line," and that's all we need to go to Optimism Level: Lloyd.

To that other, bigger controversy: the way it looks - it seems many of you were expecting more, or at least more different. However, as far back as 2009 it was acknowledged that the VF Holden Commodore would be an overhaul of the VE series, and mainly under the skin at that. There was neither the money nor the business case to create a brand new car. If there is an issue with the looks of the SS, it's our opinion that we might have discovered 90 percent of the cure in the sedan's trunk.

Continue reading The story of the 2014 Chevrolet SS: "Luxury, power, refinement, handling"

The story of the 2014 Chevrolet SS: "Luxury, power, refinement, handling" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 chevrolet ss2014 holden commodorechevroletchevycommodoreholdenssvf commodoreThu, 07 Mar 2013 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20465250/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/07/the-story-of-the-2014-chevrolet-ss-luxury-power-refinement/20465250/article-detail.xml 20465250 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2014ssdaytona_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2014ssdaytona.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #320]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/autoblog-podcast-320/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/autoblog-podcast-320/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/autoblog-podcast-320/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Chicago Auto Show, Holden VF Commodore, Top Gear USA Interview, Driving To The Arctic Circleautoblog podcast logo

Episode #319 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Chris Paukert and Jeff Ross talk about the Chicago Auto Show, the new Holden VF Commodore and Paukert's trip to the Arctic Circle with The List. Dan and Zach took time to have a chat with Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood from Top Gear, as well, and that's included in this week's action-packed podcast. We wrap with a couple of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #320:



Topics:


In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6MT
2013 Range Rover Sport
2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design


Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Paukert, Jeff Ross


Runtime: 01:41:11

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #320

Autoblog Podcast #320 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda accord coupe2013 land rover range rover sport2013 volvo s60 t6 r-design2014 holden commodoreaccordadam ferraraautoblog podcast 320chicagochicago 2013chicago auto showcommodorefeaturedholdenhondaland roverpodcast 320range rover sportrutledge woods60s60 r-designtop geartop gear usavolvoTue, 12 Feb 2013 17:15:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #320Autoblog01:41:11 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20459048/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/12/autoblog-podcast-320/20459048/article-detail.xml 20459048 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #320 LIVE!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-320-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-320-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-320-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Autoblog Podcast graphic

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #320 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #320


[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #320 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 holden commodoreautoblogautoblog podcast topicschicago auto showcommodoreholdenpodcastpodcast topicsthe listtop geartop gear usaMon, 11 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20457217/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/11/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-320-live/20457217/article-detail.xml 20457217 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Holden Commodore to live beyond 2016]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/holden-commodore-to-live-beyond-2016/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/holden-commodore-to-live-beyond-2016/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/holden-commodore-to-live-beyond-2016/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Holden Commodore

"There is another Commodore coming after this one," said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux while giving Australian press a preview of the 2014 VF Commodore, which is set to launch February 10th. It was a pretty effective way to de-emphasize the brand-new car, judging by the stunned expressions Australian press reports mention on the faces of his Holden deputies.

Really all this statement means is that there will be a car named Commodore even after the VF winds down in 2016. Devereux further explained that Holden's Adelaide facility will be assembling two GM global platforms, one of them we know to be the Cruze, and "one of them [that] will underpin the next Commodore."

Don't expect that next Commodore to be a rear-driver like the cars that have topped sales charts for the last 15 years. It'll more than likely be a port of a car we know here as a Buick, according to The Australian. While we wait for 2017, at least we can check out the VF Commodore that was just unveiled.

Holden Commodore to live beyond 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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