Autoblog

GM won't sell 2014 Chevrolet SS in Canada

Zach Bowman — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Canada

Allow us to be the first to extend our condolences to our friends to the north. General Motors has announced the 2014 Chevrolet SS will not be available in Canada. The Globe and Mail reports the automaker has confirmed the high-performance sedan won't hit Canadian dealers, though GM hasn't offered up any reasoning as to why that is.

Buyers here in the US of A, meanwhile, can look forward to getting their hands on the 415-horspower, rear-wheel drive SS by late summer. Something tells us it won't be long after that before Canadian officials start seeing individually imported 6.2-liter V8 four-doors in their neighborhoods. Fortunately, Canadian buyers will still be able to take home the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. The C7 bowed at the Canadian International Auto Show last week, reportedly drawing sizable crowds and interest.

GM won't sell 2014 Chevrolet SS in Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

This is your 2014 Chevrolet SS

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet

Think you've waited long enough for this? If so, then you'll want to savor the high-res photos we've so far been given of the 2014 Chevrolet SS, the first rear-wheel-drive performance sedan from The Bowtie in 17 years.

We all know its our version of the brand new VF-model Holden Commodore, but what's under the hood that earns the appellation "performance?" A 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine producing 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. That's 35 hp and lb-ft less than the same engine is expected to produce in the ~~2014 Chevrolet Corvette~~ C6 Corvette. Chevrolet says the sedan will get from 0-to-60 miles per hour "in about five seconds."

Shifting comes courtesy of a six-speed automatic with paddles on the steering wheel, while stopping arrive via four-piston Brembo calipers up front, a single sliding piston in back. The forged aluminum wheels are 19-inchers all around, each set supporting right around 50 percent of the sedan's weight, and the aluminum hood and trunk are meant to keep the center of gravity low.

Inside, leather seating surfaces, eight-way power front seats and a soft-touch dash are standard for a cabin said to fit five adults comfortably, along with a nine-speaker Bose sound system, a head-up display and safety tech like Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Zone alert. A marquee option will be Automatic Parking Assist that can parallel and right-angle park; this is the technology's first appearance on a Chevrolet.

We're in Daytona now and we'll have live shots of the car shortly, along with photos of its NASCAR sibling rumbling through the Daytona 500. So stay tuned, and slake your thirst for what's coming with the gallery above and the press release below.

Continue reading This is your 2014 Chevrolet SS

This is your 2014 Chevrolet SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Holden Commodore bows, presages Chevy SS [w/video]

John Neff — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Holden, Australia

Holden has unveiled its redesigned VF Commodore sedan in Australia, and it's making no secret of the fact that its prized rear-wheel-drive sedan will be exported to the USA as the long-awaited Chevrolet SS.

While the Australian arm of General Motors has held back on details concerning the car's mechanicals and engines, we at least get to gaze upon the new exterior shape and interior design. The trim level Holden went with for the debut is the luxurious, upscale Calais V model.

What we see is an evolution of the current Commodore, the design of which was already well-liked by most. The long, low and wide sedan shape is still there, but with a few more creases in the hood, new fender vents, LED daytime running lamps below projector lamp headlights, and a new rear end with an integrated lip spoiler in the deck lid. What we see is a design different enough from the current car that even if the SS looks exactly like this, we won't be getting something that looks like Pontiac G8 wearing a Bowtie (like the police cruiser Caprice does).

The interior of the new VF Commodore, however, is a much bigger leap forward for the car, upgraded with a slicker design that incorporates the latest infotainment technologies. We're talking a big nav screen (featuring the automaker's MyLink system), electronic parking brake, high-res Heads-Up display and, wait for it, power window switches moved to the doors!

The Commodore will also be available with a host of the latest driver tech, including Reverse Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Auto Park Assist. The latter actually takes semi-automated parking a step forward by not only assisting with parking of the parallel variety, but also working with 90-degree angle parks, as well.

Check out the new VF Commodore in our gallery above, and gander at what official info Holden did provide in the press release below.

Continue reading New Holden Commodore bows, presages Chevy SS [w/video]

New Holden Commodore bows, presages Chevy SS [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

High tarriffs curb resurgent U.S. hopes for Holden Ute

Chris Tutor — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Pontiac, Holden, Australia

With the Holden Commodore sedan on its way back to the States as the Chevrolet SS, we were hoping that the El Camino-like, two-seat Ute wouldn't be far behind (after all, the halfbreed was supposed to be offered here as the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck before General Motors offed the brand altogether). Unfortunately, however, the Aussies have been informed that the Ute falls under our light commercial tariff rate of 35 percent - roughly three times the rate on passenger vehicle imports.

"We were hopeful at one stage, we thought we might be able to duck in under it, but it was ruled out," Holden executive director Richard Phillips tells the Herald Sun. "With the dollar where it is, exports can only be pursued that are niche... and profitable in this environment."

Bummer.

High tarriffs curb resurgent U.S. hopes for Holden Ute originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chevy SS prototype already taking the checkered flag

Zach Bowman — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, Holden, Australia

General Motors isn't set to begin producing the new Chevrolet SS until early next year, but the company has recently been spotted testing the model on U.S. streets. Our spy photographers managed to click a few photos of a heavily camouflaged version of the sedan before engineers spirited it back into the relative safety of the automaker's facilities. Even so, those on hand could easily hear the bark and snarl of an impressive V8 propelling the machine around. Odds are that's a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter lump behind the headlights, though GM was using a Cadillac CTS-V chase vehicle to keep pace, leading some to speculate as to whether or not the company may be considering a supercharged version.

Sounds like fun to us. We can clearly see a set of massive front brakes at work on the machine, however. After a closer glance, it looks as if the Chevrolet SS may roll out the door with six-piston calipers on hand, though the wheel spokes make visual confirmation a bit tricky. The shots also clearly show off a muscular set of dual exhaust and meaty rear tires out back.

While most of the nose is obscured by camo, we can see a set of LED daytime running lights peeking through the mesh. The Chevrolet SS will be built alongside the next-generation Holden Commodore in Australia beginning in 2013. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Chevy SS prototype already taking the checkered flag originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 May 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet SS

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

We can now add a rendering and a litte more gossip to General Motors and its recent patenting of the of the "SS" designation. GM has used the SS designator for more than 50 years but only got around to trademarking it five years ago, and persistent rumors have suggested that a civilian version of the Chevrolet Caprice PPV will simply be called the SS.

Chevrolet previously confirmed that its next NASCAR entry will be both a new vehicle and new nameplate, which suggests that the Malibu and Impala are disqualified. But a new car called the SS would fit, and the rumormill suggests it will be a derivative of the Zeta-platform Holden Commodore. The folks at Chris Doane Automotive have opened the rendering account and taken this rather conservative stab at what a reboot of a U.S. Commodore might look like.

Yes, we've been here before, and in fact, we're still here. The now extinct but universally lauded Pontiac G8 was itself a Americanized Holden Commodore, and the current Caprice law enforcement vehicle is a long-wheelbase version of that Holden that packs either a 3.6-liter, 301-horsepower V6 or a 6.0-liter, 355-hp V8. Resurrecting the G8 would return a vehicle that many loved but was handicapped by Pontiac's zombie status, improve Holden's fortunes and give Chevy a proper rear-wheel drive sedan with teeth. To all of that, we say Yes, Yes and... Yes.

Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chevrolet trademarks SS designation... why now?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet

The 1961 Impala SS inaugurated the SS trim line to the brand, and its SS cars have found more than a million homes since - examples like this 1966 model helping the way. Turns out, though, that General Motors just got around to patenting the designator SS on April 13, 2012. Since the SS descriptor has historically indicated a model variant or trim level, distinctions that apparently don't normally warrant trademark protection, the questions are why now and what for?

The evidence would seem to lead to this being a model designator, not just a trim, and there have been rumors that a civilian version of the police-only Caprice will hit the market and simply be called SS. But if that's the case, what would the hotter Impala prototype we've seen in spy shots be named, and what - if anything - would happen to the SS trim available on other Chevy models?

Click the image below for a look at the patent application, and we'll be looking forward to finding out what is going to go where.

Chevrolet trademarks SS designation... why now? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chevrolet to replace Impala in NASCAR for 2013, new production model hinted

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, GM, Racing

According to Chevrolet, the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will kick off without an Impala on the starting grid. That's news itself, considering how intertwined the Impala is with Chevy's NASCAR presence, earning 70 wins since 2007.

Even more intriguing, though, is that Chevy says it "will be racing a vehicle based on a new nameplate to the brand's lineup." That means the 2013 racer won't be a Malibu or Cruze. Whatever it may be, Chevrolet says that both the race version and the production version will be debuted "in the coming year."

As far as speculation goes, it's hard not to point a finger in the direction of the Chevrolet Caprice, which is currently available in the United States for police duty only. Will everyday consumers finally get another crack at a high-performance rear-wheel-drive Chevy sports sedan? If so, what will it be called, and will it wear the coveted SS nomenclature?

We have no idea. What we do know, however, is that Jim Campbell, vice president of Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, says the automaker is testing camouflaged vehicles and that the production version will be "just like" the race car. We'll just have to wait and see about that... In the meantime, see the complete press release below.

Continue reading Chevrolet to replace Impala in NASCAR for 2013, new production model hinted

Chevrolet to replace Impala in NASCAR for 2013, new production model hinted originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lutz says Commodore-based Caprice could be sold as "high-end Chevrolet"

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

Chevrolet Lumina SS (Middle East) - Click above for high-res image galllery

Bob Lutz is at it again, telling Drive.com.au that he would love to see a Commodore-based sedan back in America as a Chevrolet. Or, to use the quote-machine's own words:

"If we can pull that off and we have the next generation Commodore in as a police vehicle then we want to take a look at reintroducing a civil version as a high-end Chevrolet. Because when you get down to it the thrill of high performance driving is unmatched by anything that doesn't have rear-wheel drive, bags of torque and a nice transmission. So there's a possibility of a premium Chevrolet sedan that would be sold in limited numbers. Think of it as a kind of four-door Corvette."

As if you needed any reminder, GM is introducing the Chevrolet Caprice PPV as a law enforcement-only model this year, and naturally there's rumblings of a civilian version or a re-reborn Commodore version being offered sometime in 2012 carrying the Chevy SS moniker. Despite our love of all things G8 (dead or not), we'll believe it when we see it. Yet again.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Lumina SS (Middle East)

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Lutz says Commodore-based Caprice could be sold as "high-end Chevrolet" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumormill: Holden-based, RWD 2012 Chevy SS coming after all?

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Holden, Australia, Rumormill

Chevrolet Lumina SS (Middle East edition) - Click above for high-res image gallery

If it's Monday, there must be a big, rear-wheel drive Chevrolet four-door coming soon. Tuesday? We'll retract and deny everything. We know, we know. We also know we just reported that the next Chevy Impala will remain front-wheel drive - but check this out. We've been hearing rumors for some time now, that despite whatever Fritz Henderson has to say on the matter, a high-performance version of General Motors' Zeta platform that underpins the Pontiac G8 will live on as a Chevy SS model, either badged as a Caprice or (more likely) an Impala. And we're not talking the police special. As Maximum Bob has said, the G8 is "Kinda too good to waste." Needless to say, we totally agree.

An eagle-eye'd AB reader named Jim just caught the following on a Pontiac G8 forum:

"My dealer had sent off pictures to GM of the cable portion of the front seats belts rubbing against the plastic on the side of the front seats. In an email sent back to the dealer, GM says that they have no plans to solve what has already been built but going forward a correction is planned. The email continues: ...a fix is planned for MY11.5 Chevy Police Program and MY12 Chevy SS. The fix will involve a protective sleeve that covers the buckle and section of the buckle stem that rubs on the plastic trim."

How 'bout them apples? That might normally be a sliver of a sliver of a rumor, but it exactly what what we've heard independently from a reliable source - and it brings a great big smile to our face. Now, repeat after us, LS3 with six-speed manual, LS3 with six-speed manual, LS3 with six-speed manual... Thanks a million, Jim!

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Lumina SS (Middle East)

[Source: G8 Board]

Rumormill: Holden-based, RWD 2012 Chevy SS coming after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments