2014 Chevrolet SS
Not everyone is an automobile enthusiast, but for the most part, those who possess valid driver's licenses are usually able to differentiate between a performance car and a luxury car. Furthermore, they are usually capable of telling approximately how old a car is based on its styling. But not with the 2014 Chevrolet SS. Even as its true devotees acknowledge the sedan's Pontiac GTO and Pontiac G8 ancestors while hoping that GM's latest will finally earn the merit and recognition it deserves, this made-in-Australia model is a real head scratcher to most. The low volume, rear-wheel drive sport sedan, fitted with a powerful V8 and the world's shortest options list, sits in most Chevrolet showrooms as nothing more than a $45,000 mystery to most of the customers who walk in. "What is it?" was the most common question during my week with the Chevrolet SS. The answer took me a full seven days to figure out. The new-for-2014 Chevrolet SS hints at performance from just about every angle. A quick walkaround reveals quite a bit about this car, even without opening the hood. The new-for-2014 Chevrolet SS, known as the VF-model Holden Commodore on its home turf Down Under, hints at performance from just about every angle. Its wide stance and meaty tires (the latter with their attendant nonexistent gap between rubber and wheel wells), suggests impressive handling. Oversized brakes, with logos on the calipers, reveal strong stopping capability, while two large exhaust pipes, exiting out of each side of the lower rear fascia, are telltale signs of a strong engine. Lastly, a rear decklid spoiler conjures up images of high-speed stability. Pulling the chrome handle on the driver's door reveals a cabin tuned for serious drivers, as well. A meaty three-spoke steering wheel is mounted ahead of analog gauges, and leather sport bucket seats with red contrasting stitching welcome the front occupants. Aluminum pedals reside in the footwell, and synthetic suede accents the dashboard and boot around the traditional transmission lever. Without question, 'sport' is this interior's dominating motif. Yanking on the hood release confirms the four-door's mission. Hidden beneath a disappointingly bland plastic engine cover is a massive 6.2-liter V8 – enthusiasts know this engine as the LS3 – tuned to make 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Just aft of the powerplant, mostly hidden out of view, is GM's 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission. Hidden beneath a disappointingly bland plastic engine cover is a massive 6.2-liter V8. In late 2012, at the NASCAR SS model's introduction, Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, made it very clear that although the upcoming production model appears to be a successor to a previous Aussie, it is on a different mission - and it will carry a premium price. "This is not a return of the Pontiac G8," said Reuss. "The only reason we brought this car over is to go racing," he added, before calling the new sedan, a "four-door Corvette." Those three words stuck with me as I …
Full Review
Not everyone is an automobile enthusiast, but for the most part, those who possess valid driver's licenses are usually able to differentiate between a performance car and a luxury car. Furthermore, they are usually capable of telling approximately how old a car is based on its styling. But not with the 2014 Chevrolet SS. Even as its true devotees acknowledge the sedan's Pontiac GTO and Pontiac G8 ancestors while hoping that GM's latest will finally earn the merit and recognition it deserves, this made-in-Australia model is a real head scratcher to most. The low volume, rear-wheel drive sport sedan, fitted with a powerful V8 and the world's shortest options list, sits in most Chevrolet showrooms as nothing more than a $45,000 mystery to most of the customers who walk in. "What is it?" was the most common question during my week with the Chevrolet SS. The answer took me a full seven days to figure out. The new-for-2014 Chevrolet SS hints at performance from just about every angle. A quick walkaround reveals quite a bit about this car, even without opening the hood. The new-for-2014 Chevrolet SS, known as the VF-model Holden Commodore on its home turf Down Under, hints at performance from just about every angle. Its wide stance and meaty tires (the latter with their attendant nonexistent gap between rubber and wheel wells), suggests impressive handling. Oversized brakes, with logos on the calipers, reveal strong stopping capability, while two large exhaust pipes, exiting out of each side of the lower rear fascia, are telltale signs of a strong engine. Lastly, a rear decklid spoiler conjures up images of high-speed stability. Pulling the chrome handle on the driver's door reveals a cabin tuned for serious drivers, as well. A meaty three-spoke steering wheel is mounted ahead of analog gauges, and leather sport bucket seats with red contrasting stitching welcome the front occupants. Aluminum pedals reside in the footwell, and synthetic suede accents the dashboard and boot around the traditional transmission lever. Without question, 'sport' is this interior's dominating motif. Yanking on the hood release confirms the four-door's mission. Hidden beneath a disappointingly bland plastic engine cover is a massive 6.2-liter V8 – enthusiasts know this engine as the LS3 – tuned to make 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Just aft of the powerplant, mostly hidden out of view, is GM's 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission. Hidden beneath a disappointingly bland plastic engine cover is a massive 6.2-liter V8. In late 2012, at the NASCAR SS model's introduction, Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, made it very clear that although the upcoming production model appears to be a successor to a previous Aussie, it is on a different mission - and it will carry a premium price. "This is not a return of the Pontiac G8," said Reuss. "The only reason we brought this car over is to go racing," he added, before calling the new sedan, a "four-door Corvette." Those three words stuck with me as I …
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Retail Price
$43,475 - $43,475
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 6.2L V-8 |
| MPG | Up to 14 city / 21 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd w/OD |
| Power | 415 @ 5900 rpm |
| Drivetrain | rear-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,975 lbs |
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