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2014 Chevrolet SS sedan - First Look

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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 04:33 AM
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2014 Chevrolet SS sedan - First Look

http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-c...rolet-ss-sedan





The Chevy SS is based on the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform that was developed by Holden, GM’s Australian brand. The Zeta platform underpins several Holden vehicles, the current Chevrolet Camaro and, for all you trivia buffs out there, the Chinese-market Buick Park Avenue. The arrival of the 2014 Chevrolet SS marks something of a U.S. reunion for the car, since it originally appeared as the Pontiac G8 back in 2008. When GM axed the Pontiac division, we were robbed of this impressive Aussie performance sedan.

The Caprice PPV that recently visited us at R&T came powered by a 355-bhp 6.0-liter V-8 engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. While we noted it was no lightweight, weighing in at 4,160 lbs., we have it on good authority (via the Michigan State Police, to be exact) that the Caprice PPV accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and tops out at 154 mph. Expect the civilian version to be even quicker, since it will likely share the same 426-bhp 6.2-liter V-8 found in the Camaro SS. For all intents and purposes, the Chevrolet SS is a Camaro with an extra set of doors.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 04:51 AM
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Can it get any more boring looking?
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 05:23 AM
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The front end is a little bland (remembering this is just an artist's impression)......but the latest facelift of the Vauxhall VXR8 we get in the UK was hit with a seriously large ugly stick!

Still an awesome car underneath though.

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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 05:41 AM
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I was able to view, in person, the 2014 Impala at Indianapolis Speedway recently. And in my opinion, it is the best looking Chevy in a long while! I wish the 2014 Impala design was the SS in base trim, because I thought it looked great. The rendering above is kind of bland, but I will reserve judgement until I see one in person.

And the Vauxhall VXR8 . . . well it certainly has a lot going on in the style department!

Last edited by Evil_Capri; Aug 9, 2012 at 05:43 AM.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Ethanjbeau
Can it get any more boring looking?
+1 .
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 09:04 AM
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Glad to see this car coming back, my brother has a 2009 G8 GT and its a very nice car. Wish Ford would make a sports sedan. A true sport sedan, the Taurus SHO just doesn't cut it.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 02:55 PM
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its a *little* bland, but I dig it so far. it at least looks clean.

Can't wait to see the real things
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 05:24 PM
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its pretty meh
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 05:43 PM
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I'll take one. My 95 and 96 impalla SS's were the best driving cars I've ever owned. All I can say is ford better have an answer to this because fwd ecoboost is not gonna cut it.

If it is produced, and looks close to the pics or better, it will probably be the wife's next car.

Last edited by AlsCobra; Aug 9, 2012 at 05:47 PM.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 05:55 PM
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Why hello Caprice errrr SS
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by AlsCobra
I'll take one. My 95 and 96 impalla SS's were the best driving cars I've ever owned. All I can say is ford better have an answer to this because fwd ecoboost is not gonna cut it.

If it is produced, and looks close to the pics or better, it will probably be the wife's next car.
By FWD EcoBoost are you talking about the 2.0L Taurus? The 3.5L SHO is AWD only.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Moosetang

By FWD EcoBoost are you talking about the 2.0L Taurus? The 3.5L SHO is AWD only.
I'm talking about any fwd, AWD, V6 or less. From what I have heard, it's a good idea for trucks somewhat but a Taurus in any variation is not gonna compare to the V8 Holden platform cars.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 07:36 PM
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This car will sell in such a low numbers that Ford doesn't really have to come up with a competitor.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Zastava_101
This car will sell in such a low numbers that Ford doesn't really have to come up with a competitor.
Because the Dodge charger barely sells too right...
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 08:36 PM
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Charger is a different story. It's much cheaper, has a V6 option and most importantly - looks like a American muscle sedan.

Chevy SS is gonna be just another failed GM's project to introduce Australian car in the USA. GTO/Monaro and G8/Commodore failed, so I don't see why would SS succeed.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 08:48 PM
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I like it, the rear end looks better then the G8's.

Last edited by shurtual86; Aug 10, 2012 at 08:52 AM.
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Old Aug 10, 2012 | 08:35 AM
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Like it, nice, clean, well rendered lines. Looks like a grown-up car rather than some overwraught teen-dream clownshow of musclecar styling cliches. Of course, those who do find it boring can easily tart it up with whatever variety of tape, spoilers, ducts and wings they can festoon upon it, maybe some nice big shiny chrome dubs so the Space Station astronauts won't mistaken it for something tasteful.

I always thought the G8, particularly in GT and GXP trim (with a stick shift to boot, incredible!) was a great rendition of a working man's E39 BMW 5 Series/M5: powerful, agile and tastefully handsome all while being very practical. That it cost half as much as said BMW was the icing on the cake.

Hopefully, the SS will exhibit similar or even improved qualities and judging by the sketches and some recent GM efforts, things look encouraging. I think it has the potential to do well for those looking for an affordable RWD V8 performance car yet need to haul around a bit more than what a coupe can handle such as those in a parental way (cough, cough). Ford, might you be able to offer something in this area soon, what with the 2015 Stang platform soon to be launched?

Last edited by rhumb; Aug 10, 2012 at 08:37 AM.
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Old Aug 10, 2012 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Knight
Glad to see this car coming back, my brother has a 2009 G8 GT and its a very nice car. Wish Ford would make a sports sedan. A true sport sedan, the Taurus SHO just doesn't cut it.
Agreed, and in wagon form as well.

Yeah man, a road-runner powered wagon with a dialed in suspension sitting a tad bit lower on a great set of summer tires and the Boss car's side exhaust with the power flowing through a TR6060 with a sweet shifter.

Sigh... I know, but a guy can dream can't he?

Originally Posted by Zastava_101
This car will sell in such a low numbers that Ford doesn't really have to come up with a competitor.
I'm compelled to agree, unless the Taurus goes the way of the dodo, there is no product room for a kick-*** sports sedan in the Ford line-up. Also the guys who hang out above the mason dixon line have a problem with RWD cars in the winter and look to AWD or FWD so you'd need to engineer the platform for AWD in at least V6 or lower guise (do they make a V8 charger SXT?) - To which I wouldn't want a future Mustang pinned on a large car platform engineered for such wide range of duties.

Anyways I like the SS and I miss the G8 and given the work GM has done on the Camaro ZL1 and the 1LE (still think the 1LE is a ringer mind you) on the zeta platform, this might get me looking into a brand-x sports sedan in the future - not that I wouldn't want my next car to be another Mustang but people do strange things every once and awhile.

Last edited by bob; Aug 10, 2012 at 09:33 AM.
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Old Aug 10, 2012 | 10:00 AM
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I could see room for a RWD V8 based on the Stang platform over at Lincoln to go up against the Caddy CTS/Vs and various Euro/Asian upmarket RWD sedans. In fact, I would expect as much as Ford really seems intent on rationalizing its platforms, which means that one-offs like the current Stang's S197 is unlikely, which implies that the NextStang's platform will be used on additional models.

As for potential success of the SS? I can see it doing well. I think the G8 doesn't make a great analogy because it was introduced at about the worst possible time (economic collapse, high fuel prices, mediocre marketing, demise of Pontiac). The Charger has been selling well for years now, indicating a market for large domestic RWD sedans and wagon. A bit further up the ladder, the Caddy CTS/V models have done well too. As for RWD selling north of the Mason/Dixon? Well, RWD Stangs seem to sell pretty well up north, so with modern electronic nannies and tires, I don't see that as too much of a disincentive.

Now that I have spawned a kid, an affordable sporting RWD sedan/wagon holds much appeal, much more so than a fat, clumsy, thirsty SUV.
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Old Aug 10, 2012 | 02:25 PM
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What, no three pedal option?
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