Chevrolet SS @ Autoextremist.com Peter M. DeLorenzo's reviews.

ON THE TABLE - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2010 AT 04:33PM

(Photos courtesy of GM Corp.) GM is marking 10 years of automotive design at its North Hollywood Advanced Design Center, a milestone that, according to GM, "honors GM’s rich California heritage and celebrates the innovative spirit of the designers who are creating the vehicles of the future." The North Hollywood Design Center includes designers from the United States, England, France, Germany, Finland, Italy, Korea and Iraq. The design center has won the prestigious L.A. Design Challenge three of the last six years. “GM Design traces its roots back to Hollywood native Harley Earl and California’s rich, diverse and eclectic culture, which has inspired some of our greatest designs over the past century,” said Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of Global Design. “And since its inception, the North Hollywood Advanced Design Center has continued this tradition and played an integral role in some of our most notable advanced concepts the last decade.” The studio’s design team has been led since its opening by studio director Frank Saucedo, and has created vehicles like the SS concept (above), the Solstice and others below.

THE LINE - MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2012 AT 09:02AM

December 19, 2012

(Chevrolet) Chevrolet unveiled its 2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS race in Las Vegas on November 29th. Chevrolet's newest entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series closely resembles the all-new rear wheel drive V-8 Chevrolet SS performance that will debut early next year. The production Chevrolet SS will be a derivative of the global rear-wheel-drive architecture that has spawned performance vehicles like the and ’s upcoming VF Commodore. The limited-production version of the Chevrolet SS will be a 2014 model and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2013. It is the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel- drive sedan for sale in the United States. Chevrolet has long used the SS () designation on high-performance models of some of its most enduring nameplates. The SS designation first appeared in 1957 on a Corvette prototype race car built under the guidance of Zora Arkus-Duntov with the plan to enter it in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The first production vehicle to be offered with an SS optional package was the 1961 Impala – 453 were built with the performance upgrades, which included a modified chassis and suspension, power brakes, a steering column mounted tachometer and unique wheels and tires. The SS designation returned to the Chevrolet lineup in 2010 with the debut of the fifth-generation Camaro. Chevrolet has 702 victories in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, more than any other manufacturer. Fonty Flock earned the manufacturer’s first win on March 26, 1955, at Columbia, S.C. Five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson achieved Chevrolet’s 700th victory earlier this month at Texas Motor Speedway.

(Photo by Isaac Brekken for Chevrolet) President North America Mark Reuss (left) and GM Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Jim Campbell unveil the 2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS race car Thursday, November 29, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ON THE TABLE - FEBRUARY 13, 2013

(GM) The Chevrolet SS will be the first V-8, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan from the Chevrolet brand since 1996. “The Chevrolet brand was largely built on the strength of rear-drive performance sedans, yet it's been 17 years since we've offered one,” said Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America. “The all-new Chevrolet SS fills that void and fills it better than any other vehicle in the brand’s rich history. The comfort, convenience, spaciousness and V-8 power make the SS a total performance package unlike any other on the road today.” The Chevrolet SS is based on the global rear-wheel drive architecture that is the foundation for the Camaro, Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle and Holden’s VF Commodore. The Chevrolet SS is powered by the LS3 Chevrolet V-8, expected to deliver 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. The LS3 is married to a six-speed automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually using TAPshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. With an aggressive 3.27 final- drive ratio, the Chevrolet SS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds – making it one of the quickest sedans on the market. Other features include MacPherson strut front and multilink independent rear suspension geometry, electronic power steering system, optimized for sport driving, standard Brembo brakes with ventilated, 355-mm rotors and two-piece, four- piston front calipers, forged aluminum wheels, wrapped in ultra-high-performance Bridgestone tires (19 x 8.5 inch wheels with 245/40ZR19 tires in front; 19 x 9.0 inch wheels with 275/35ZR19 tires rear). And there's a bunch of other stuff too. The 2014 Chevrolet SS will be available in the fourth quarter of 2013, with prices set closer to the on-sale date. ON THE TABLE - FEBRUARY 20, 2013

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 AT 10:05AM GM. There's a lot of Internet chatter out there slamming the new Chevrolet SS. Why? Oh, something about it not being as good as the G8, or some other rambling diatribe du jour. We think the SS is worth shouting about. Anytime a U.S. manufacturer steps up to the plate and stuffs a 400+ HP V8 in a rear-wheel-drive chassis with sporting intentions, it's a good thing in the AE songbook. A very good thing.

ON THE TABLE - JUNE 5, 2013

(Chevrolet) LS3 6.2L small-block V-8, 415 horsepower (310 kW) and 415 lb-ft of torque (563 Nm). Zero to 60 mph in about five seconds. All this for $44,470, including a $995 destination charge. For fans of rear-wheel-drive and V8 power and especially for those who need a little extra room, the 2014 Chevrolet SS sports sedan might just be the ticket. The only options? A power- operated sunroof ($900) and full-size spare tire ($500). Other standard features include a six- speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually using TAPshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel; Brembo front brakes, with ventilated, 14-inch (355-mm) two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers; forged aluminum wheels with ultra-high-performance Bridgestone tires (19 x 8.5-inch wheels with 245/40ZR19 tires in front, 19 x 9-inch wheels with 275/35ZR19 tires at the rear); aluminum hood and rear deck lid; 3.27 rear axle ratio and much more. The SS will be available in five exterior colors – Mystic Green, Silver Ice Metallic, Red Hot 2, Phantom Black Metallic and Heron White. All interiors will be Jet Black and feature sport front bucket seats. The SS will be available in the fall. ON THE TABLE - APRIL 16, 2014

(Chevrolet/newspressUSA) Speaking of other good news for the True Believers at GM, Chevrolet is touting that it has been America's best-selling performance car brand for four consecutive years. We don't care about vacuous, bullshit claims like that - as in really stupid - but the fact that you can buy the Chevrolet SS sedan, Corvette Z06 and Camaro Z/28 right now in Chevrolet showrooms is a very good thing.

ON THE TABLE - JULY 29, 2015

MONDAY, JULY 27, 2015 AT 10:34AM

Editor-In-Chief's Note: Our "Quick Take" this week finds us in a 2015 Chevrolet SS Sedan. Our "Regal Peacock Green Metallic" tester (sort of like British Racing Green 3.0) was low key but surprisingly handsome, even though it is an ultra-conservative design. We actually liked the low-key look of the SS because well, truth be told, if you drive around with your foot in it an awful lot like we did, the black-green was understated and not showy at all, which was perfect for the task at hand. And who's kidding whom, here? The whole point of the SS is having a rear- wheel-drive sport sedan with big V8 power and in this case, a six-speed manual gearbox, and it all works beautifully together in this package. You find yourself hammering it if only just to hear that big V8 bark. Not that the SS is a 0-60 mph meathead special by any stretch, because the Magnetic Ride Control makes this 3960 lb. sedan feel composed and sophisticated, and you can hustle it around at - ahem - remarkable speeds over any kind of driver's road, particularly high-speed sweepers, where it absolutely shines. It's no secret that the Chevrolet SS is the last of a vanishing breed (the only other large performance sedan available with a manual gearbox is the BMW M5). In fact GM is going to stop selling it here by 2017, when the plant in Australia that builds it fades away. But the SS is the last of a vanishing breed for other reasons too. With emissions and fuel economy restrictions growing more stringent by the model year, you simply won't be able to buy something like the SS. There is an unmistakable, visceral thrill that comes with a big V8, rear-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox. Some in the anti-car intelligentsia would love to see like the SS go away in favor of autonomous cars and the rigid controls that go with them. Hell, even some enthusiasts would love to see manual gearboxes go by the wayside altogether in favor of performance automatics, because they're quicker in maximum testing and they find the whole notion of a manual quaint and superfluous. A manual gearbox can be eminently satisfying, however - certainly not in the stop-and-go urban slog, we get that - but for weekend jaunts and fun driving we'd take a manual over a super automatic any day. So, we liked the SS. A lot. And frankly, for around $46,000 (we'd delete the sunroof) it's a damn good deal too. -PMD

2015 Chevrolet SS Sedan: $47,640 ($45,745 Base Price; Regal Peacock Green Metallic; Jet Black Interior; 6.2L V8 with Sequential Fuel Injection, 415HP and 415lbs-ft of torque; Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission; rear-wheel drive; Stabilitrak stability control with traction control; Magnetic Ride Control suspension with three control modes; electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering; Brembo performance four-wheel disc brakes with power assist; Limited slip differential; Auxiliary engine oil cooler; 3.70 rear axle ratio; Forged aluminum wheels with ultra-high-performance Bridgestone tires, 19 x 8.5-inch with 245/40ZR19 tires in front, 19 x 9-inch wheels with 275/35ZR19 tires in the rear; Aluminum hood and rear deck; HID headlamps and LED daytime running lights; Driver and front passenger 8-way power adjustable front bucket seats with power lumbar; Memory settings for driver seat and mirrors; Heated and cooled driver and front passenger seats; Dual- zone automatic climate control; Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with radio controls; Leather-wrapped shifter; Chevrolet Mylink with Navigation and Bluetooth streaming audio and music; 8-inch touch screen; USB port; 6-month OnStar directions and connections with automatic crash response and turn-by-turn navigation plus 5-year OnStar basic plan; OnStar 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot (3GB/three month data trial); SiriusXM Radio; Power sunroof, $900; Destination Charge, $995)

Adherence to Brand Image: When it comes to high-performance cars, generations of True Believers in Design, Engineering and Product Development have managed to keep the flame alive at Chevrolet for a long, long time. Yes, they do mainstream cars and trucks, but Chevy's performance offerings have been the division's most distinctive calling card ever since the early days of the Duntov-massaged Corvettes and the 409s. Even though the SS is sourced from Australia it doesn't really matter. In fact the Aussies have a keen sense of what makes cars fun as well, especially given the fact that they love their V8 Super Cars. The Chevrolet SS is every bit consistent with the proud tradition of Chevrolet's performance cars, and that is not an insignificant measure of solace in this day and age. -PMD

ON THE TABLE - AUGUST 26, 2015

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015 AT 01:49PM Editor-In-Chief's Note: This week our "Quick Take" has us in a 2015 BMW M3 Sedan with a six- speed manual gearbox. Having had lengthy access to a previous generation V8-powered M3 , I was prepared to be a little underwhelmed. After all, contrary to Bimmer purists, I absolutely loved the V8-powered M3. It had a bad ass, outlaw vibe about it that I never grew tired of, and it sounded so good when you hammered it that it was addictive. But then again, I didn't expect that the True Believers at BMW were going to phone it in when it came time to do an M version of their iconic 3 Series - even if it was supposed to be a more efficient machine - and true to form, this new M3 didn't disappoint. It's lighter - and lighter on its feet - and it's quicker, too, with the responsiveness of the 425HP twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine being truly remarkable. (I'd say amazing but I hate the overuse of that word, because this just in: everything in modern life truly isn't.) But the M3 is fast and loads of fun, and the suspension, steering and brakes are all exemplary, perfectly suited to the car and its mission (although with our crumbling roads the M3 will test your enthusiast commitment to that mission. Hopefully there are places and roads out there where the M3 can shine. Around here you have to pick and choose the roads carefully and even then it's a crap shoot). The M3 comes alive when you hammer it, yet you can trundle along in the urban slog in low-profile mode when you need to as well, which comes in handy with the realities of everyday driving. About the only thing negative I have to say about the new M3 is its cost. Now granted, you don't need the carbon ceramic brakes for $8,150, but we drove an outstanding machine a few weeks ago - the Chevrolet SS - and it stickered for $47,640. I'm not saying the SS is on the same level as the M3 by every measure, but for all practical purposes it's pretty damn close. And that's not being said in an apologetic manner either. The M3 is a formidable machine, but then again so is the SS. And for around $34,000 less, as much as I like the BMW, I'd take the SS all day long. -PMD

ON THE TABLE - DECEMBER 16, 2015

(Autoextremist Photo)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our "Quick Take" at the end of July had us in a 2015 Chevrolet SS Sedan. Our "Regal Peacock Green Metallic" tester (sort of like British Racing Green 3.0) was low key but surprisingly handsome, even though it is an ultra-conservative design. We actually liked the low-key look of the SS because well, truth be told, if you drive around with your foot in it an awful lot like we did, the black-green was understated and not showy at all, which was perfect for the task at hand. And who's kidding whom, here? The whole point of the SS is having a rear- wheel-drive sport sedan with big V8 power and in this case, a six-speed manual gearbox, and it all works beautifully together in this package. You find yourself hammering it if only just to hear that big V8 bark. Not that the SS is a 0-60 mph meathead special by any stretch, because the Magnetic Ride Control makes this 3960 lb. sedan feel composed and sophisticated, and you can hustle it around at - ahem - remarkable speeds over any kind of driver's road, particularly high-speed sweepers, where it absolutely shines. It's no secret that the Chevrolet SS is the last of a vanishing breed (the only other large performance sedan available with a manual gearbox is the BMW M5). In fact GM is going to stop selling it here by 2017, when the plant in Australia that builds it fades away. But the SS is the last of a vanishing breed for other reasons too. With emissions and fuel economy restrictions growing more stringent by the model year, you simply won't be able to buy something like the SS. There is an unmistakable, visceral thrill that comes with a big V8, rear-wheel-drive and a manual gearbox. Some in the anti-car intelligentsia would love to see cars like the SS go away in favor of autonomous cars and the rigid controls that go with them. Hell, even some enthusiasts would love to see manual gearboxes go by the wayside altogether in favor of performance automatics, because they're quicker in maximum testing and they find the whole notion of a manual quaint and superfluous. A manual gearbox can be eminently satisfying, however - certainly not in the stop-and-go urban slog, we get that - but for weekend jaunts and fun driving we'd take a manual over a super automatic any day. So, we liked the SS. A lot. And frankly, for around $46,000 (we'd delete the sunroof) it's a damn good deal too. –PMD (7/29)