Chevy’s “SS” badge has been applied to more cars than Turtle Wax.
That “Super Sport” moniker has graced great rides like the ’63 Corvette Sting Ray, ’66 SS396 Chevelle and ’69 Camaro SS, to name a few, along with some odd birds, as well – the 2004 SSR hard-top convertible pickup, the 2006 Trailblazer SUV and the V6-powered, front-drive Impala of 2004.
For 2014, SS is back in an iteration that shows promise aplenty of joining the ranks of great SS Chevys, even though this new SS isn’t really a Chevy and isn’t really new.
It’s built in Australia in the classic rear-drive American muscle car tradition by GM’s Holden division, appearing on these shores in its first generation as the 2008/2009 Pontiac G8. Alas, after a mere 18 months, G8 – considered by many the last great Pontiac – was tossed onto the ash heap of history as part of GM’s bankruptcy unpleasantness and resulting euthanization of the “Excitement Division.”
Subsequently, this Holden platform, which also underpins Camaro in a shorter, 112.3-inch wheelbase version, returned stateside as the Caprice PPV (police patrol vehicle), riding a stretched 118.5-inch wheelbase.
Now, back on the old G8’s 114.8-inch underpinnings, this big, rear-drive, four-door performance sedan, sold Down Under as the Holden Commodore, returns to U.S. civilian hands in the form of the 2014 Chevy SS.
When it hits showrooms this fall, SS will feature a 6.2-liter, 415-hp V-8 borrowed from Corvette that cranks out 415 lb.-ft. of torque through a paddle-shift, six-speed automatic transmission.
With that tranny channeling power to the rear wheels, Chevy figures this new SS will greet 60 mph in about 5 seconds.
Bringing all that fury to a halt are Brembo brake calipers pinching front rotors the size of pizza platters – 14 inches up front, 12.8 in back.
It all rides a fully independent sport-tuned suspension – Mac struts up front, multilink architecture in back – and staggered Bridgestone Z-rated performance rubber: 19x8.5 wheels up front hugged by 245/40ZR19 tires; 19x9.0 wheels aft embraced by 275/35ZR19 tires.
Of course, this package, with its leather-swathed cabin, makes available all the expected gizmos, too, such as Chevy’s MyLink touch-screen navigation, Bose audio, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, rear camera and Automatic Parking Assist.
The first rear-drive performance sedan from Chevrolet in 17 years (hey, it’s about time!), SS will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. No pricing yet, but word on the street suggests a number in the neighborhood of 40 grand.
