For anyone familiar with General Motors, this is stating the obvious. The Chevrolet SS sedan will cease production this year and GM has no plans to replace it with anything. That confirmation came from GM North America chief Alan Batey in speaking with Motor Trend and other reports at the Detroit Auto Show.
It’s stating the obvious because the Chevrolet SS is actually a Holden VF Commodore, imported from Australia. The rear-wheel-drive sedan is dying in Australia as GM ends all local production in the island country, and the SS subsequently has to die with it.
The SS has been imported to North America in low numbers, with just over 3,000 of them sold in 2016. It is powered exclusively by a 6.2-liter V-8 and is the spiritual successor to the Pontiac G8 GXP, which died when the brand did back in 2009.
Unlike when the G8 died, there won’t be any lengthy debates about rather or not the Holden Commodore should return to the U.S. market. The 2018 Commodore is actually based on the front-wheel-drive Opel Insignia, which will also be our Buick Regal here in the States.
The death of the Commodore and SS marks the end of the Zeta platform at General Motors, which first launched with the VE Commodore last decade.
PRECISELY! I know I'm the only 1 with this "issue", but............ that automotive division has rendered several nameplates useless to me with their affinity to slapping heritage nameplates on vehicles with NOTHING to do with the original. Talk about classic bait'n'switch: here, we're going to sell you a new mc, but wait ... no, it's actually a Lumina coupe that used to be the Celebrity. SMH. THEN ... they have a CHANCE to turn things around with this car ... & instead of naming it something cool, like, for instance, Chevelle, they give it the lame name of "simply" SS...................makes NO sense. Course, in their "defense" (ahem), I'm sure they looked at the reaction to the new GTO ... & decided not to go down that route again. But, it was their own fault for creating the insults to enthusiasts in the 1st place........
Cort, www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
pig&cowValves.paceMaker * 1979 CC to 2003 MGM + 81mc
"Nobody likes to be let down" | Jack Johnson | 'Flake'
Cort, www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
pig&cowValves.paceMaker * 1979 CC to 2003 MGM + 81mc
"You've made a fool of everyone" | Jet | 'Look What You've Done'
I agree with the name as well. They should have had a classic name for it or a new name but just calling it SS was confusing.
Cort, www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
pig&cowValves.paceMaker * 1979 CC to 2003 MGM + 81mc
"You've made a fool of everyone" | Jet | 'Look What You've Done'
Agreed. And by keeping our beloved G8 GT long term I got to add this to our stable which cost the same as a SS sedan: