GM's Reuss Talks 2014 Chevrolet SS Sedan - Motor Trend

[EJD1984]

Check out the Chevy SS forum at SSforums.com

GM's Reuss Talks 2014 Chevrolet SS Sedan
More Details on Chevy's New Tire-Scorching "Halo" Four-Door Emerge
By Nate Martinez | December 05, 2012

Motor Trend

Excerpts........

While exact details are under wraps until its world reveal in February (likely at the Daytona 500), we'd be stunned if the street 2014 SS didn't have a version of GM's 6.2-liter V-8 under its hood -- possibly a derivative of the new C7 Corvette's upcoming powerplant -- with at least 400 horsepower on tap, mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. "It'll be a halo car for Chevrolet because we really don't have a high-performance four-door sedan. It fills that niche," Reuss said of the new sedan.

Reuss wanted to build upon the G8 GXP's capabilities for the new SS. A 2009 model powered by a version of GM's 6.2-liter V-8 we tested hit 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds; a quarter-mile in 13 seconds flat at 109.6 mph; and achieved 0.90 g average on the skidpad. "The chassis of the VE Commodore is phenomenal. But I think the refinement and user interface things will be quite different. And I think that this will be a very special car for Chevrolet," he said. As part of developing the SS, Reuss and Co. also decided to simplify the packaging formula that it had executed for the G8. So (at least for now) that means no SS V-6 or other lower level trim packages/variants.

In addition to being a focused car, it will be relatively exclusive, with an initial annual production run in the 5000 to 10,000 range, but Reuss says GM will have the ability to ramp up production if demand warrants. "We can make as many as people want. And that's really a great way to run kind of a business with this car," Reuss said.

Campbell believes the SS is in a league of its own. "For the street SS, it's interesting because at a Chevrolet level there's not a lot of competition," Campbell said. "You would have to move up to a luxury category. You can't really look at other vehicles that are larger, car-based, because most of them are front-wheel drive."

Full Article at Link........

[EJD1984]

Campbell believes the SS is in a league of its own. "For the street SS, it's interesting because at a Chevrolet level there's not a lot of competition," Campbell said. "You would have to move up to a luxury category. You can't really look at other vehicles that are larger, car-based, because most of them are front-wheel drive."

Seems like they're (mostly) ignoring the Dodge Charger RT & SRT8

[jzchev28]

Seems like they're ignoring the Dodge Charger RT & SRT8

He didn't say there was no competition

[All Star]

So (at least for now) that means no SS V-6 or other lower level trim packages/variants.

This sentence right here is why the name "SS" for a GM vehicle is utterly absurd.

[EJD1984]

He didn't say there was no competition

Edit: Seems like they're (mostly) ignoring the Dodge Charger RT & SRT8.

[demonspeed]

He didn't say there was no competition

Exactly -- he said "not a lot." Only one other manufacturer gives us a similar car at the "Chevrolet" level -- the Charger.

[bballr4567]

Seems like they're (mostly) ignoring the Dodge Charger RT & SRT8

He said "because at a Chevrolet level there's not a lot of competition". Says that right in your quote.


Regardless, the fact that he said halo car and niche means we will see sales lower than the G8 more than likely. Is it really worth it to keep importing such small numbers of cars from Australia for GM?

[63GrandSport001]

He said "because at a Chevrolet level there's not a lot of competition". Says that right in your quote.


Regardless, the fact that he said halo car and niche means we will see sales lower than the G8 more than likely. Is it really worth it to keep importing such small numbers of cars from Australia for GM?

If they can do it at good profits then yes..... that is the point of a niche car.....

[bballr4567]

If they can do it at good profits then yes..... that is the point of a niche car.....

Are they really making profits on 230 Caprice's a month? Got to remember that there was a lot of work to make it a cop car. Then, add in the SS where you have to make it LHD, tons of resources there, AND give it a different appearance than the Commodore as well. Only way to make a profit then is to have a high MSRP but making 5-10k cars a year will get you that.

[MyImpalaSS]

This sentence right here is why the name "SS" for a GM vehicle is utterly absurd.

Actually that statement is perfect for why the name is SS since it's V8 only. If they were bringing a V6, then the SS name wouldn't make sense.

[DirtyMoney]

Seems like they're (mostly) ignoring the Dodge Charger RT & SRT8

Hopefully they are not over selling this vehicle, but Reuss statements are in line with my thinking. Everyone wants to match the SS with the Charger when they should be using the Chrysler 300 as a competitior. Saying the SS is a tarted up G8 is like saying the ZL1 is just a tarted up Camaro. NSAP is going to be so pissed when his iPhone 5 gets smashed by the Galaxy SIII.

[demonspeed]

Are they really making profits on 230 Caprice's a month? Got to remember that there was a lot of work to make it a cop car. Then, add in the SS where you have to make it LHD, tons of resources there, AND give it a different appearance than the Commodore as well. Only way to make a profit then is to have a high MSRP but making 5-10k cars a year will get you that.

I'm guessing that since the Caprice/SS is on an out-going chassis that development and industrial engineering costs have long been recouped.

They aren't importing them for charity

[Dr. Show-Me]

The PPV is to get some sales and the car under consideration once again. The SS is to get some sales and gauge the market for the alpha-sized SS to come in 2016.
This is a test to see what the future is for rwd performance sedans from,Chevrolet. Sell a lot and the future is assured, low sales - not so much or not at all. In many ways, it's up to us

[bballr4567]

The PPV is to get some sales and the car under consideration once again. The SS is to get some sales and gauge the market for the alpha-sized SS to come in 2016.
This is a test to see what the future is for rwd performance sedans from,Chevrolet. Sell a lot and the future is assured, low sales - not so much or not at all. In many ways, it's up to us

So the Commodore based SS is only going to be in showrooms for two-three years? Thats some wishful thinking. No way is GM going through this investment only figuring out itll work for 20-30k cars.

[ChevyRules]

This sentence right here is why the name "SS" for a GM vehicle is utterly absurd.

It's not surprising. Most of the G8 sales were GT's. Not many were V6's.