2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS Unveiled

[nsap]

Chevy claims new stock car "closely resembles" production SS sedan.
www.GMInsideNews.com
November 29, 2012
By: Nick Saporito

As expected, this morning Chevrolet took the wraps off of their all-new NASCAR entry for the 2013 season, the SS. The simply named racer will be the stock car racer of the production car, which will be a rear-wheel drive V-8-powered sedan. The new NASCAR SprintCup Series racer will make its formal debut in February at Daytona SpeedWeeks.

The new SS replaces the Impala in the circuit, which saw 151 wins in its career between 1959-64 and 2007-12. GM alleges that the NASCAR version, shown above, closely resembles the SS that will be in showrooms for customers to purchase. Insiders have speculated that the SS looks similar to the 2013 Malibu and 2014 Impala, which is confirmed through the graphics on the racer.

Production of the new Chevrolet SS sedan will take place in Australia at GM's Holden subsidiary. The car is based off of the upcoming VF Commodore, the next-generation of Holden's rear-wheel drive sedan. Many enthusiasts see the SS as the spiritual successor to the Pontiac G8, which was also based on the Commodore. Chevy has yet to release details or photos of the production SS, though they have confirmed it will have a small block V-8 at least available. The SS will make the first time in 17 years that the bow-tie brand has had a rear-wheel drive sedan in the showroom.

Expect the all-new SS to arrive sometime in late 2013 as a 2014 model.

LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet today opened a new chapter in its storied racing history, unveiling its eagerly anticipated 2013 NASCAR Chevrolet SS race car. Powered by the legendary small block V-8 engine, the rear-wheel drive performance sedan will be Chevrolet’s newest entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, beginning with the 2013 SpeedWeeks in Daytona, Fla.

The new NASCAR race car closely resembles the all-new rear wheel drive V-8 Chevrolet SS performance sedan that will debut early next year.

“As a passionate race fan, the debut of the SS NASCAR race car is a genuinely exciting moment for me,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss. “With the SS, Chevrolet is delivering a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR race car that is very closely linked to the performance sedan that will be available for sale, ensuring that our most loyal enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience the same thrill every day on the open road that our race car drivers enjoy on the track on race day.

“The Chevrolet SS also demonstrates how we are able to leverage our global product portfolio to deliver a unique performance experience,” Reuss said. “The specialized development and testing work done for the race car will certainly benefit the entire Chevrolet product lineup.”

The Chevrolet SS is the next in a long line of famed nameplates that Chevrolet has campaigned in NASCAR. It replaces Impala, which scored 151 wins from 1959-64 and 2007-12.

“We are looking forward to another exciting year of NASCAR competition and expect that the new SS race car, with some of the most skilled drivers on the circuit behind the wheel, will distinguish itself on the track,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.

The Chevrolet SS will be a derivative of the award-winning global rear-wheel-drive architecture that spawns performance vehicles like Chevrolet Camaro and Holden’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 (Super Sport) 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 Le Mans 24-hour race.

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.

Chevrolet was America’s best-selling performance car brand in 2011 with Camaro and Corvette accounting for one out of every three sports cars sold in the United States. The addition of the SS to the lineup is expected to further strengthen Chevrolet’s position as a leading performance brand.

[sfbreh]

Limited production for 2014 or forever?

[KingLeonidas]

I'll hold out for the Grand National/GNX.

[majicbz07]

GM should make 2013 the year of chevrolet performance. They already have the new Vette and SS coming out why not spread it to a Sonic SS, Malibu SS and maybe surprise us with a Camaro Z28.

[jld]

Looks like a stock car to me.

SS, GNX, whatever. Give me something good with 4 doors.

[G8Montana]

Zzzzzzzz.....NASCAR are just tube frames with a plastic shell, just like and R/C car anyway..........

[Ed753]

WOW - Very cool, too bad Dodge dropped out, I love the more personalized looks.

Zzzzzzzz.....NASCAR are just tube frames with a plastic shell, just like and R/C car anyway..........

Are you proposing standard passenger cars at 200 MPH?

Would you feel safe in your G8 in a pack of 40 at 1/2 that speed?

[EJD1984]

OK. Time for MonaroSS to work his magic, and turn this into the streetable/civilian version.

Here's a nice Video I just ran across. For both the SS and Camaro race cars.


Yes, it appears that the Commodore VF / Chevrolet SS has been "Malibuized"

[Break80]

the Nascar image doesn't give any insight into what the 4 door might look like, but given that buick may be coming out with the gnx et al, waiting a couple years to see how these new rwd alphas flush out may make sense

[70AARCUDA]

Which: "Closely" as in spelling of Chevrolet or "Closely" as in physical dimensions (I doubt it)?

[FenwickHockey65]

OK. Time for MonaroSS to work his magic, and turn this into the streetable/civilian version.

Here's a nice Video I just ran across. For both the SS and Camaro race cars.


Yes, it appears that the Commodore VF / Chevrolet SS has been "Malibuized"

Hope RCR wasn't planning on putting decals on the light stickers because NASCAR won't let them.

[CamaroCrazy]

It looks as I expected. All Chevy needs to do now is surprise me and put the LT1 in this. I hate to think this car will launch with a drivetrain straight out of 2009 - so far it doesn't sound any different than the G8 GXP. How is this going to compete with the Dodge Charger SRT8 at the same price point? Dodge has more HP and soon to have an 8 speed transmission. The only saving grace will be if this new Zeta platform did manage to lose some weight. The Dodge is a big fat car.

[civilzues]

so the front end is close to the SS? I hope they are wrong. Thats plain awful.

[prowlerjc]

It's DERPCAR!!!

[EJD1984]

Here's some high res pics

Direct Link 1


Direct Link 2


Direct Link 3