Chevrolet made a lot of people happy today with the release of the 2014 Chevrolet SS sedan – a V-8-powered four-door that first saw our shores as the Pontiac G8 GT. Based on the Holden design and underpinned with the Zeta platform, the SS looks to be a strong performer.
The SS is powered by the LS3 small-block V-8 and kicks out an estimated 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft or torque. Chevy expects 0-60 times to be around five seconds. The 6.2-liter is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.
The 19-inch rims are wrapped in performance Bridgestone rubber and are held down with MacPherson struts up font and a multilink independent rear suspension. Brembo brakes peak through the chrome wheels hinting at the stopping performance. The SS has a lower center of gravity thanks to an aluminum hood and truck lid and nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
Inside, the SS sports Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system with the next generation of navigation software, along with a color heads-up-display. A nine-speaker Bose sound system is a good substitute whenever the occupants aren’t listening to the V-8 rumble coming from the dual exhausts.
The SS has a myriad of safety features like StabiliTrak stability control, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Rear-vision camera with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. It is also the first Chevy to offer Automatic Parking Assist.
Chevy teamed up with legendary NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon to help reveal the SS by driving it center stage at the Daytona International Speedway today. Standing next to Gordon, Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, said, “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. The all-new Chevrolet SS fills that void and fills it better than any other vehicle in the brand’s rich history.”
The 2014 Chevy SS will be available the fourth quarter of 2013. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but we imagine it will be fairly competitive in the market of four-door performance sedans.
