Frequent readers of GM Authority should be plenty aware of the upcoming rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet sport sedan (possibly to be called “SS”) on its way to market next year, along with the Chevrolet Caprice Police Vehicle, which is available now to municipalities. Both of these vehicles utilize variants of GM’s Zeta architecture, which was developed by Holden in Australia.
At the moment, the Caprice PPV is imported from Australia, and supplies on the vehicle remain thin as a result. And the SS is expected to be making the trans-Pacific journey to American showrooms as well when it begins to be built next to relative, the 2014 Holden VF Commodore. However, according to a report from Car & Driver, this will be only temporary.
The magazine expects that by the 2015-2016 model year, when the new Zeta II platform is ready, General Motors will begin shifting production of both the Chevy Caprice PPV and SS performance sedan to North America. Meanwhile, the Elizabeth plant in Australia will focus on building Holden models for domestic sales. If correct, this means that the upcoming Chevy SS will live a relatively short life on the current Zeta platform.
Comments
Huh, short life on current platform… This is really bizarre why produce it at all, produce the new model in 2015. The model comming in a year better not be a rebadged Pontiac G8… We went down that path already.
There has been speculation that the Commodore could go away altogether at the end of this generation, which by the Austrailian blogs wouldn’t be until the later half of the decade, 2017-2018. I think GM has wanted the G8 as a Chevy for a number of years but didn’t pull the trigger because of the backruptcy.
I believe the economics of it are better these days as well, but I think Holden is still taking a little bit of the hit on the export because of Australia’s weak dollar. Any finance/econ people out there to voice their expert opinion on that end of it??
Does this mean we will not see a new generation right away, but just the existing Commodore instead?
Yes, reports have it that it is essentially the same car but will some tweaks. The current gen is the Commodore VE, while the one we will get as the Chevy SS will be based on the (currently in development) Commodore VF. It will likely shed some weight, gain a little bit of power and/or fuel efficiency, and get upgrades on the tech stuff (eg. adding MyLink). Most are praying that the styling is aggressive enough to earn the “SS” nomenclature, but I believe that at initial launch we’re looking at a “GTO 2.0” type of deal… big power with reserved looks. As long as the tech piece is there, I will certainly own one!
I would not be so sure about this report many suprises will be ahead
A) What do you at GM?
B) Regardless of what it is, can you hire me? 🙂
A) What do you do at GM?
B) Regardless of what it is, can you hire me? 🙂
JD, how soon before GM actually releases this new SS?
Lotta conflict info, the SS’ll be based on the Caprice PPV? With wagon and ute versions? Does Holden build wagon and ute versions of the WM?
I don’t care where they make it, just make it! Sedan, Wagon & Ute, let’s get going on this! Can’t wait forever
THIS!
Then again why so late? Why the hell they cannot act faster? Wake up guys !
sooo it will be built on the zeta-II not the alpha? cool.
So maybe a ZETA II – based true Cadillac flagship?
ya one that actually goes up against the 7-series and the A8 and the mercades equivalent (i don’t understand mercades nomenclature)
Benz S-class, good sir.
why thank you grawdaddy
That’s a different program entirely.
Chris,
Oz dollar is $US1.03, so it’s not that the Oz dollar is weak – it’s too strong, making the Commodore-based Chevy too expensive. Yes Holden does make a Sportwagon and a ute. There’s a good story from the Oz angle here: http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/holden-commodore-could-be-built-in-us-20120503-1y1bw.html
Gotcha. I got a D in econ class 🙁 haha
Yep, it`s called “it`s not gonna happen”
As long as the Commodore is still Australian and still built here, I’m happy.