In the ever-so demanding America we live in, enough is never, ever enough. In the case of the Chevrolet SS, a 415 hp V8 exclusively mated to a six-speed automatic transmission certainly doesn’t seem to be enough. Since its introduction, media and enthusiasts alike have been praying to the car gods that the performance sedan would soon be graced with a DIY gearbox to channel that pushrod power.
Hallelujah. For the according to the scriptures of Motor Trend, we art indeed worthy of manual transmission purity and the endowment of magnetic ride control. Ask, and thou shalt receive.
Expect these graces to be offered by the Chevrolet SS for the 2015 model year, in turn giving the four-door even greater sleeper sedan qualities.
Comments
I wonder if we may get the new DI LT engine too as they can certify the drivetrain here and use it in the Alpha version when it appears.
I was shocked the Magnetic suspension did not make it the first time. It is a natural thing for this car as it can improved a already good handling 4000 pound Camaro it should do much to enhance this car even more.
I don’t know but I’ll believe it when it comes right from GM or shall we say the horses mouth, not these types(Motor Trend) that are always filled with much speculation.
This sounds awesome! I really would like two trim levels to choose from though. 1SS with a 4.3L V6 that has 335HP/310FT-LBS and 2SS with a 6.2L V8 that has 460HP/465FT-LBS. Also, please make the navigation and safety packages optional to lower the standard price a by a bit.
You might want to check into the science behind iVVL as I’ve noticed you often mention it in your comments. A variable valve lift system is NOT compatible with either of the 2 valve OHV engines you referred to in the post. They’ve already thrown every technology and acronym they could at the Gen V small blocks but that isn’t one of them.
It’s good to see GM responding to the call for a manual and adding the magna ride. I just hope the people who have been crying for it actually buy it.
No idea why GM didn’t offer both from beginning. I know it is a limited run but given that there is the made to order option, you should have been able to get the transmission you want. Absolutely no hassle for Holden.
I’ve also heard rumours that MRC is coming but I don’t know if it will happen. MRC for the Holdens come via HSV and MRC is installed by HSV at their facility which is a fair distance away from the Elizabeth, South Australia plant. (HSV is in Clayton, Victoria).
Adding the manual was easy, everything was already their just not being orded by Chevy, new engine options would require too much work for a car with no future updates, only way LT1 will make it is if the LS3 ends production.
Don’t see that happening any time soon.
They can add LSA though, the HSV Gen-F GTS has LSA installed by Holden but any performance parts are installed by HSV so the 577hp of GTS may not be the same for a “SS ZL1”. 3L V6, 3.6L V6 and 6L V8 are available too.
I totally concur! These are some much welcomed updates that’ll hopefully translate to better sales and overall reception of the SS, which is pretty good to begin with. Most automotive journalists favor this car over the Charger/300C in terms of handling and performance, but not appearance. While we’ll have to be patient in regards to a redesign, we can at least look forward to some good updates that’ll make the SS more desirable. With a heavily refreshed Charger/300C, we should expect a healthy rivalry between these two rear drive, V8 powered beasts. I only hope Ford will jump on the bandwagon with a formidable full sized, rear drive sedan of their own. Then it’ll truly be the “good ol’ days” of American muscle rivalry……
There is such a place for the next two years or so where the big three have a full size rear drive V6 & V8 sedan.
Ford au have the falcon which is a direct competitor on every trim level against the commodore,
also with the 300c on the au market they do compete with each other for the same market place, but the 300c only covers mid to top trim levels.
GM is not responding here as these things just are not added on a whim a few months after intro.
It could be as simple as just not having the emissions certified for the car in time for the intro.
I am sure GM had reasons for the delay and now that it is here those who were complaining have what they wanted.
Now people need to buy these in good numbers or it may not happen on the next model. If you want manual the best way to support them is to buy them.
I believe the only reason this happened is it’s not selling, and a manual will not help. This is a half hearted effort to make the cops cars worth price of admission (they must not be selling either). This is poorly designed compared to lots of other cars all because GM hasn’t figured out how to not build cars that don’t compete against and with their own brands. The V series Caddies should be Chevys not a Holden Caprice.
The V’s will stay with Cadillac, as there will always be someone who will pay to have more HP than what you have, in addition to a better built car. What is a luxury automaker if they aren’t offering something that others don’t have?
That distinction will keep a sizable product quality barrier between Cadillac and Chevrolet, and it’s a distinction that Cadillac can and will thrive on. The V-series isn’t just a flimsy veneer, and they aren’t “rebadged Chevys and Holdens” either; GM learned that lesson the hard way years ago.
That, and I sincerely hope you’re not suggesting that such high HP cars should be priced lower simply because they are from an American marque.
Allen,
1. The SS is not a civilian version of the Caprice PPV. The Caprice PPV is based on the Holden Caprice, a luxury long-wheel-base car that is based on the Holden Commodore Calais-V.
2. This was not selling because of its price. GM should offer the cheaper Holden trims such as Commodore SV6 (3.6L) and SS (6L V8). Many potential buyers were waiting for a manual as the rumours about a manual have been around for months.
3. There seem to be a fair amount of PPV’s on the roads
4. There are no Holdens sold as Cadillacs.
5. I do agree that GM should not make certain features exclusive to certain brands. GM are the kings of badge engineering. If you look at Holden, with no other GM brand in their markets, they offer Chevy and Buick trims, Add in Holden Special Vehicles and you have Pontiac and Cadillac. The SS-V and SS-V Redline Utes can be Pontiacs or GMC’s. The HSV Maloo can be GMC or even Cadillac.
This may only be a design meant for to the NASCAR racing teams , to paraphrase a retired cheftain , but this model is the most fresh,understated and for once inspired designs GM has produced . It’s time to take this animal seriously and grow the model . A coupe is a must , keep the greenhouse a good size , ie don’t raise the beltline and suggestion , offer a twin turbocharged 3 liter V6 in a lower priced version . Other manufacturers have done so , by going to TT V6’s and a better buy for the cost conscious consumer . Lastly , why not build this in the USA or Canada ? Personal choice here , lets deepen the grill a bit and shrink the black bottom opening a wee ? The narrow opening reminds me of the open lips of a young whitefish ! Not that I have anything about whitefish , except the bones are thin and triangular and not good to swallow .
This must be for the European market. How am I going to play with my Iphone, and push a double cheese burger in my face while driving this thing?
I know we all here as Internet CEO’s like to want with emotion but that is not how it really is done. While it plays a part there are many other issues and problems they must answer and face when bringing a car to market that are never published or spoke of in public. If it were only so easy to just say hey I got a cool idea and lets do it really worked.
In time as we learn more on the Alpha many questions on what and why things are being done as they are will be answered then.
The VF here is a protected car as it has no real sales expectations on it. GM did need a NASCAR body now and not in 2017. GM also has had to face the fact that the cheaper models would not be all the profitable and importing them were a risk. Options are where the money is.
As for the manual I expect that the need for the car to be here soon for NASCAR may have been the issue. Manuals are not easy to pass emissions and GM may have just delayed it s they may have not had it ready for the intro time they had set. It really could be something that simple. There were time factors involved here that most new models do not face.
I also expect special things to be added in the next couple years to keep things fresh just as Chrysler adds special RT packages and colors each year.
I hope the next generation SS is US made, therefore cheaper. There is a market for an affordable large RWD Chevy–see Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300 sales.
This would allow for GM to aim Impala more towards mid size buyers, and consequently lower the price. (The mid sized segment has grown in length/width over the last decade)
Having Impala already in place might actually give GM the confidence to do something unique and disruptive with Malibu.
Are you saying place the Impala in the midsize segment (E2XX) and put the Malibu on the Extended Alpha platform as a second generation SS? That is actually a great idea! I have hated the SS moniker since it was announced. SS is supposed to be a trim level, not a model!
Well I expect the next SS to get a V6 version but it will be treated much like the Camaro as a performance and sporting sedan vs. the Impala. They are two different models targeted at two different buyers.
The Impala is not going to get cheaper and it is targeted at those who want a nice quiet comfortable ride and FWD. Not everyone want RWD and the Impala is targeted at these folks. Hence this is why there is no sport version.
GM is going to do the right thing here and not force an SS badge on a large FWD sedan and better target the performance market with a RWD and possibly AWD sedan. Yes the Alpha is also a AWD platform. This would kick Ford in the Short and Curlies.
I really do not think people realize just what we will see in the new Camaro and Alpha sedan. Just look at what the CTS is doing now in a simple sport version and consider what the Camaro is doing with a older heavy Zeta. Now merge the GM engineering capabilities from the Zeta into the attributes of the Alpha that we already know about.
The new Mustang is good but it will be so very conservative to where GM will end up. Ford and move the platform forward but GM will move then entire segment forward.
As for the Malibu it was an updated model they had pretty much done before the bailout. It was a left over design. GM could have waited to redo it or release what they had to buy time till the Malibu and Regal are replace in the near future. At this point they are just buying time with the car and you will see major changes in the next one.
Note GM rushed this Malibu out as it knew it was going to fall short and the Fusion was coming. They wanted it out first and take less of a hit as it would have being second. It is not a bad car but it is behind the others as it is much older design and on a older platform. GM is not lost on this and is well at work on the replacement we should see around 2017-18.
While a SS Impala could be done well I see GM going for world class with the new SS models and the new Alpha has that ability. The key will be to still price it at a Chevy market price.
The coming SS will be to the BMW that the Corvette is to the 911 today. Not just a good car for the money but a good car period.
The Zeta has done it’s job and it is just time to move on. Every platform has a life span and in todays market the Zeta has lived its full life.
If not replaced soon GM would be like Chrysler trying to pedal older and much heavier platforms that need replaced. Even the Chrysler pails to the refinement of the SS.
The only thing wrong with the current 2014 Malibu is the lack off rear legroom. Other than that, it has a charming exterior, a rich interior, strong engines, and great efficiency. My only suggestions would be:
-Standard lip spoiler
-Getting rid of the +/- button on top of the shifter to replace it with a Manumatic Shifter and Paddle Shifters
-An UltraView moonroof option
-A different rim selection (Machined Aluminum, Polished, and Chromed 17″-20″)
-An addition of SIDI in 2.5i (205HP/195FT-LBS) to get rid of the Stop/Start System (27 City / 38 Highway)
-An addition of iVVL in 2.0t to increase efficiency (23 City / 32 Highway)
-A 7-Speed Dual Clutch for the late 2015 model for improved economy (2.5i- 28/39 & 2.0t- 24/33)
The biggest issue is the styling is subjective as while some love it some do not. Ford has hit on a styling much similar to the last Malibu that is more universally accepted.
The new car just has little flow in the styling and looks good from some angle but not from others. But is it nothing that can not be tweaked. Also the wheels should be a little larger but I know they are going for MPG.
I own a Malibu with paddle sifters and have owned Pontiacs with them and they are a waste. It is something few ever use.
It was not so much the back seat room of this just being down to others but the fact it went from best in class to what it is now that made it really stand out.
Lets face it the Regal is nearly the same size car and few complain there.
Epsilon 2 isn’t that old a platform, especially compared against Honda and Toyota.
It does its job well, but has to short too short a wheel base.
GM should have simply reskinned 2008-12 Malibu for NA sale. That generation had been a hit with critics, Car and Driver called it a “super Accord”.
Unfortunately, GM, like a lot of companies, wanted a world car and is now paying a price much like Mazda is with three M6, a car too large for many markets. VW was smart designing a NA specific Passat platform; GM could have used a reimagined Epsilon 1 in a similar manner.
It is not a want to go to global world cars but it is a need to retain cost that they have to do it.
As the market is going the Epsilon2 is getting old as things will not go as long as we are used to seeing. The markets and the changing regulations are not going to permit that anymore hence the need to save money on global platforms.
The difference is companies that go global will survive and those who do not had better get a big price in the markets they do sell in as that is the only way they will last.
Cars are too high already and imagine if they had not started sharing development cost globally what they would be.
This is not about where we are but where all this is going. I own a older Malibu and while it is a great car it needed updated year ago and the car is just heavy. Also they needed to split the gap between the Cruze and the Impala as the older Malibu size would have challenged the Impala to a point.
The fastest way to lose mass is size and that is also what the Malibu is playing on since it is now just a 4 cylinder car.
Given the sales position of Malibu, I think most would agree that GM opting for the smaller wheelbase of Epsilon 2 at the same time most competing midsizers were actually getting bigger was probably a mistake for the US market.
Even GM was worried people would say, “who shrunk the Malibu”.
Regal chases a different demo, size did not matter, but selling the smallest value family sedan has damaged sales up to the point where scale is n no longer so much of an issue.
A number of carmakers sell NA specific midsized cars due to American’s need for space.
I do agree that global platforms are very important. Due to the huge r&d cost associated with architectures, I would love to see GM cooperate with another major automaker in order to reduce costs. This would not hamper competative advantage due to platforms only being one component out of many that determine quality.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but the more I see the new Impala, I keep thinking the better plan would have been to simply skip the Aussie connection this time and make an Impala SS with the running gear of the XTS V-sport. The SS is a fine car, but it’s nearly “invisible” out on the road (most mistake it for a Malibu) and as a result it doesn’t “feel” like a car that even enthusiasts want to plunk down $45K for. Adding magnetic ride and a manual trans. option will sell a few more, but most certainly the price will also edge up toward $50K? It won’t really matter though, $45K? $50K? well beyond the grasp of most, who would desire this car, can pay anyway. Expect supplies of the 2015 version to stay very, very limited.
So sad because the car did pretty well with the Pontiac styling. The old G8 on to of Impala would have made a great range topper.
(Oddly, the changes were minor but took all excitement out of the car.)
I don’t believe there will be a next gen SS due to low sales plus too much over lap with Buick.
I see GM selling the next Commodore with Buick styling since it may well come off the same Chinese line.
Eloquently written, Manny, and wonderful news.