Until we got the good news, the safe money would probably have bet against any chance of Chevrolet’s SS sedan (née Holden Commodore) receiving a transmission apart from the 6-speed automatic. Chevrolet’s Australian-born halo car is (sadly) a dying animal, with only about a 2,000 unit per annum production run intended, and originally, a paltry two options available to customers: a sunroof, and a spare tire.
Alas, GM has decided to grace the American consumer with the option of a 6-speed manual transmission, at no additional cost!
We drove – and loved – the Chevrolet SS when it first appeared on our shores as a 2014 model year car. It’s a five-seat super-sleeper with a distinctly Australian penchant for scaring the bejeebus out of unwitting occupants.
But the omission of a stick from the Chevrolet SS’ short list of options was always an unfortunate detraction from its road-going fun – until now. Customers no longer have to suffer the consolation-prize of a torque-converter gearbox with patronizing paddle-shifters. Rather, it finally rests upon them to sort through gears and put the car’s 415 horsepower down on the road with a firm, vertical lever, like the good lord intended.
Yes reader, the Chevrolet SS – the brand’s first rear-wheel drive sedan since the Caprice of 1996 – is finally a complete creature.
Comments
Can I get an amen! ?
Amen!!! It’s real, it finally has a manual transmission in it.
“General Motors’ first rear-wheel drive sedan since the Caprice of 1996”. I believe the Pontiac G8 will beg to differ!
“I believe the Pontiac G8 will beg to differ!”
Ahem. The Cadillac CTS would like a word with you.
I meant, of course, Chevy’s first. If you don’t mind, I’d rather like to die of embarrassment now. -_-
The gods of automotive trivia knowledge look down upon you in shame! Hang your head!
GM’s first RWD sedan since 96? What about the Holden Commodore which has been going since ’78? lol
This car is the finest mid size model to ever be sold be Chevy . You can throw out the star crossed Malibu , indeed convert it into a Ford Edge fighter 5 door CUV model , , leave the 2014 Impala to the Buick Lacrosse or Caddie . Put in a 2.3 liter tt charged engine as the base model , a 3.5l v6 step up model and the sport model(current) SS as the big gun . Then add a coupe , Cadillac doesn’t deserve two , hell , the way they are selling , they deserve none ! This means moving the production to the USA or Canada . The problem here is how you will match the build quality that has been Holden’s hallmark ?? If you have the time , read on the internet in the Chevy SS forums just how popular is this mean machine . Also note , this is the first GM production vehicle that I can recall , which has ever produced so many 5 star reviews with magazines or testing agencies….it is that good !!!