GM Shows True Grit With SS Sedan Announcement, Enthusiasts Not Convinced: Opinion Desk
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Sure, the Chevy SS Performance Sedan may not have been General Motors’ best-kept secret. But now that the rear-wheel drive, Zeta-based performance sedan is definitely on its way — albeit in limited production form — enthusiasts should be content, perhaps even elated… right? So one would think. But they’re not.
Shortly after GM’s official confirmation of the forthcoming vehicle, automotive aficionados all over the web exemplified qualities that perhaps demonstrate most clearly why it so difficult to assuage the car enthusiast: fans began asking (perhaps even whining) for more. Some paraphrased grousing included, “this thing better have some updated styling… if it’s just a Commodore it ain’t gonna cut it for me.” “The interior is too bland; they better update it if they want my hard-earned cash.” “Magnetic Ride Control and all-wheel drive better be an option. And it better offer wood trim on the inside, too. And 450 horsepower should be standard.”
Perhaps those are slight exaggerations for what should really be expected. But the fact remains that car guys aren’t happy that a sporty rear-wheel drive sedan — the first from Chevy in over 15 years — will finally be available for purchase in North America. No, not only do they want the bells and the whistles, but that carrot better be on top as well — or else they’re going to take their business “elsewhere”.
Earnestly, folks — what’s all the bitching about? We don’t even know so much as the engine choices of this vehicle; can’t we just savor the fact that a few people at The General actually had the intuition and fortitude to actually green light such a niche project, knowing full well that the car will move as many units as perhaps the Camaro or Corvette?
Still, that’s not to say that we shouldn’t want and demand certain features, hope for more power, more precise handling, or a better overall driving experience. But let’s remain realistic while doing so, shall we? Because the situation could be much worse.
This article is part of the GM Authority Opinion Desk series, where you can see exactly what’s on the minds of the GM Authority crew.
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The only thing I ask for is a Manual Transmission. That would actually decrease production costs, so I don’t think I’m asking for too much.
I’d also like AWD as an option, but that’s just a wish.
Camaro and Corvette are niche cars, the SS will compete with Charger, a volume family sedan/MUSCLECAR. I would expect the SS to outsell the Camaro, and maintain a more consistant take rate over time. The late G8 and GTO hopefully were an anomaly, maybe the Pontiac marque was just that dead to most Americans?
I can’t imagine this car being anywhere close to the Camaro in sales? Camaro running at about 85-90K sales per year right now. I’m guessing the total availability of the SS for one MY to be less than 1/2 of that, regardless of demand. Limited production.
I really am not that excited about a silly Australian import.
1. The car is engineered globally, people from all around the globe designed it.
2. The profits go to GM, an American based company. Regardless of the brand, the money will stay in America.
3. Production of this car will be moved to America in a few years.
GM shouldn’t have given in and announced it if they weren’t ready for the onslaught of comments. Part of me thinks they announced it to gauge interest and see what the marketplace was calling for. I, for one, came right out and left a rather long-winded comment on your initial story about what I would *like* to see. I stand by my MUST-haves, as I believe a nameplate bearing “SS” should not have anything less:
– Standard six-speed, optional eight speed auto (for those of us with wives)
– 400 to 450hp, torque to match
– Chevy MyLink
Three things, all easily attainable. Everything else was hopes and dreams and how I think GM could not only satisfy the market, but how they could also have a home run and industry leader.
Now is not a time for GM to put out a new product and go half-ass with it. We need to lead the industry, not give the excuse “well we haven’t had a RWD sedan in 15 years, here’s what you get, now LIKE IT”. That’s the mentality of the old GM, IMO. The new GM needs to listen to its consumers and give us what we want. Brand loyalty hardly exists anymore. I’m not going to spend my hard-earned money on a Chevy SS just because it’s a GM product. I’m going to buy one because it has the things I’m looking for and bests the competitor’s offerings. You could say “well, then you’re just not a GM guy”. I am a GM guy. I’m just tired of being disappointed and having to defend GM, especially if there are better products out there. I don’t know about you guys, but I figure that I’m only going to own roughly 8 or 9 cars in my lifetime. I want each one of them to count.
I accidently down-voted your comment. 🙁
Chris — your comment and thoughts are spot on. It’s several other folks on other publications that I was referring to in the article. And you’re also absolutely correct in that a car carrying the SS nameplate needs to be the perfect definition of such a vehicle. Absolutely!
I think GM is the worst culprit in using great names and ruining them with crappy cars. Cobalt, Cavalier, Avalanche (not a crappy car, but a waste of a nameplate), Aveo, and every single nameplate they had that was a rebadge: Firebird, Solstice/Sky, Pursuit, etc.
I think what many of the enthusiasts want is less “engineering by press release” and more hardware; specifically, specifications.
Also, the name is throwing lots of people off in that it’s not even a name. It’s just a famous trim level being used as a substitute for a proper name – analogous to Honda making a car called the SI.
Finally, we have the projected production numbers. Ideally, GM would keep them low enough that they would sell every unit every year and would (hopefully) NEVER have to resort to discounts. The low production numbers suggest a higher MSRP, and high enough to put off the “weaker enthusiasts”.
If that’s what GM is attempting to do with the SS; weed out the ones on online forums who say “RWD V8??! I’ll buy it now!!” and to target the enthusiasts who have greater disposable income, then the SS should be spectaular and unaffordable to many.
well ford used ‘GT’ as a nameplate.
Is this car practical for American consumption with the dated looks of the G8 or Commodore; NO… If updated will it draw people in, maybe but just as it was stated there is no precedent for this type of vehicle in the Chevy lineup, add to that a dated look and this becomes a Niche vehicle automatically.
It (hopefully) won’t look dated as it will be based on the VF Commodore (still in testing), not the VE (like the G8).
We all know that styling is highly subjective. But personally, I think that even the VE Commodore’s styling is not dated at all. It’s beautiful — sleek yet bold/masculine and somewhat timeless. I guess I’m just trying to understand why some think the design is dated.
Have to agree Alex. The G8 (and Commodore) styling is not dated. Yes, styling is subjective, no argument there. As a G8 owner, I am still amazed that after 3 years of ownership, my G8 turns heads every single time I drive it. The styling is ‘classic’ like a really expensive suit. It doesn’t go out of style and is not a ‘fashion statement’. It is a high performance sport sedan right from the factory that never fails to entertain. Everyone has their right to an opinion – there’s mine.
Mike
I agree with you, Alex, that the VE does not yet look dated… but only on the outside. I think it needs some work on the interior, mainly just electronics, to be brought up to speed.
My question: Is this going to scream Chevy; or rebadged Commodore. Give me a Chevy not a commodore. If updated to be a Chevy, great…
Here’s the irony I see in all of this: Holden has no design language of its own, as all of its vehicles are rebadged Chevys. The exception to this is the Commodore… But since the SS is kind of its own special model, I don’t think it needs to follow the Chevy styling language that closely.
I think that those crying for AWD should stop and shutup. They finally bring out a RWD performance sedan, and all you want is something you can get on alot of other similar cars. To me, RWD is better anyways, so….
RWD can’t out-launch AWD, and the SS should be the best it can be in all fields.
I think everyone knows its going to be RWD… some of us in snow-prone climates would just be over-the-top-thrilled if AWD were at least offered. We all would prefer RWD, but it’s not that practical during winter. I know… I drive my GTO year-round and even with snow tires during winter, trust me, it ain’t fun! Not having to worry about it and ripping in the snow would be A-MAZING.
I personally don’t get what the big RWD/AWD stink is about. Is it sacrilegious to want a sports car with AWD??
You know what, while we’re at it, can GM develop an AWD Cruze? How sick would it be if you saw a Chevy in the World Rally Championship??? 🙂
That’s what I’ve always pushed for. The Youth of America today likes that type of car, and it’s why Subaru and Mitsubishi have a young following.
People will always ask for more more more!!!! I know I do it all the time 🙂
First thanks to G.M. second Justin F and Stanto27 are right on the money manual trans and RWD are what I really want
The G8 was sexy when introduced and may turn heads still; but if it shows up verbatim as a Chevy then I think we should be concerned, and if the Commodore shows up Verbatim we should be concerned… Like all of us I an looking forward to the bragging rights Chevy will have with this vehicle…
SS could be short for “head shaker”. For one, GM’s stock has been nuetral or falling of late. GM is not totally off government life support – we’re in an election year and our economy is very shaky, especially with countries in Europe on the verge of disaster.
Up comes this SS story – and why? Truly, it seems GM has an issue re: Keeping Aussies working and/or profit margins at Holden. I love Aussies. Aussies love Yanks. I just don’t think it’s a real happy-day story that an ACTUAL REAR WHEEL DRIVE SEDAN is gonna be imported here with a Chevy badge attached. The 17 year baloney doesn’t move my heart. Remember GTO? A coupe, yes – but that wasn’t 17 years ago, and if it had sold in any decent numbers, GM probably would’ve made a Chevy version. GTO wasn’t a home run. I don’t know about you, but I never looked at that GTO and said “That’s a GTO”. Instead, I said, “that’s a Holden with a GTO badge on it”. Pontiac GTO is American heritage. Many feel the GTO was the first muscle car. So then GM thinks it’s a blimey good idea to badge engineer a Holden and call it: “GTO”. The car wasn’t bad at all, it was fast and it strangely had quality, handling and components that GM should have had on their cars in the late ’80s and ’90s. A day late and a dollar short to market comes the Aussie GTO and some actually wondered why it didn’t sail off the lot!
Look. People have to work hard for their money. In today’s world we’re used to comparison shopping. Shoot-outs in car magazines pitted the Aussie GTO against domestic rivals like Charger and Mustang. It didn’t do badly, in fact it had more rear seat room than Mustang, and was faster than a Charger R/T. So what? The case against the car was: “Why buy a car for that money that really doesn’t capture the GTO mystique, was made in another land, who’se practicality ( poor mileage/probably resale value ) doesn’t make it a good business proposition – and foreign makes in, or just slightly above GTO’s price were superior and offered tech above the Aussie rear driver. GTO wasn’t a bad car at all – it just was a car who showed up late for a rather small party.
Now “SS”.Sedans are a big market. Many of us need ’em. They have four doors and they have many uses. Lots of folks who once longed for a crossover or SUV are now thinking sedan for many reasons. Gas is crazy and people have to look ahead and struggle to put their kids in college, and ……late for the show….comes this “SS”? It’s not an “Impala SS”….it’s not a “Malibu SS”….the car doesn’t even have a legacy – so they call it…..”SS”?
It’s just a head-scratcher. If it’s body retains the look of the police car – it sure isn’t anything to look at. In my mind, GM feels it owes Holden for all the development work on Camaro and Holden must have to have justification to keep the Caprice police cruiser line flowing and employing Aussies. It surprises me not that lots of Americans are not all lathered up about this question-mark machine. GM should be concentrating on future-tech and cars people really want – and need.
Is NOW the time to introduce a niche performance SEDAN that not many want?
“a niche performance SEDAN that not many want”
Niche *would* imply that only a select few want it. That small population of people have been asking for this exact car since the last Pontiac G8 rolled off the assembly line (or rather, the boat)! It’s going to be produced in limited quantities and requires very little investment on GM’s part since Holden is doing all the work, so why wouldn’t you take advantage? G8 was heralded by some as the greatest Pontiac EVER. To your point, GM needs that kind of press and buzz these days to bring people back to their brands.
James — I think now is the ONLY time to introduce this kind of vehicle due to gas price trend you mentioned. I think we’re in the closing part of an era where RWD for personal vehicles is on its way out… so this may be GM’s last opportunity to sell a car like this to the people who want it.
In addition, this will be a small segment/niche, not cost any money than what is already invested by GMIO (Holden), and will get GM that excitement factor brought by the Camaro and Corvette. It’s a good business decision through and through; so was the GTO — it was all “additional” sales, far and ahead what the Monaro sold in the geographically-constrained markets of New Zealand and Australia, although the GTO may not have been a stellar example of sky-high sales numbers.
Ultimately, GM is a business — and this is a good decision for GM as a business.
Just for reference – let’s see how ( NOW FIAT OWNED ) Chrysler faired with the same mindset as SS. Remember the Magnum everybody? Sure, some lead-heads went out and bought ’em, but they were in no way a profit maker for Chrysler. The whole idea was a hot rod hiding in a station wagon that a whipped man could sell on his wife. “Look honey – it’s p-r-a-c-t-i-c-a-l”. Ha! How lame do you have to be if you have to scheme THAT BAD to get a fun car past the spouse’s budgetary eye?
Magnum was a flop. Cars like Magnum or 300C SRT8 look dumb as grocery getters. It’s like justifying a toy, and using it to haul the kids to band practice. What’cha gonna do? Burn out in the ballfield parking lot to impress the soccer mom MILFS? LOL! It’s kind of pathetic. In my opinion, Chrysler looks pretty pathetic, getting OWNED ( or PWNED ) by ……Fiat?!!!…… and they soldier on building 10 cylinder SRT-10 RAMs and SRT-8 Jeep Cherokees. I mean, WTF? Hey Chrysler, try making a winner in the marketplace, —- For once!
You know, ….a company like Toyota ( again, No. 1 in sales worldwide ) isn’t perfect. But they’re rich and successful. So Toyota has the ability to squeeze out an LFA or even a Supra….So what? If it fails moneywise for them – nobody cares. In other words, Toyota can afford flourishes and showey money losers. Can GM?
From the article: ” ….can’t we just savor the fact that a few people at The General actually had the intuition and fortitude to actually green light such a niche project, knowing full well that the car will move as many units as perhaps the Camaro or Corvette? — I’m sorry man, but Corvette, maybe….Camaro? Not an ice cube’s chance in a volcano!
Is it worth GM’s trouble to certify, ship, market, pay design folks to tweak the front cap and design wheels…etc, etc… When this SS turkey is a guaranteed sales flop? Does tiny Holden have that much influence over GM’s NA marketing group?
Will Americans in this economy actually go out and buy a car named “SS” with no heritage ( name me a prior “SS” ), built in the land down unda…. and while GTO-like in performance will not reach BMW or CTS-V refinement? My answer: Not in any significant number to justify the effort. I think it makes GM look very Chrysler-like.
James, you’re still clueless on this. Holden is refreshing the Commodore. They’re going to spend the money to do so, regardless of whether or not Chevy imports the SS. It’s not like Chevy is starting from scratch building an entirely new vehicle, so where is this big investment and downside you’re alluding to? You keep saying that it’s “not going to sell in any significant numbers”… no kidding!!! GM has already said this is going to be a limited production vehicle! As far as heritage is concerned, yes, SS has no heritage. But as much as I dislike the SS nameplate choice, the reason GM chose that over, say, “Chevelle”, is because of the 04-06 GTO and the fallout from that. They didn’t want to make the same “mistake” twice (I’m putting mistake in quotes because I still don’t feel that the GTO was a mistake).
To go on a quick tangent about “the mistake”, I myself am a proud GTO and I think that people who say that my car didn’t deserve the GTO badge are uneducated to the history of the GTO nameplate and are just regurgetating what they read out of some idiot’s mouth from Car & Driver or an internet forum. Did the GTO have its faults, yes of course. No, it was developed here in the States and isn’t “Detroit muscle”. But do you homework and Google “Pontiac Tempest” and see what you find. The first GTO was a straight-line muscle car… big engine in a boat! A sleeper! It wasn’t a track car. The new GTO, IMHO, still captured what was important… reserved looks and a big f’in V8, all for a very VERY reasonable price (MSRP in 2005 was $32k).
Sorry two typos lol
1) I myself am a proud GTO ***owner***… I’m not an actual GTO
2) No, it ***wasn’t*** developed here in the States
@Alex.
Sorry buddy, we agree a lot, but today I’ll have to heartily disagree.
Does GM/Chevy need MORE halos? Remember, a halo car is not a money-maker. Halo car’s sheer existence is to make kids scribble images of them on PeeChees during study hall – for everyman USA to dream about owning one someday. It puts shine on the apple, good feelings about the brand.
Johnny grows up and buys an old used fixer-upper hot rod and gets his testosterone ya-yas for awhile, then matures, settles down and actually buys a profit-sending new car he has to make payments on. This is life. When we have to buckle down, we buy cars that do a job. A great everyday car is like a Swiss Army knife, it wears more than one hat. To make payments I have to have efficiency and versatility. Now Johnny ages, several car purchases later he goes through mid-life crisis ( my age ). Johnny made some good investments and worked hard. He goes out and buys….An “SS”?!!!! Heck no! He’ll buy a ‘Vette for weekends and the track, and a Volt to do his everyday duties ( if He’s smart ).
One issue I’ve heard online is the whole NASCAR branding scheme. So if they import “SS” they can paste that sticker on the bumper of the “Car Of Today”. Since all NASCARs are the same exact body – we’re talking stickers here folks….Grille stickers, taillight stickers. I don’t think the “win on Sunday, buy on Monday” mentality goes with NASCAR anymore. I don’t think “SS” stickers on a NASCAR will relate to folk’s saying: ” Damn, that SS is a NASCAR!” I just think Americans are smarter than that. Every now and then, if I drive many miles out into smalltownville in the weeds – I’ll see a countryboy in a FWD Monte Carlo with “3” ; “Dale Earnhardt lives” stickers pasted all over it. I mean…sure….that guy exists in our world….But will THAT GUY keep GM profitable?
If you search the 2013 Nascar Fusion & 2013 Nascar Charger you will find that for 2013, the bodies of the Nascar race cars will actually have styling cues that closely resemble the road going production models. Yes, plenty of stickers will still be in play, but as the pics will show you, it’s a significant move from the nearly identical bodies being used right now.
“Heck no, he’ll buy a ‘Vette”*…….
* or Camaro
Let’s play COUNT THE HALOS.
Can a car company rise to profitability, market domination and staying power by building halo vehicles?
Let’s check the stats:
Chrysler has/had lots of halos:
1) Viper
2) SRT-10 RAM
3) Magnum
4) SRT- 8 Cherokee
5) Challenger SRT-8
6) Charger SRT-8
These cars aren’t volume sellers – they’re image-makers.
End result: Bankruptcy, government bailout and foreign aquisition
GM’ list of halos is rising fast:
1) Corvette ZR-1
2) Corvette Z-06
3) Corvette
4) Camaro ZL-1
5) SS
End result: GM stock declining , domestic sales flattening out , Toyota regaining lead
Gearheads do not keep a company afloat. You’d think GM would figure this out.
True, we don’t want a company entirely run by beancounters. I like Bob Lutz’s take. He brought us Viper, he boosted BMW and he gave us Volt. To me, Bob is the consummate gearhead, he loves speed and performance as much as just about anyone. Bob now works part-time for VIA, the maker of EREV GM truck conversions. Bob knows cars. Bob knows where the car industry needs to go. When even backers of ZR-1s also push tech like Volt into reality – you know even old dogs can show new tricks.
GM has a foothold in China. GM is improving it’s world-car status and opening new markets. The anchor that will sink GM is old thinking like SS.
Just reading over the comments here again — and James’ comment caught my eye.
Ultimately, calling the SS an anchor isn’t off base. Perhaps a car like the SS will not be relevant in 20-40 years… but it will sell (albeit in smallish numbers) while delighting the customer base.
James — the SS is already being made (Holden Commodore). The R&D, tooling, and production costs are already being sunk; bringing a couple hundred (or maybe a couple thousand?) units a month from Australia is gravy cash for The General… cash it can then use to fund other projects (such as improvements to the Voltec, etc.).
Also, that guy you described earlier — the one who bought a fixer-uper at first, then made some good investments, and is now going to buy a Vette or a Camaro… well, since we’re playing make-believe life scenarios — that guy probably has a kid or two (or three)… and he may not have enough money for a Volt AND a Corvette (or Camaro). He still wants his dream car (a powerful and athletic RWD beast)… what does he get? He gets a four-door Corvette — the SS. Four doors, five seats, and one car payment.
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/12/reuss-describes-chevy-ss-sedan-as-a-four-door-corvette/
@James
Currently one of Buick’s best seller in China is….wait for it….a rebadged VE Statesman. Gotta love that “old thinking anchor” that is global architecture. The GTO, on the other hand, was more than just a move by GM to import a Monaro. It was the first vehicle to utilize GM’s new global archetecture here. The US was the last to adopt it. From new style schematics and diagnostic procedures, the GTO was a technical gateway to GM’s new global direction.
BTW, I wish people would stop blaming the CARS for the failure of GM and Chrysler. Those companies gave the public what they wanted. They did what was asked. The niche crowd in 1996 wanted their EV1’s. The greater public wanted Hummer. The greater public got what they wanted. If you want a scapegoat, then blame the CONSUMER, blame the top eschelon of management, and blame the UAW. No vehicle ever caused a bankruptcy with GM or Chrysler. It is just that simple.
bump: 2010 China Park Avenue ad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrj6RdNgBwQ&feature=player_embedded
J.P. Good Points…
@ J.P. Goins
GM is an automobile manufacturer. Their business plan revolves around selling CARS.
Autoworkers unions in America and elswewhere have made GM’s bottom line very difficult to grow – but to place Chrysler or GM’s demise on poor management, unions, marketing OR ANY ONE THING is incorrect.
Being the CAR business, it all starts and ends with….you guessed it, CARS. Toyota has shown all sorts of poor decisions and bad management in the past decade attempting to become “ICHIRO” ( We here in Seattle , because of Ichiro Suzuki, our baseball hero, know it means “Number One Son” ) in the car biz.
They mighty fall. Toyota fell and got back up, dusted itself off and began restructuring and recouping by making good…………………product, i.e. : CARS. Nobody is gonna slam their neighbor and call him a fool for buying a Prius or Camry because, darnit, they last – and they are good cars. Aguably, they may not be THE BEST car for that person, but you wouldn’t go wrong advising Aunt Susie to buy one in whatever market category you were looking at.
PiPrius took off and outsold Volt sales in it’s first month while only being sold in a few markets, why? Because it was better? No…But because it’s ancestor Prii were solid and Toyota had the momentum of track record. Toyota has capitalized on it’s Prius rep and made Prius ( a run-away best seller in segment ) a whole family of cars – and last I checked they’re flying off the shelves. No matter how poor the management – Great sales numbers cover a multitude of sins.
This is my point – analysts have to predict what car buyers will want 3, 4 and 5 years from now. With gas prices so unpredictable and money hard to come buy – it doesn’t take a guru to figure this out. SS halo vibe isn’t what makes for good mass market sales. Make cars people can afford and afford to gas up.
GM really has got to streamline and rethink it’s marketing. It seems their strategy has no consistency or direction. Sure, they’re doing well in China, but here at home, they’re all over the map. The platforms they do have are being mismanaged and some models rehashed or re-grilled when other rivals ( Ford, Toyota ) are coming out with entirely new product lines.
I wouldn’t buy GM stock right now. Models like SS or a bigger, squarer pickup truck do not give me confidence the General will recover fully and buy back their company from the government. I think it shows old-school thinkng to spread a not-so-important vehicle over more markets that most likely will not accept it.
As much as I like the new Camaro – I know that Ford’s Mustang has always wagged GM’s tail. GM discontinued the big, bloated Camaro and only returned to it after Ford’s Mustang hit one out of the park – forcing it’s game. Mustang was the first pony car – GM responded. It’s a history of Ford innovating and GM responding, no matter what your personal tastes are of the style of the car or it’s features.
What I am saying is —- Look at Volt. It’s an example of GM leading the way and Ford has nothing to answer for it. Ford has taken a sideways strategy to catch up if Volt succeeds, playing it safe. Today they’re introducing two 2013 cars at the end of 2012- promoting them as ” 500 mile total range – better than Volt! ” ( C-Max Energi, Fusion Energi PHEVs ). It’s sneaky, as these PHEVs will only go 11-15 miles all electric.
When GM gets an upper hand they seem to fall flat. No MPV5 on the horizon, or “affordable Volt ” rumors – only an ELR you and I cannot afford to buy. Yes this is bad management and lack of vision – but it’s all driven by the CARS they design and sell.
Ford, who has prospered and didn’t need a bailout – also deals with the UAW and other unions. They kept the halo cars down to a minimum ( Shelby Mustangs, Ford GT ) and made cars Americans wanted to buy.