Spied in the Land of Oz is another spy photo of the upcoming 2014 Chevrolet SS, AKA the Holden VF Commodore. It’s said to be an evolution of today’s Holden VE Commodore (and what North America briefly knew as the Pontiac G8), as it will still utilize the Zeta platform, but will feature more weight saving elements that will lead to more fuel economy and a more nimble driving experience. And if you don’t think the upcoming SS means business, just look at the size of those rear tires. You might also notice something familiar about this mule. That’s because it’s disguised as a Pontiac G8.
Along with it being the first time we’ve seen a G8’s skin being used as a cover for the Holden VF Commodore/Chevrolet SS, there’s one puzzling element about this photo. We’ve seen pictures of left-hand-drive, more developed versions of the Chevrolet SS months ago. Yet this vehicle appears to be right-hand drive, and the use of sheetmetal from an existing vehicle as a guise is a step backwards from what we’re used to seeing at this point of the development process. What does this mean? We can’t be certain, but it could point to another variant of the Chevrolet SS that will come along not far after the launch of the first one come the second half of 2013. An SS version of the SS? Whatever they decide to call it, we preliminarily approve of such a venture.
Comments
Does that mean there will be a LS SS. LT SS. LTZ SS. SS SS. LOL SS
I can’t wait to see this GM revolution, that will shock the Auto world. Now lets see. With the Chevy SS, the Caddys RWD ATS, CTS and Escalade coming on stream shortly, and lets not forget the the new Silverado, Tahoe, Surburban , GMC Sierra and Yukon. I think that every auto-maker that sells cars and trucks in the USA will certainly be holding their breath, in anticipation at the release of the Generals new troops.
Advice: Spruce up the current Cruze and Sonic. These two cars badly need more powerful, but still fuel efficient engines to at least compete with their rivals in the global market place. Example; A hatch back Cruze SS vs the Veloster, Civic Mazda 3 and Focus. This would cement GM’s road to recovery.
Hey, make a Chevy G8! LOL
I miss Pontiac. SMH
@Valiance Holder:
Might I ask what country you’re from? I know oil producing countrys may call a new Escalade, Tahoe, Sierra and Yukon a “revolution”. Some people who do not know the car industry may even be so naive as to call a Chevrolet G8/”SS” a “revolution”…
I ask you, a revolution in what way? The G8/SS is no revolution. Car magazines here have had the G8 and Holden Ute on their covers since 2008. There’s nothing new there. The impetus here goes back to when Bob Lutz held an executive position at GM ( I’m otherwise a big Lutz fan ). Bob pushed hard for GM to import the G8 to keep the line at Holden going and insure the survival of the Elizabeth assembly plant in Australia. The G8 came to America to replace the fwd Bonneville and Grand Prix and did not sell well. Holden desperately needs more markets for it’s Zeta platform vehicles and seriously, nobody would buy these impractical, outdated vehicles but some mind-muddled Americans who don’t realize gas gulpers are a thing of the past. When the decision was made to axe Pontiac, GM had 13,000 or so G8s left in it’s inventory. Folks who desired one of the last of the rwd V-8 dinosaurs should have sprung for one then when they could be had dirt cheap.
GM decided one solution was a G8, version 1.5 PPV sold to American police departments. This turned out not as productive as the Americans and Aussies had hoped. Today, the “new” plan is to repackage the G8 as the “SS” with some new trim pieces and continue to sell the same ole crap over here. Now, while I love the Aussies a whole lot, and wish for them to keep as many jobs as possible, I don’t think the solution is parrying off the same old tired iron over here to a few imbecile Americans. Pasting “NASCAR” on the bumper of spec racers in Sprint Cup will move some to dyed-in-the-wool rednecks, but every single Holden that’s crossed the ocean has failed to sell in successful numbers.
Let’s look at the vehicles you call “a revolution”. Tahoes and Suburbans are fullsized pickup trucks with heavy steel structures welded on and labels attached to fool some that they’re “luxury” or “sport utility”. Indeed, truly they are the way American automakers ( and with lesser success, Toyota with Sequoia and Nissan with Armada ) pushed off more iron from their truck production lines. The victory for those companies was in the sales and marketing departments where they convinced folks that they needed such bulk and impracticlity to tow vehicles or be safe on the highway. They were able to convince millions that these trucks were a good station wagon to haul the kids to school, or go pick up the groceries. In truth, they’re big, heavy trucks that are doing the work much lighter, efficient vehicles can do. They’re cash cows for big corporations and you pay the penalty at the gas pump. We all pay the penalty by being a nation who is quickly losing it’s freedoms by being forced to deploy a massive military all over the world to defend our sources of foreign crude oil. We all pay as nations who dislike our way of freedom and rights lord over us because we want to drive these trucks on their oil!
New C.A.F.E. rules just passed into law this week will insure GM and all automakers will continue to strive for better mileage in their passenger cars. Loopholes in the law allow big trucks like these to escape the rules for now. So the cash cows will keep rolling off the line and the sales tactics will continue. Eventually, however – all of us will need to assess whether or not it’s worth it to drive such a big truck to do the job that a much more efficient vehicle will aptly perform.
Some countrys ( Venezeula, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Mexico ), even some who are our friends ( Canada ) will rejoice and like you, call the further production of these tanks we call cars, a “revolution”… But people who love America and enjoy our way of life will not.
If i bought this car the first thing I’d do is take off “SS” and put on the “Chevelle” name. Because that is what it is.
it looks like the same car spotted by a g8board member a month ago in michigan, it has a rear manufacture plate, if this was a hide in plain sight test mule from gm they would do a better, it looks like a workers take home car with parts swapped from both series and trim levels, trunk is series two, fender is hsv, if this car is on aus soil it will have a rego sticker in lower left corner of windscreen and “must” have a front plate.
The guy who said this is a Chevelle is stupid! It’s not a Chevelle. never was, never will. It’s a Holden Commodore.
First thing I’d do is take off the Chevrolet logos and replace them with Pontiac logos. Then take off the SS logo and replace it with “Grand Prix GXP”
James, stop with the jokes already. There are a whole bunch of very happy G8 owners around the country. It was the right car at the wrong time. As for G8’s becoming PPV’s, the G8 is the short zeta wheelbase and the Caprice the long wheelbase, so please do explain how the G8’s that were left over magically stretched into a completely different model.
Now as for the new Chevy SS Performance being the same old G8 repackaged, half right you are so clap clap for you. It is the same chassis and it does share the roof, glasshouse and door openings with the VE Commodore, but this car will be based on the soon to be released Holden VF Commodore, which has a lighter and revised suspension, completely new electronics system including the latest in in-car infotainment and all new and lighter aluminium sheet metal for the front fenders and hood along with the trunk lid made out of the same material. The all new front and rear facia won’t be mistaken for any other car on the road either. Oh yeah, just in case you missed it, the SS isn’t expected to sell anywhere near the figures that the G8 was expected to, it is being brought in as a boutique model aimed at true enthusiasts. So don’t bother getting all upset at GM’s expense, I’m sure you’ll continue to enjoy the daily commute on your vegetable oil powered hybrid push bike. Troll elsewhere.