Before the 2014 Chevrolet SS is unveiled this weekend, Holden is continuing to show its new VF Commodore line, with the latest being the sporty SS V.
What makes the SS V “show car” stand apart from the more premium Calais is a more pronounced lower grille opening, while the top one shrinks a bit. In addition, the SSV has less chrome on the exterior while sporting a quartet of exhaust pipes instead of two. The wheels and the interior are blackened, with the cabin being highlighted by a beefy flat-bottom steering wheel, six-speed manual transmission, Holden MyLink, and suede accents. We’re not fans of the electronic parking brake, though, especially in an athletic offering — as we’re willing to bet buyers of the Commodore SSV care more about controlled slides than cup holder space.
What’s under the hood? Holden won’t say, at least not until Chevrolet gets its shot at revealing the SS this Saturday in America. But it’s safe to say that we can expect a small block V8 of some sort.
Update: it’s an LS3. Check out the 2014 Chevy SS for more.
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Comments
So Nice… This will be an awsome SS…
http://youtu.be/cDGlN6mluGA
FYI you dont power slide with a hand brake. “power” being the key to initiating the slide. I don’t know why anyone would be ripping the hand brake in a rwd car on a street car. A Formula Drift car sure, but not a street car that isn’t rockin insane negative camber.
If you can’t initiate a slide in a rwd car with just throttle and steering control you shouldn’t be trying in the first place.
Not to mention, the use of the electronic parking brake cuts control over the electronic throttle (more of a problem for FWD though). 🙁
Oh, not sure what the effect would be on an automatic, but if you pull the handbrake in a rwd car without depressing the clutch you’ll stall the car… It seems simple enough to know, but I’m guessing the majority of people who are actually wanting to hand brake in their rwd car don’t know this.
Why is it that whenever a manual e-brake with an RWD car is mentioned people suddenly become physics professors? Street, track, use it, don’t use it, doesn’t matter. It’s the principle, and it gives the driver that much extra analog control. Plus, the motor for the brake adds unnecessary weight.
While I have substantial knowledge in physics, my comments are more based upon 20 years of powertrain calibration experience. 😀
If what the professor emeritus among us don`t matter why edit the article? 😉
I don’t know about you, but I tend to avoid intentionally locking up my tires, especially at speed.
I don’t claim to be a physics professor, I’m a civil eng, I prefer things to remain in static equilibrium, but what I do speak on behalf of is my driving experience.
When it comes to this car, a rwd sedan, a hand brake is completely unnecessary. The M3, M5, RS4, etc, all use electronic. Pretty sure the 911 does as well. I drove a Cayman with PDK not too long ago, I actually can’t recall if it had a hand brake or not, pretty sure it was electric too.
I will agree a handbrake in a FWD car CAN be fun.
Busted. I felt “controlled” rather than “power” would be a better fit, to avoid any more confusion.
Also, just because Germany does it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right.
CTS-V also doesn’t have a hand brake..
I pointed out the German’s because they have the ‘purist’ following, especially the M3 and 911. The 458 doesnt have a handbrake. Nor do cars irking out the weight, like the LFA. Aston doesn’t, the new F-Type doesn’t. The king of the track McLaren even has electronic. The list goes on.
It is much easier to control a slide under power than with the wheels locked due to hand braking.
I should point out I was referring to the McLaren MP4, the F1 did have a handbrake, but that was 20 years ago, if it were built today it wouldn’t… Enter the P1! The P1 doesn’t appear to have a handbrake either.
And with the LFA, it doesn’t even have cup holders to worry about making room for…
What does camber have to do with your point?
I thought it was almost self-explanatory based on the Formula Drift reference.
Camber, caster, and toe as well as steering angle are heavily adjusted on drift cars. It helps with lateral grip and stability. Which is always nice to have when yanking a hand brake at high speed. The steering angle is increased so you can get a deeper angle; more sideways.
While the styling is certainly evolutionary from the VE series cars, I think these are nice looking sedans. The interior looks to be a huge leap forward from the last series with a modern yet functional look. Not too many buttons or some giant touch screen that’s “trying too hard to impress”? I expect the Chevy SS will be a success even at the expected $42-45K price range. If only GM offered us the option of ordering a Holden badged car “as-is”? Not as a Chevy SS, not as a Buick, but just as they are sold “down under” ? Never going to happen of course, but for me that would be ideal.
Totally agree! It would be a dream come true to have direct access to Holdens in the US.
My neighbor a few houses down has a G8 GXP and bought the kit to outfit it as a Holden… No doubt the SS will have similar kits avail.
His kit included a whole new hood and front fascia, plus the expected badges.. Not sure what else the kit included since he bought about $8k in Walkinshaw parts at the same time.
It was a JHP conversion and I actually just checked their website and they are already mentioning the Chevy SS. http://www.jhpss.com/Chev-SS/
That’s not just the most beautiful car I’ve seen, I think its the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I love fast 4 door sedans with V8s under the hood.
Anybody else notice the window switches are on the door panel ?