What is the proper thing to do when Chevrolet loans us a 2015 SS performance sedan? Round up our resident VE Holden Commodore (once a Pontiac G8, for those not in the know) for a cross-state road trip, of course.
Our journeys began in Detroit, in the hustle of Motor City, took us through Interstate 94 into Kalamazoo, and finally to the small, coastal town of South Haven, home of Gingerman Raceway. We felt it would the perfect time to grab impressions of the short-lived Zeta offerings in the U.S.: the Pontiac G8 GT and Chevrolet SS.
The biggest difference from jumping behind the wheel of the VE Commodore to VF is the interior. When the Pontiac G8 went on sale in the United States, it was a performance-bargain powerhouse, offering a stepping stone into V8 power under $30,000. But, it’s apparent the interior is where cost cutting prevailed. Yet, if four-door practicality and driving performance is what was desired above all else, there were very few choices for that price, and the G8 was one of them.
A sea of gray and black is abundant, offset by minor red details in the gauge cluster. The dash is covered in a semi-soft mesh material, mixed in with leather and plastics. It’s not the prettiest, but pretty doesn’t mean fast.
Sitting down inside the VF Commodore tells a different tale. Flash-forward years later, and the Zeta positioning is different this time around. The Chevrolet SS is aimed to be the range-topping, halo Chevrolet performance car. To accomplish that, the SS has been imported with no restraints in the features department. Fully loaded. In fact, other than choosing a manual or automatic gearbox, there are two options for the SS: a power sunroof and a full-size spare tire. Our tester even had OnStar 4G LTE, allowing for work on the go, as pictured below.
The dash is covered with suede-like material with SS embroidering on the seats and passenger glovebox, making it feel like a much more special vehicle over the VE Commodore/Pontiac G8. Seats are better bolstered, and the technology included far surpasses what was offered on a top-spec G8 six years ago.
First and foremost, these cars were designed as family sedans. And they accomplish the task in strides, both offering bountiful legroom. Aside from not being the one driving, there is no penalty box for sitting in the backseat of either car.
But, Holden has had a long tradition of dropping in powerful V8 engines under the hood of these family sedans, transforming them from mere grocery getters, to super saloons. And neither disappoint in this regard either.
The Chevrolet SS brings with it tried-and-true 6.2-liter V8 LS3 power, pumping out 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. No slouch in the slightest, that’s for sure. With each rev and downshift, the LS3 seems to clear its throat in a fiery burble for the next climb up the rev limiter. But there’s more to the charm of the 2015 Chevrolet SS that enchants its driver. There is no other car in the U.S. market that offers the combination of V8 RWDÂ power, Brembo brakes, and a do-it-yourself gearbox in the package of a full-size family sedan. None. Yes, Dodge has the SRT8 Charger, but that SRT8 Charger doesn’t have a stick shift. It also doesn’t drive as sharply. More people need to test drive these cars to really understand how fun they are. On the same end, we wish more basic models were accessible, as the $40,000-plus MSRP has proven to be a hard truth that most buyers don’t want to accept.
The VE Holden Commodore — slightly shorter than the Chevrolet — we have on hand came equipped with the L76 6.0-liter V8 engine, cranking out 361 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Stock, the exhaust is nearly whisper quiet compared to the big Chevy. Good thing the Solo Performance Axlebacks installed earlier this year do the 6.0-liter plenty of favors should you run into a revving contest with a Chevrolet SS.
The SS is no doubt quicker than its predecessor, but the 6.0 won’t leave you wanting more when passing slow moving traffic on State Route 43.
Moving past the technicals of both cars, there’s no denying both of these cars offer a distinct charm unseen on anything sold in the United States. They have four doors, big V8 engines sit under the hood and they’re both strictly rear-wheel drive. The U.S. may have fallen out of love with the RWD sedan for some insignificant reason, but these two candles in the wind keep the flame bright in a dying segment. Not to mention the perplexed looks, and questions to answer, when those who don’t know any better ask what kind of cars these are. And, if you’re anything like us, you have no problem opening their minds to Aussie car culture.
This is a story of the Zeta journal. The platform that kept the rear-wheel drive performance vehicle kicking when things looked bleak inside of GM. The performance credentials found in both cars will leave German counterparts from both car’s eras shaking.
We didn’t have to take two cars across the state, but as we chased the sunset, it just felt right. One Chevrolet, another Pontiac, but both Holden at heart.
Comments
Nice article, thank you!
Australia has largely fallen out of love with RWD sedans too, more’s the pity…there are still some believers though, and I’ll be keeping mine (even if it “only” has 361hp also).
Thanks for your article!
Holden and Ford are just as much to blame there. If a CTS can move just fine with an LTG (turbocharged 4-cylinder)… not offering it on the VF domestically was a huge misstep.
Frankly I think there is interest in offering a NA 4-cylinder on cars this big. Lots of people want their RWD without the gas bill or the downsizing of most FWD cars today. That may not show up on surveys in cleanrooms – I think it would show up in the showrooms.
I’m afraid our only hope for RWD is going to be in torque-vectoring AWD with a rear-bias option. Bob Lutz said it was the future, and as much as I wanted to spit nails when I heard it… I’m resigned to it myself at this point.
Ford offer the 2 litre Ecoboost turbo four in Falcon, which has about the same amount of power and torque their N/A six produces. Only issue with it is that it only uses a single litre per 100km less than the six. Other trade-offs are a higher maintenance cost and a much less likelihood to be able to get the sort of distance figures out of them over their lifetime compared to the N/A four litre six (having an old Falcon go around the clock with it’s original motor isn’t all that uncommon). It is for these reasons that the four cylinder Falcons haven’t sold since their introduction around 2010. Holden did have a four cylinder Commodore in the eighties (type in Holden Commodore four into Google and you’ll find out), but they didn’t sell too well in Australia, although were pretty popular in New Zealand, where they were produced in more than just a couple of models (Australia only had VC and VH Commodore fours, New Zealand went all the way through to at leas the VL, which like the six cylinder versions, ran a Nissan four cylinder), as they were painfully slow and actually used more fuel than the six cylinder models did due to having to rev the 1.9 litre Holden ‘Starfire’ aka Misfire four a lot harder in order to get reasonable performance. I had a ‘baby’ 173 cubic inch six cylinder version in 2004, and even that in an early Commdore was still far from being quick. This was the reason why Holden didn’t even consider offering a four cylinder in a Commodore in Australia since the introduction of the VK. They’d learned their lesson the hard way.
A few years ago I had a chance to get a G8 GXP and reluctantly passed.
I’m a sucker for the GM cars (or at least proper trim upgrades) where its clear the engineers have won the battle with the accountants or corporate fuel economy misers. Over the years, in no particular order, a 96 Monte Carlo Z34, a 98 Cavalier Z24 and a 2008 HHR SS (with the stage 1 GM OEM upgrade, getting 300bhp) as some examples of some of the GM cars I’ve owned that were fairly unique on the road, all things considered and what the “regular” trims of those models had on the road.
A RWD is a harder sell up here in Canada for me, and the SS isn’t available here unless it’s imported, and am not sure I’d want a sleeper in a bigger sedan, but it’s good to see that GM continues to build some models purely for enjoyment and with proper specs, even if its not going to sell in large numbers. Over past decade, cars such as the XLR, XLR-V, CTS-V (especially the wagon, the Solstice GXP (even rarer, the coupe) and the latest Z28 are other examples or underappreciated GM vehicles.
I live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, and when my wife wanted something sporty to replace our 2007 Equinox, I got her into a 2009 G8 V6. She had never driven a rear wheel drive vehicle before and immediately loved it. I picked up a set of snow tires for it (could only find Hankooks in that size at the time). Though I never thought the tires were real great in the snow, she nonetheless had no problems tackling a good Canadian winter, only getting stuck once while trying to drive out the driveway “over” the pile the plow left. When the G8 met it’s untimely end getting t-boned at an intersection, we were left with a problem. Get another G8, which were getting kinda old and with old technology, try and import an SS and pay the absurd import tariff, or switch to an ATS. We went with the ATS, and with a set of Blizzaks, this car is amazingly good in the snow. Point is, people need to just give modern traction/stability control/winter tires a chance to show that rear wheel drive can be as effective in the snow as FWD, and ten times the fun!
Awesome article Sean and its nice to see people besides us Aussies appreciate our cars, If you ever get a chance to own one of our HSV utes that are being sold by a 3rd party in the US buy one as you wont have more fun with a tail happy car ever. I write this tinged with sadness though as my favorite car on the planet is soon to be neutered into a FWD shitbox.
I sure wish people would get behind the ss. And that Chevy would get behind it too. It’s a great looking car and a solid performer. I’d like to see Chevy treat it like the camaro and vette. Spend more time on it. Advertise it better. Offer incentives. Whatever it takes. I just hate to see it go away.
I often wondered how a Chevy SS based on the Alpha platform for the American market would have done vs. the Holden based unit that was converted.
Not bashing the Holden but to have a model here that was designed for America first with a more modern platform and possibly at a lower cost? Could things be moving higher volumes If they did.
Imagine a new Camaro with its own styling as a sedan and under the Impala name. This while offering all 3 sizes of engines the Camaro offers.
Scott3- I agree completely. Perhaps GM has something like this hidden in their future plans? One can dream, anyway. Of course, this would only happen if the analysts show a potential profit for such a ride, which is understandable.
Marc that is the tough part making money.
It is hard to sell RWD anymore to the majority of customers as they think a RWD will not go in the Snow. I wonder if they ever think about how we got around before 1980 when everything was RWD and we even did it with no traction control or stability control.
The real issue is product overlap. The Malibu is pushing $40K now and to do this car it would have to be closing in or over $50K and then you are now in Buicks price range. Take the price of a Camaro and add a little to it and you would have a Alpha sedan price.
I suspect we will see some kind of Alpha Coupe and sedan at Buick with V6 engines. The V8 will become even more scarce and more expensive as we close in on 2025.
We on the web all just see the superficial things and say just build it but un fortunately it is not all that easy. Also the Aussies price differences have hurt going both ways too.
I suspect now that we know Cadillac is going RHD we will see other GM product that share the same platforms make the same move and that should help them at Holden.
Even thought those down under want to be mad at GM the fact is like stated their market has taken to smaller FWD cars. It kills the enthusiast but we saw the same thing here with all the folks who bought FWD Hondas and changed our market too.
The great thing about car companies are they can create some great product. But the sad thing is much of it is dictated on the whims of people who just think of a car as a way to get from point a to be anymore. Also the fact that companies are in business to make money not cater to every niche.
Life can be cruel if you are an auto enthusiast and I do not see it getting much better. While we have some landmark cars today they are getting priced out of our hands and limited in choice.
Chevrolet does deserve a proper flagship. Eve Kia has one.
This becomes more obvious when you see that the new Malibu and current Impala come in at roughly the same length with similar features.
Rarely does design move backwards. Oddly, the Pontiac looks more modern in design than the SS.
Better looking? Yes. More modern in design? No.
The G8 is definitely better looking than the SS and probably truer to the enthusiasts design sensibilities. But the SS embraces everything that GM has been doing with its modern designs. It’s a great looking car (with the possible exception of the bland stock wheels). The problem with it is that it neglects the enthusiast design sensibilities and focuses on being what an everyman would like, while not being a car than an everyman would like.
Yes, SS is generic. That has been Chevrolet’s problem for a generation. The end of Pontiac should open up GM so that it’s design ethos can be more daring like Nissan, Mazda and Kia.
BTW, the Pontiac looks more modern and sleek. The SS in no way matches today’s character lined Chevrolet.
I firmly believe that GM made a fundamental error in not offering you the same or similar styling to the HSV clubsport on your SS model to make it stand out from the crowd in the US. It honestly makes my head hurt wondering how GM missed the mark on this so badly. Before people blow my head off I know the HSV would cost much more but the styling could have been closer for you in my opinion, here is a link for those not familiar with the car.
http://www.hsv.com.au/Gen-F/See/ClubSport/
The Club Sport shares the kidney grill with Pontiac–a stylistic detail that would have charged Pontiac fanboys and the general public alike. (I’ve disliked Chevrolet front ends for the most part.)
GM could have made Club Sport price work given the HUGE mark up. GM still make money on year end close outs.
Minus the issue of currency flux, the G8 demonstrated how low GM could go on price. Even though this car would be a great Charger competitor, it would eat into Impala sales. This would become more true with the intro of Malibu and it’s superiority to Impala but at a lower price.
“Charcater-lined Chevrolet”? Really? I have no idea where you pulled that load of tripe from! The only cars with character that have Chevrolet badges on them these days are the Camaro and Corvette. The rest are either pickups which underneath are the same as they have been for the last thirty years or so albeit with a new body, Korean crap just like much of the current load of god-awful cars in the Holden range, or even worse FWD American crap like the Impala. Chevrolet lost it’s soul when they stopped producing the El Camino and only gained some of it back with the Zeta Camaro (you can thank us for that one later), and lost even more of it when Pontiac was discontinued.
I am a 68 year young ‘Car guy’, and a big, excuse me huge part of what has kept me young, is RWD V-8 automobiles from General Motors
Good on you Dennis47! A man after my own heart. I’m not quite 68 years young, but you’ve nailed what I’ve been saying in previous posts. You have to get your butt into one of these things and have a drive before you knock them. They are the best fun you can have with clothes on!! These young blokes just don’t get it. Spend the money!! You can’t take it with you!!
trust me my 2016 chevy ss is one fun car and their right I have no problem explaining what the car is and showing off its massive 6.2 L V8 and driving one is like having a symphony orchestra of auto music exhaust at your foot’s command. It’s truly like driving a 4 door corvette without the attention. if I was rich I would stuff that chevy performance 7.0 in that SS