Pent Up Chevrolet SS Demand Results In 1,000 Additional Exports From Australia
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While mum is the word on when the stop sale (we’ve reached out for comment with no response thus far) will end for the 2016 Chevrolet SS, due to a seatbelt tensioner recall, it seems demand for the V8-powered sedan has prompted additional exports from Australia.
The Advertiser reports General Motors has ordered an additional 1,000 units for export of the Chevrolet SS from the Elizabeth factory. In the process, Holden would not comment on immediate layoffs as manufacturing winds down through 2017.
Redundancies were expected to occur in one swift action, but due to this increase in production, they will be staggered over several weeks in October and November, a Holden spokesperson commented. Plant staff will fall from 320 to just 280.
It’s unclear if the 1,000 vehicles will be manufactured as 2017 Chevrolet SS models, or if they will be exported as 2016 models. Rumor has it the 2017 model year for the Chevrolet SS sedan will be an abbreviated one, which could cap total production under 10,000 units since being introduced for the 2014 model year.
Holden is reportedly readying three send-off editions for its 2017 VF Commodore Series II before the Elizabeth plant shuts its doors in October of 2017.
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All 2017 models at this point. Dealerships that had some success with the SS are getting a bump in allocation. Typically we received 1-2 a year. This year we have 3 being built so far.
Local dealer has 3 on lot and has sold 2-3 others, there are around 10 driving around the Ft Wayne Indiana area.
It is both sad and disgusting that a company the size of GM, does not offer a V8 ,RWD/AWD 4dr. sedan, made in the USA, for under $60,000. I’m not talking about a truck. Not even Cadillac, ( not talking about a $100,000 V) and not in the forseeable future. Ford doesn’t either. Only Chrysler, with it’s 300C, and that will disappear in 2018. Mercedes does, BMW does, Audi does, Lexus does, Jaguar does, Hyundai does, Bentley does, RR does, Porsche does (Panamera), Maserati does. This results in many lost sales!
Why would they need to since they offer a V8, RWD, 4dr. sedan under $50,000?
I think you over estimate the V8 RWD/AWD market. Besides, the SS is a V8 RWD Sedan that retails for less than $50,000 USD. FYI Dodge also has the Charger SRT-8.
Bentley and Rolls offer sub $60K V8 powered sedans?
What the hell are you smoking?
Audi don’t make RWD cars. even the A8 is based on a FWD platform
Have you seen what 6 bangers can do?
Lets be honest… a 2016 V6 impala outputs more power and even all around performance than a 7th gen impala with a V8.
And frankly, if people would buy them they’d still make them…. they have a hard time selling the SS and its cheaper than your asking for.
At first, I was all for GM making the next Imapla RWD/AWD with a potential V-8 option; and I still hope for this to be the case! But after seeing the substantial price increase made to the Camaro with its stellar, world-class chassis, I’m a bit apprehensive about what a full-sized, Alpha/Omega-based Chevy sedan would cost! If it’ll be half as good as the current Camaro, you’d better believe prices are going to hit the $50K range and beyond for a well equipped model!
Anywho, I’m glad to see demand rising for the SS! Hopefully, this trend continues through to its end!
I believe that’s exactly why they have not done so with the Impala. The LaCrosse has the AWD option. Also, the V6 puts more torque to the ground then the 5.3L V8 ever did.
I think a big problem with its sales, is the bland styling. It looks like a fancy Malibu. A sleeper can be nice, and I think there would be more takers, but with paying that kind of dough, folks want a little more pizzazz.
Bob Lutz blamed more stringent CAFE standards back in 2009 when he stated the next Impala would be FWD. There was talk of going RWD.
That said, I heard scuttlebutt about a month ago that an AWD Impala is being seriously considered. The source works for Chevrolet in Michigan.
I can believe a AWD option for the Impala at some point but I would not hold my breath for a V8.
CAFE is a real concern and it is not going to go away.
GM has two options one is to use the Alpha and the other is to use the new platform from the Lacrosse. While I hope for the Alpha I expect the Lacrosse platform. GM needs to keep the cost down and the MPG up and the FWD/AWD platform would do both.
As for the SS you can say styling and all sort of other reasons it did not sell but the real issue was always price. It was an expensive Chevy. Now if it had an Audi badge and other higher image names people would have flocked to it. But the fact is people will only pay so much for a Chevy sedan. It is a value brand and it holds that image. When you pay $50K you can get much more impressive names on less impressive cars and that is what most people want.
The truth said people in the higher prices most times shop badge not actual car.
The greatest challenge here is Chevy had limits to what they could do. With only expecting to import a small number they could not do a major redo here and Holden styling has often been 10 years behind America. Not trying to slight Holden as the cars looked good but often some of their traits took after cars we had here years before.
The one thing they could have done better is the grill. Large gold bow ties just do not look good here. This one could have used a red flo tie and made the grill more aggressive. Even a SS badge would have been better.
If we apply your logic in regards to SS pricing, with people balking at a $50K Chevy performance sedan, then how do you justify a $150K-plus mid-engine Corvette?? Using your argument, people wouldn’t pay that much for a 2-seat Chevy.
You are 100% right. No one would pay $150k for a two seater Chevy. There part your forgetting is that when people but a corvette, they aren’t buying a Chevy… They are buying a corvette. In fact there isn’t a Chevy badge on a corvette, and find me one person besides yourself…. Even non car people…. That consider a corvette on par with a Chevy. They’ve done a great job segmenting out the corvette brand so it isn’t a Chevy…
You make a compelling point, Arach, and I don’t completely disagree. However, many fanboys of other competitive performance cars will always say that my beloved Corvette is just a plastic Chevy. Many different buyers now compose the “Corvette family”. It’s more diverse than ever before. Composed of traditional Corvette buyers, Chevy enthusiasts, and conquest buyers (some of which would have never considered a Chevrolet product before).
Just for the record, the Chevy Bowtie does appear on every Corvette – anywhere you see the crossed-flags emblem. Embedded in that emblem is the Bowtie (on the red flag).
I would have to say you are wrong. Just look at the cross flags of the Corvette emblem throughout its history and there you will see the Chevrolet Bow-tie in all its glory. Some even had “Chevrolet Corvette” on them. The Corvette is not and has not ever been its own sub-brand. It has always been the performance bearer for the Chevrolet Motor Division. I’m not saying they won’t go this direction once the mid-engine drops, just up till now it has always been a Chevrolet.
I would consider many of the attributes Chevrolet has given to the Camaro over the last few years is technology brought over from Corvette. Just look at how well the Camaro competes with vehicles way above its pay grade. Just like the Corvette has always done. Punch above its weight.
It makes me nuts. I understand everyone’s right to their opinions. I’m somewhat tired of reading car magazines. Car reviews are knocked down for reasons a majority of Car buyers could care less about. So GM brings a car from their Australian arm. It happens to be a spectacular automobile. Equating a 44 thousand dollar price as having less value because it is not an Audi or Mercedes is ridiculous. It is a great car and if owners were asked they would say so. Owners weigh in. It’s a great car and they are bringing 1000 more over.
Any news on when the recall may be lifted?
I think they should have rolled the Corvette name into a brand, instead of the”performance” heading on the Chevy website. That would have allowed them to sell the Sting Ray, Camaro, SS or Commodore models leading up to the mid engined car. They could have even had some special 6.2L powered trucks or SUVs with the badge that are focused on sport where Cadillac is focused on luxury with their Escalade.
I have a 2016 Chevrolet SS with the Tremec 6 speed manual. It’s everything I thought it would be and so much more! In addition to blinding acceleration, steller brakes and incredible handling, we were treated to 20+mpg on a cross country trip. And it was able to carry all our stuff! We received nothing but positive comments across the country as well. If GM kills this incredible platform once Australian Holden production ceases, they are crazy. GM can easily transfer production to the Americas and sell thousands of them if they felt like it.