We were never quite holding our breath for a replacement surrounding the beloved 2017 Chevrolet SS, but we always held a small glimmer of hope. However, Chevrolet dashed those hopes by officially confirming the SS sedan will exit production by the end of 2017.
Alan Batey, GM North America President, confirmed the news as Australian production of the Holden VF Commodore also comes to a close by the end of 2017.
“Using the old adage, ‘win on Sunday, buy on Monday,’ we decided that in small numbers we’d introduce it the U.S. because we could, frankly, at a pretty low cost,” Batey told reporters Monday after introducing the new Chevrolet Traverse. “I would say the vehicle has been really well-received. It’s small volumes, but it’s been really well-received.”
Chevrolet currently uses the SS sedan as its NASCAR stock car, but the brand has not commented on what will replace the vehicle for the racing series. Over three years, total production of the SS performance sedan will likely come in just under 10,000 units built and sold.
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Good bye to a wonderful but under appreciated machine. It would be nice if Chevy did a sequel.
Cool car. But I never saw this working.
Chevy should just make a Chevy version of the ATS-V
They did that, it’s called the Camaro. It walks, talks, and acts like an ATS-V Coupe. It’s also why the Camaro is so expensive, and hence why the Camaro isn’t selling well.
GM needs a more affordable, smaller RWD platform like what Alpha was originally intended – a Kappa successor with longer legs to support hot hatchbacks and sport coupes.
There is nothing inherently expensive about the Alpha platform, and the ATS is more revenue to spread it’s cost around, which makes the Camaro cheaper.
Camaro……literally. The small tiny cab is literally an ATS V
If you wanted people to buy on Monday, you should have offered it with the pre-tested, pre-approved global V6 engine. I would have bought one. I take no pleasure in matching the G8 GT V8’s 0 to 60 in my front-drive 200S V6.
(Well, okay, maybe a little, considering I paid $17,999 certified with an FCA-backed lifetime bumper-to-bumper warranty).
But we know the reality. Holden had pre-negotiated a contract prior to GM’s bankruptcy to sell two GM cars in the USA (G8 & G8 ST), and GMNA replaced them with two cars intended to satisfy the lowest niches possible – Caprice PPV and SS. Thus satisfying the contract without having to sell high-volume cars with high-volume investment in marketing.
Should have been marketed as Impala SS.
As it stands I’d buy the Dodge Charger SRT 392 / Scat Pack for this type of car.
Here are sales #s for entire year for full size sedans. Although entire segment was down about 8% last year. It is still a half a million car segment. There is money to make. Traditionally, the bigger the vehicle the more profits margin it earns.
Obviously, GM has three players here, but so has Kia/Hyundai (soon will have 4 with addition of Kia Stringer) and they sell at the fraction of what GM sells. GM also has Cadillacs. I’m not sure there is sense in investing money into new Impala and new SS, but a new RWD Impala SS (aka Premier), along with economy LS and LT trims sounds like a winner to me. Impala isn’t going away anytime soon. New one is around the corner. Please GM, surprise us. RWD performance sedan is in your roots.
Buick LaCrosse 27,582 42,035 -34.4%
Chevrolet Impala 97,006 116,825 -17.0%
Chevrolet SS 3013 2895 4.1%
Chrysler 300 53,241 53,025 0.4%
Dodge Charger 95,437 96,633 -1.2%
Ford Taurus 44,098 48,816 -9.7%
Hyundai Azera 4942 5539 -10.8%
Hyundai Genesis *23,230 31,374 -26.0%
Kia Cadenza 4738 7343 -35.5%
Nissan Maxima 62,670 40,359 55.3%
Toyota Avalon 48,080 60,065 -20.0%
Total 464,037 504,909 -8.1%
Look at the Maxima. Up 55% for the year!
so will alot of police depts. Bad job by GM. My sons Police Dept tried ordering 2 Caprices, was told that they couldn’t guarantee a delivery date. They tried to talk them into a Tahoe, already have 2 of those and they needed a car for patroling the interstate. They settled on one exployer and one taurus both awd. First time the dept had a ford product in over 20 years.
Had the same problem selling my parents on an SS when they were in the market. Wanted a silver one, couldn’t source one in 500 miles. My mom loved it, buy wound up overpaying for a fully-optioned 335i/340i.
That is the problem with Holden exporting on a limited basis – you can’t just do a dealer trade to accommodate if there are less than 1,000 units spread across 3,000 miles of territory.
Yet another shameful & disgustingly bad move by GM….will it NEVER cease?!
What a waste! And the worst part is that so far, GM has announced nothing to take its place! I guess we’ll just have to place our hope in GM engineers to work their magic with the E2XX FWD-based platform….. -_-
While I love RWD V8 GM sedans we all have to face the harsh cruel truth out there that the large sedan is no longer the mass volume model it once was. Sedans in general are no longer the preferred model they once were.
Once the Caprice V8 ruled America but no longer as the Cross Over 4 cylinders now are the majority. You don’t have to like and should not but you have to accept the reality of it.
Same for down under as they no longer are ruled by the large V8 to the point GM was the last to really do it there accept for the limited number of imports many at much higher prices that have been replaced by a Mazda 3.
Now the car we have here is expensive. But even worse the styling just never really hit the mark either. GM could do little as to make the car over for less than 10K cars would have been insane in consideration and in cost.
We also have to understand that GM has to look at this and say do we spend a couple billion and make a new sedan that may never make back the development cost in five years let alone even at all. Or so they make a Cross Over that sells 150K-250 K units and make a major profit. While in their hearts they feel as we do they have to make money not just build cool cars only.
Even companies as large as GM just can not just do it because it is cool. Even the Corvette has to show a profit and has been close to extinction several times.
I would love to see them take an Alpha and do an Impala with 4-6-8 cylinders and use many of the Camaro parts to make it have a chance at a profit but even today that is still a hard case to make as a Cross Over will out due it profit wise and volume.
So please do not get mad at GM as if the money was there they would do these cars in a heart beat. But with rising regulations, changing consumer demands and the ever present need to be profitable they have to do what they should do not what they want to do. I know some of these engineers and designers and they mostly think as we do but reality kicks them in the A$$ just as it does the rest of us.
Let just hope that the market changes in our life time to bring back the kinds of cars we like. But till then enjoy what we have as there may come a time there is no tomorrow for them in the coming world of Autonomous cars.
I know some of you will not want to accept this and that is fine but it will not change the truth.
The SS didn’t make it because GM didn’t want to be successful. Not one advertisement ever and if wasn’t for the the Police cars and Nascar they would’t have sold any.
They stated from the start the number imported was going to be limited.
I spoke to Al Oppehieser just after Pontiac died and he told me this car was coming but it was pushed back. Other more important things came up and this was just a neat thing to do but they knew the platform was dying.
The small number sold help return some of the cost.
The reality is they could have marketed the hell out of this but interest was limited. You know well enough anyone interested in a car like this was aware of this car.
There was little way to make it cheaper as an SS and few people to pay more as they would opt for a better option at that price point.
While not a bad looking car it is still not a home run or even a double in styling.
It was a the Wong platform, wrong price at the wrong time at the wrong price in a weak RWD sedan market.
You can play denial all you like and it will still not change the reality.
NASCAR sold little and police sales were very weak compared to the cheaper Fords and Chryslers. Add to that the much more popular SUV police vehicles taking over the market.
I don’t like it either but times have changed.
A couple takeaways car enthusiasts should have from news like this is to fight the concept that digital nannies will be allowed preference over human free will (i.e. driving) and to shame people that value these needless CUVs. “You might as well have bought a mini-van. Or, you don’t need to constantly carry all that stuff. And get a set of snow tires. If it snows a lot, you would have just stayed home anyway.”
A factor is more regular (fwd) cars are powerful enough to satisfy more buyers and push performance to a smaller niche (raising my hand in pragmatic shame).
From looking at the pics of the new Terrian, I think it’s possible they trademarked Anthem as a production name for the Avista (I still don’t think it would get the greenlight as a Buick).
A big question is how imminently in trouble is FCA? A big door opens if they have to drop brands or worse.
Also, I get this impression from the new Traverse: the current Chevy styling would look really nice on an alpha-platform, modern ’70 Chevelle. I’d love to see the renderings GM secretly does. There really are so many cool things they could make if people rediscover their love of the automobile.
FCA is not in trouble. Their big bet on higher-fuel SUVs, RWD design, and cheapening older RWD units, has paid off well, combined with their decision to de-emphasize electric cars. The Trump win was exactly what FCA had hoped for, and GM didn’t plan for.
As much as I miss the 200S, it was because FCA was selling more trucks – making more money – that did that car in. The plan that made it, has been converted to sell more RAM trucks.
Not sure you can back that up with any real numbers.
Only Jeep and the trucks do anything. Fiat is not doing well anywhere. Masurati is not growing at the needed rate. Alfa is not doing much and will continue to be for the rare odd person just not wanting a BMW. Lancia ………. nothing there.
Chrysler is whithering with a 300 that is way under performing, the Dodges are getting by with head lines on low volume engines.
Sergio was begging for a partner and was rebuffed. He then tough talked GM and Mary told him to stick it. At this point they still need more volume, more small cars in volume and small cross overs.
It is not going to happen over night but if the do not merge with some other company, sell out to China or part out the company they will fail at what they are doing now.
Ram was not created to sell more trucks. They removed Dodge so the options are there to kill Dodge or to sell the Ram line if the need comes.
Sergio needs volume and just died not have it. He bet hard on Alfa when he should have invested in Dodge as he has Jeep.
They are selling trucks because they are the only thing the have worth buying.
FCA has a repeat return buyer percentage of 25% only Mitsubishi is worse. Add to the the high rate of recalls and defects and it is a toxic soup.
Not responding to a wall of text.
“Not sure you can back that up with any real numbers.
Only Jeep and the trucks do anything.”
In other words, FCA is making money only on the vehicles with the highest margins and most profit potential, a trend that is likely to increase as Trump’s pro-oil policies keep gas prices low.
What the hell are you talking about?
Sergio has pumped money into Jeep and Ram. Many of which are 4 cylinder Fiat based SUV models.
Yes the cross overs are what are selling but they will still need cars and more volume.
Why are you trying to drag Trump into this? Mis guided bias as normal.
As for the future oil will still be a part of it as it is still what most economies are based on and will be based on for a good while. It replaced gold in the early 70s and any basic economic student would understand that reguardless of election results.
Yeah it has to be profitable but come on the SS priced so that it was never going to do well. Dodge is selling 370 hp Chargers and Challengers with MSRPs under 35k – realistically you can be out the door with a big engine, RWD car for close to 30k. You can get a scat pack Charger for under 40k. SS was never priced to be competitive with the most logical peers.
If they wanted to move this in volume, they should have had a base model that fit with base model Chevrolets. Bring it over with a V6, cloth seats, and less tech. Start it at 35k. They made a V6 Commodore; this car could have existed. Given the complete lack of a performance variant on the Impala, there was a market for this car.
Well there is the issue right there.
The Charger is a rehashed Benz platform that really is in need of replacment Chrysler has let this thing wither on the vine. The LX is to the point the magazines no longer even compare it as it is so outdated.
Yes the tooling is paid for and they discount it much but there is so little money if any left here.
GM did the Alpha right and the new V8 is a very advanced engine and is not the cheap to build Gen 1 small block.
The horsing around of sending engines to Australia and the cars back is not cheap either.
GM would not have had the Zeta long ago if it were not for Holden. Australia has been behind in design and models for many years as often they were given left over things from else where due to the size of the small market even then.
GM knew the Zeta was going to die and they held on as long as they dared. Adding more cost to put a V6 in for here would have netted more sales but not enough to make it reasonable.
In todays market it takes about 100K units to make it even resonable to consider making a vehicle under 50K. To be honest the Camaro and Mustang just make it or just fall below and that is why both are looking to go overseas to get the volume they need.
Chrysler is going down by the bow with everything but the Trucks and jeep. So to use them as a guide is not the best thing to do. They have let the 300 wither to the point it is not even really competition even for Lincoln anymore.
Cars are not cheap to develop and not cheap to buy anymore. The average price is right at $35K and only going to go up more. Profits from volume cars need to come from 100K or more. When you get over $50K you can relax the volume at that point that is how Cadillac can sell so few cars and make money. But that does not help Chevy accept for the Vette.
It is no longer enough just to make some money they now have specific amounts that a model has to show before consideration anymore. It has to make it up in volume or price and in the case of the Zeta in a dying sedan segment neither was in its favor.
I have had this explained to me by marketing managers who are real true car guys and it is making their jobs tough. Selling cars today is much different than it was just 10-20 years ago.
The Global sales is one of the few ways companies will survive not just make cool cars. No MFG today is too large to fail and we will see more fail in the near future.
When you see GM and Ford go together to fund several new Transmissions together that should send a strong message on how tough it is to save money in development so you can keep cost down and profits up.
Dodge sold 160k Chargers and Challengers in the US this year. If Dodge can do that on an old platform, why couldn’t GM have put up a better effort? And this ignores their sales of the 300. CDJR couldn’t sell the 200s and Darts, it’s not like the world is flocking to their cars. They are selling because they connect with the market.
I hear what you are saying from a beancounting standpoint but they just spent a bunch of money to create the Omega platform. They have a brand new RWD/AWD platform. It would not be that hard to put a sub 40k full size sports car on that platform.
And it wouldn’t have added cost to put a V6 in the SS – they made V6 SS variants for Australia. All they had to do was put them on the boat with the same minimum US safety tech that they put into the V8.
Agree completely!
Yes but most are at cut rate prices, most are in fleets and they are on the verge of killing the future of the car as the have delayed it twice now.
GM sold a lot of Grand Prixs in its last year but made little money and ended up dead.
To be honest I really believed with time lines they knew the Zeta was a dead platform when the SS came out.
The omega is a much more expensive platform and will remain a Cadillac for the most part till its cost come down.
You also have too keep in mind today many FWD mid size cars are now $30k-40k today and it is not easy to build a car of any real quality for much under $50k anymore.
The Chryslers are showing the short cuts as they are not as good of a car as the SS and even the SS is old platform wise.
My in laws have a new 300. Nice car but a very cheap car in how it is made. They have had quality issues and recalls that should not be. But then they bought it for less than a Malibu LT.
GM is trying to leave that kind of stuff behind.
Also they did need a V6 but it would have added much to the cost. With the updated platform and the addition of the new engine they would have had to recrash test a large number of cars again. Also new emissions testing would be requiired.
Just look at how much the GTO took to come here and that was done as cheap as they could do it and the cost was still high.
how about building it the USA instead of down under. Have the truck plant that used to build the 4500 and 5500 trucks. Engines can now be built to Tonowanda,ny. GM will have enough trouble paying the 35% tax on all those trucks and cars built in Mexico. They have the nerve to say the Cruze built in Mexico is for export. Your readers found many in the US with Mexican vin. numbers. I own 6 GM cars and I watch as Ford and Fiat will move their production back to the US
Bring back the fwd Impala SS, Best car I ever had, Good in snow, Good on mpg and fast!
Time for the Chevy impala SS.
I owned a GTP Comp G with more power and still own a HHR SS with enough power to blow off the GTP and I loved both cars but FWD sucks for performance.
Even with launch control it is hard to hook up the car for traction.
Who ever bought the old line FWD has more traction sure is fooling themselves as the physic prevent the nose weight from doing any good.
Even rolling the front end will unload I have set off the traction control at over 50 MPH.
If they want to do it they need to use an Alpha or some new RWD and that is the killer as price of either will prevent a case I fear.
The only hope is if it was shared with Holden and Opel and sold for a Buick like price. Even then there is little meat on the bone.
I kind of do think that if this came back, it would be a Buick. Buick is getting the unique vehicles.
The globalization and price point of the Buick line makes it easier to make a business case.
I keep telling you guys that GM is run by females for female customers, hence all the grocery getter/kid hauling plush SUVs. Someone noted that she owned a C7 Z06. I would love to look at the clutch and brake pedals, just to see how much it was driven and by which sex (the patterns are different guys).
Gonna have to start looking at other brands for Perf sedans, etc unless you wuss out for the Tahoes/Crossovers and other non performance SUVs!!!!
Yes, the car company selling nearly 1 M pickup trucks in the US is gearing all of their models for woman.
The SS didn’t make it because GM didn’t want to be successful. Not one advertisement ever and if wasn’t for the the Police cars and Nascar they would’t have sold any.
So how many enthusiast that would have any interest in this car do you think have never heard about the SS?
Do you really think there are large number of people who would have any interest here that have no idea of this car?
Think about this before you reply. Even with more advertising unless it was for discount prices it would ave not moved the needle.
Sour grapes is not logic.
Price has more to do with the sales of the SS than some would like to admit. I have a ’16 SS, 4K on it so far and still very impressed and really it’s probably not over priced at $50K. However, look what happened when the 20% off sale came along? The cars were selling out as soon as the recall could be fixed. Yes, there was some “pent up demand” from the stop sale, but take a look at the sales totals, new 2016’s are basically sold out! Only a few remain. Why? An amazing car, at an amazing price.
I wonder what GM’s margin was on an SS at 20% off. Might have been motivated to get them off lots and get the Aussie factory closed
I do not have the numbers but there is little money here. The Holden was not a big margined car as it is and then add the things to bring it here and unless it was sold at a higher price there was little meat on the bone.
Labor cost there and shipping engines and transmission around the world twice all adds to the cost.