A marriage between racetrack V8 performance and four-door practicality
Born from a long heritage of iconic Chevrolet muscle cars
On display at the Chevrolet booth at the 30th Thailand International Motor Expo 2013 is a Chevrolet SS Concept. It is Chevrolet’s first V8, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan since 1996 and is designed to deliver performance on the street and on the track. The Chevrolet SS Concept is based on the new VF Commodore and manufactured at GM Holden’s plant in Elizabeth, South Australia.
The Chevrolet SS has a mature, aerodynamic exterior design, which has been finished in eye-catching custom Kandy Fantale orange metallic paint job specially created for the show car. Its muscular design is enhanced with a bespoke paint job and well contrasted against glossy black multi-spoke wheels.
Under spotlights, the show car’s glowing finish emphasizes the more sculpted, layered surfacing and bolder graphics that give the Chevrolet SS a powerfully different sports design character and complement its classic rear drive performance car proportion. The gloss black paint on the hand-machined double five-spoke wheels is a custom finish, while the cool gunmetal chrome detailing on the front fascia and the vertical fender add a touch of luxury.
The Chevrolet SS shares the same proven, race-tested, global rear-wheel drive platform as the Camaro and is powered by a Generation IV 90-degree 6.0L all-alloy OHV (Overhead Valve) V8. The engine produces 362 hp (270 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 530 Nm at 4,400 rpm. It also features cross-flow cylinder heads, twin knock sensors and on-board diagnostics.
A sport-tuned chassis, featuring MacPherson struts at the front and multilink independent suspension at the rear, ensures the SS corners well. Handling is also helped by a near 50/50 weight distribution, and a low center of gravity. A low center of gravity — made possible in part by the aluminum bonnet and boot lid that are 30 percent lighter than traditional steel panels. Brembo brakes provide the SS with impressive stopping power.
The Chevrolet SS debuted at the Daytona International Speedway, as the Chevrolet SS racecar made its NASCAR debut during the Daytona 500. Steering response has been tuned to be communicative without being overly sensitive, while Brembo brakes (ventilated at the front) provide the stopping power. Forged aluminum 20 x 8.5-inch wheels with 245/35ZR20 tires in front and 20 x 9.0-inch wheels with 275/30ZR20 tires at the rear help keep the SS glued to the road.
Inside, the SS benefits from a sleek interior design layered with up-scale finishes of suede, galvano chrome, gloss black and perforated leather with accent stitching. The result is a premium-grade cabin detailed with motorsport-inspired touches including carbon fiber look cross-car applique, stitched leather instrument binnacle and sports profile leather steering wheel. The interior theme is well-appointed sport luxury: dark-toned, subtle and sophisticated. This is a carefully considered ergonomic design, defined by the use of high-quality materials, careful tailoring, craftsmanship and comfort.
The staggered front and rear wheels, which are pushed out to the corners, enhance the sporting, muscular stance of the SS while the spacious interior comfortably accommodates five adults, with 107 cm of front legroom, and 99 cm of rear legroom. Some of the interior features include eight-way power adjustable front bucket seats, Bose nine-speaker sound system, color heads-up display and an integrated center stack with MyLink infotainment, climate and other vehicle controls.
Active safety features come in the form of StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear-vision camera Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The Chevrolet SS also comes with Automatic Parking Assist, which provides hands-free parking using ultrasonic sensing system to detect the width and depth of either parallel or reverse right-angle parking spaces. The driver controls the throttle, transmission, and brake, and the system controls steering inputs.
No price and availability details are set for the SS at this point. Chevrolet Thailand plans to study the possibility of selling the SS in Thailand based on the response from the Thai customers who come to visit the show.
For more information please visit www.chevrolet.co.th, http://media.gm.com/ or www.facebook.com/chevyclub