January 5, 2003

Exciting Chevy SS concept!

Detroit, Michigan - GM unveiled a sleek new Chevrolet SS concept car on Sunday which the company calls, "a modern interpretation of Chevrolet's Super Sport heritage." A four-door family sedan that looks like a sports car, the SS packs rear-wheel drive, a high-technology version of GM's small-block V-8, and high-performance suspension and brakes.

Click image to enlarge

"It's a vehicle to be shared with your family or with your buddies," said Franz von Holzhausen, the SS's exterior designer. "It builds on Chevrolet's great performance heritage, while updating the SS concept for a whole new generation."

The Chevy SS is a product of GM Design's Los Angeles studio. The design is fluid with a short front overhang, long dash-to-axle and wide, muscular fenders providing an aggressive stance. Powerful wheel arches house 21-inch front and 22-inch rear aluminum wheels with BF Goodrich performance tires. The package also includes side gills, sporty round taillamps, through-fascia dual exhaust and a brushed stainless steel panel surrounding the taillamps.

Underneath the hood is the latest evolution of Chevy's race-proven small-block V-8. The car's longitudinal all-aluminum 6.0-litre V-8 engine pumps 430 horsepower and 430 lbs.-ft. of torque. The engine is paired with a Hydra-Matic 4L65-E four-speed, rear-wheel-drive, electronically controlled automatic transmission. It also could be equipped with the fuel-saving Displacement on Demand technology, debuting on somein 2004 on some 2005 GM models, which shuts down half of the cylinders during most driving conditions and automatically and seamlessly reactivates them for more demanding conditions, such as brisk acceleration or load hauling.

The SS features sophisticated low-arm SLA suspension and independent rear suspension for high-performance driving. The chassis features driver-adjustable shocks to change the damping ratio. The SS driver can tune the chassis for a softer setting during the week and dial in more performance for track days on the weekend.

Click image to enlarge

To complete the performance package, the brakes are six-piston calipers with 14-inch rotors up front, and four-piston calipers with 14.75-inch rotors on the rear. To help make the SS friendlier for everyday driving, it also is equipped with active-traction control.

"The great Chevy rear-wheel-drive V-8 vehicles are deeply embedded into the American psyche," said Nesbitt. "With their power and speed, these cars gave Americans a sense of freedom and rebellion against the ordinary, at a price tag that many could afford. The Chevy SS truly is mobile entertainment for performance enthusiasts of all generations."

More news from the Detroit auto show
Main news page