And Now, The 2014 Chevrolet SS

It's nice, but as a V8-only car, I can't imagine it being any more than a niche model. Chances are it will sell for at least $40K, and the market for such an expensive car without much visual character or a prestigious badge is small.

lane departure warning & active park assist... really?

Stylistically its a major 'meh'.

I love the idea, but the execution looks really pathetic...

The car looks fine but what I have issue with is 415 HP? LS3? No Magnetic Suspension? No manual?

These issues on a 40K plus car is a major miss. Why by this car when there is much better options out there for the same or cheaper price?

All that is wrong here can be fixed very easy but why miss on the first try?

Automatic only?

Oh, FFS!

Automatic only....and pass...

omg only 415 horses won't pull skin off pudding

So basically, after a five model year wait, we get an uglier G8 GXP plus a few gadgets and minus the manual.

Way to fiddle while Rome burns, GM.

Should have simply swapped the nose and badges and had this here for 2010.

Overthought, overwrought, and underwhelming.

...and very,very late to the game.

It's nice, but as a V8-only car, I can't imagine it being any more than a niche model. Chances are it will sell for at least $40K, and the market for such an expensive car without much visual character or a prestigious badge is small.

the whole point is that it is a niche model. the impala is the volume car.

The car looks fine but what I have issue with is 415 HP? LS3? No Magnetic Suspension? No manual?

These issues on a 40K plus car is a major miss. Why by this car when there is much better options out there for the same or cheaper price?

All that is wrong here can be fixed very easy but why miss on the first try?

really people should be happy this car exists at all.

some of the other stuff may come later. Get a CTS v is you want all the other stuff.

What I am missing, white leather that the commodore has...

No manual option? understandable--most American consumers can't drive a manual, and the competition (Charger R/T and SRT8) isn't available w/ a manual either......

I like the styling overall, but the front fascia is nasty w/ the trendy fish mouth lower grille. At least in 2-plate states some of the ugliness will be hidden by the license plate. And in dark colors the vile black plastic bar won't be as noticeable. What is interesting is the fascia isn't a Chevy thing--Holden has some ugly front ends on past performance versions...

Will be interesting to see how it compares to the Charger in inevitable comparison tests. I think I'd rather have the Charger--more distinctive interior and exterior, etc.

Based on the minor visual updates of a 5 year old design this does nothing for me, regardless of interior or specs (well maybe if it has managed to shed 300lbs since the g8...)

Exterior: I don't quite love it, but I don't despise it.

Interior: No complaints whatsoever.

Powertrain: Engine output between the Charger R/T and SRT8 is an interesting place to be... which car does it compete with?

Also, in natural light, silver does this car NO favors whatsoever. (Photo source: Autoblog)

The grill and headlights somewhat remind me of a '97-'03 Malibu. I call it "Heritage-uninspired".

reading the autoblog comments.....so many idiots.......all the people with the stupid comments, and 99% of those commenting can't even afford the gas on their 15 year old beater their parents gave them or they are people who will never buy a brand new car because nothing will never be good enough.

Speaking of Autoblog, they posted a gallery of the live reveal.

I maintain my opinion of the silver.

I'd like to see it in colors other than silver..silver is just so overdone today.

Better nose, easier and faster, and also cheaper to do:

We could have had this for at least 3 years by now.

There is nothing that can fix this car faster than 7.0 liters and a 6 speed manual.

415 HP and parking assist the SRT guys must be having a toast right now to a good coming year.

Lets hope it make a better race car vs street performance car.

There is no excuse to have that little HP and not have an option for more.

Hell my 4 cylinder SS will do 0-60 in 5 seconds.

Generally speaking, I have no problem with 415HP.

Except that it was available in Pontiac flavor..... in 2009.

What, exactly, have we been waiting for five years for?

Get the car here first, add the special versions over time is what they will do.

Regal GS showed up as stick only first and now you still see a ton of them unsold or lightly used. I love sticks but honestly the car will launch better with automatic because then the dealer can take them as inventory with the confidence that they can actually end up selling it to a more broad swath of customers.

The average redneck that will be interested in this car through a chevy dealer is likely going to want an automatic.

Better nose, easier and faster, and also cheaper to do:

We could have had this for at least 3 years by now.

i read something that said they might consider bringing the SS wagon here, but likely not the Ute.

Get the car here first, add the special versions over time is what they will do.

Regal GS showed up as stick only first and now you still see a ton of them unsold or lightly used. I love sticks but honestly the car will launch better with automatic because then the dealer can take them as inventory with the confidence that they can actually end up selling it to a more broad swath of customers.

The average redneck that will be interested in this car through a chevy dealer is likely going to want an automatic.

Couple problems with that logic, Reg.

This car is positioned as a limited production piece aimed at enthusiasts. It doesn't qualify without a manual.

Remember, the G8 GXPs were nearly all spoken for before they were even built.

The other problem is that this entire platform is due to be replaced for 2016.

That means that there isn't time to introduce a better version and get any benefit from it.

This car needed to be right at introduction.

Better nose, easier and faster, and also cheaper to do:

We could have had this for at least 3 years by now.

i read something that said they might consider bringing the SS wagon here, but likely not the Ute.

Not really my point in posting this, I was just referring to the front end - and how GM already was using it in other markets on this car.

This car (in whatever bodystyle) could have been here as a Chevy as early as 2010.

2010 would have probably been too soon..they would have taken a lot of flak for having a G8 rebadge, so they waited until Holden had the MCE. Plus given GM's financial situation back then, it probably couldn't have happened.

2010 would have probably been too soon..they would have taken a lot of flak for having a G8 rebadge, so they waited until Holden had the MCE. Plus given GM's financial situation back then, it probably couldn't have happened.

Sure they would have taken some flak, but they would also have sold thousands of cars without the major investment of the MCE.

Major mistake, IMO.

2010 would have probably been too soon..they would have taken a lot of flak for having a G8 rebadge, so they waited until Holden had the MCE. Plus given GM's financial situation back then, it probably couldn't have happened.

Sure they would have taken some flak, but they would also have sold thousands of cars without the major investment of the MCE.

Major mistake, IMO.

The MCE was going to happen anyway--by 2010, the car was already 5 years old in OZ..

2010 would have probably been too soon..they would have taken a lot of flak for having a G8 rebadge, so they waited until Holden had the MCE. Plus given GM's financial situation back then, it probably couldn't have happened.

Sure they would have taken some flak, but they would also have sold thousands of cars without the major investment of the MCE.

Major mistake, IMO.

The MCE was going to happen anyway--by 2010, the car was already 5 years old in OZ..

My point remains, they reduced their ROI without reason.

will the ls3 be a 1 year thing? will the lt1 will be vette and "truck" only for 1 year?

will the ls3 be a 1 year thing? will the lt1 will be vette and "truck" only for 1 year?

Wouldn't surprise me.

Judging by reaction around the web, GM better announce a manual option.... pronto.

so you'd rather see GM not be in this segment for 3 more years and deprive those that want a rear drive chevy sedan and a v8.

so you'd rather see GM not be in this segment for 3 more years and deprive those that want a rear drive chevy sedan and a v8.

That is an absurd statement, Reg.

The manual is already in production at Holden, they just have to offer it here.

Motor Trend has a comparison article out today between the SS, GXP, Charger R/T and Hyundai Genesis, but it's not a real road test, just facts about the cars and stuff probably pulled from previous articles.

Did MT have anything interesting to say?

Not much...typical Motor Trend, lightweight...read through the article on Flipboard, it's probably on their website..

Edit: found it

http://wot.motortrend.com/by-the-numbers-chevrolet-ss-pontiac-g8-gxp-dodge-charger-rt-hyundai-genesis-50-r-spec-330543.html

From R&T:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/first-looks/first-look-2014-chevrolet-ss-is-automatic-only

'Nother MT article (with comments):

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1302_2014_chevrolet_ss_first_look/

After what we had as the G8, this is a big swing-and-miss if you ask me. That front is so boring, the rear isn't that bad, but overall this totally misses the mark. The Charger need not lose any sleep, not only is it better looking, but the SRT is still packing way more heat.

So after showing a SS concept that people loved. They ignor what the people want and went with a Blah v8 car that will sell limited and just blend in and not stand out as a SS should.

Swing, Miss, Hit the shower. This was a lost opportunity for GM and they now truly are showing the bean counters are in control with no passion for anything special.

SS should have been special.

That SS concept was 10 years ago...a different Chevy now than then...different time and place.

No, it's pretty much the same place.

But I believe dfelt was referring to the flair & fluidity (& level of uniqueness) of the SS concept, whereas this SS gives a rather generic serving of the 'same old'.

so you'd rather see GM not be in this segment for 3 more years and deprive those that want a rear drive chevy sedan and a v8.

That is an absurd statement, Reg.

The manual is already in production at Holden, they just have to offer it here.

No, it's not. GM would have had to pay to certify that version of the car. Plus, they have to gear up the dealer network to sell another version of the car that likely would not justify each Chevy dealer that is sizable to carry an example of note books in inventory. For a dealer to have 40 grand tied up on a car that may not ever sell for 18-24 months if at all when they could stock 2 cruzes....

RWD plus manual has to have one hell of a business case to justify gearing the dealers up to stock and sell and provide service instruction and parts and training......all I am saying is they need to justify it with a business case. Have you ever thought that maybe it just might be 6 months to a year and maybe we get the 450hp plus stick SS?

no idea WTF is up with the screwed up formatting.

Considering his is being marketed as a performance oriented model, not having a manual is an oversight.

Doesn't matter though, even if it did and cured cancer it wouldn't please you people.

If the case you are making is that GM could only afford 1 transmission, then they chose the wrong one for this sort of car.

Besideswhich, it's the same damn trans the Camaro has.

Nobody's going to buy the car, just like nobody bought the G8 so they may as well try and have mass-appeal by not including a transmission that only 0.33333% of the population care to use.

Such nonsense.

If the case you are making is that GM could only afford 1 transmission, then they chose the wrong one for this sort of car.

Besideswhich, it's the same damn trans the Camaro has.

No, I was saying it should have a manual option.

If the case you are making is that GM could only afford 1 transmission, then they chose the wrong one for this sort of car.

Besideswhich, it's the same damn trans the Camaro has.

No, I was saying it should have a manual option.

My comment was directed to Reg - our posts crossed.