The Long, Winding Road To Chevrolet’s SS SedanAfter years of drama, the curtain all but comes off the next U.S.-bound Holden.
www.GMInsideNews.com By: Nick Saporito
After being sold in North America as the Pontiac G8, the Australian derived Holden Commodore became the recipient of much fanfare for its rear-wheel drive chassis and V-8 power. Unfortunately the death of the Pontiac brand also led to the death of the Commodore in the U.S., but the rumors and speculation surrounding its return never died with it. Finally the speculation can subside and Commodore fans can rejoice at the return of an Australian automotive staple.
Back in October 2009 GMI was first told that GM executives were looking into ways of bringing back the Commodore to the U.S. Specifically, we were hearing from sources that Bob Lutz and other “car guy” executives at GM were wanting design mockups of a Cadillac flagship sedan built off of Holden’s rear-wheel drive platform, as well as a mainstream Chevrolet sedan.
Almost two years later the information was validated within the halls of GM’s Hollywood design studio. During a media event in November 2011 GM showcased dozens of real Cadillac mockups, many of which explicitly stated they were designed to ride on the Zeta platform. Unfortunately none of the stunning models were ever approved for production.
Nearly a year after the first report, GMI was told more detailed information regarding the rumored Commodore-based Chevrolet sedan. In fact, it was in this report that GMI first called the car it’s real name – two years before anyone else and over three years before the official announcement (which should take place next year). At the time sources were indicating that the car would arrive in 2012, which today we know is a bit early. As for the “Premium Zeta” mentioned in the report? It became what we know today as Omega, which is still in development.
By March 2011 GMI sources recommended we report on the “SS Sedan” with a new level of certainty, because “the car is going to happen.” With that level of assurance, we published that the car was operating as an approved program and that it would arrive in 2013 as a 2014 model, which still holds true today.
Fast forward to March 2012 and GM finally makes a public announcement that provides strong hints toward the SS Sedan. The announcement stated that the Impala would be dropped as the brand’s entry into NASCAR and replaced by an all-new sedan, which would be formally announced in 2013.
As if the NASCAR announcement was not enough confirmation of the SS Sedan, GM’s OnStar division flubbed and listed all compatible 2014 model-year products. On the list was the “Chevrolet SS Performance Sedan.”
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