Zeta News 2.0: New VF Commodore and Chevrolet SS

[YSSMAN]

It's a long shot to make it that visually distinct, I think. It'll be a good-looking car, I'm not too worried about that, but I'm fully expecting it to be an extremely understated look not unlike the BMW E39 M5.

 

[JacoJa]

Doesn't look like it was posted here, but GM released two teaser images of the new SS about five days ago. They revealed the front and rear lights of the car. I'd post the pictures here, but I can't use this tablet properly.

 

[RocZX]

The Holden Commodore VF which the Chevy SS will be based on...

It's in the Calais trim which is a Luxury trim.

You can see more pics and videos HERE


The SS trim and Chevy SS will be revealed on February 16.

This is most likely what the SS will look like...

 

[JohnBM01]

I think the new Chevrolet SS will be the loveliest-looking Chevrolets in recent memory. I already think the Chevy SS NASCAR stock cars are lovely-looking, so I can only imagine seeing more of the SS on the road. I'm excited for these. That Holden Commodore VF is a gorgeous machine. Then again, there aren't too many Holdens I dislike.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Here is the Touring Car version:

 

[dsgerbc]

That's a nice interior. If it makes it here, it's unlikely that it will cost under $50k.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

The exterior is a bit boring, but the interior is very nice.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Another one, this time its a Red Bull livery:

 

[AudiMan2011]

Is it me or am I seeing some resemblances between the new Commodore and the Vauxhall Insignia is elements of the exterior design?

 

[Flaco13]

Of course they share some elements, both GM. They are more notable on the interieur though, just look at the steering wheel and some switches.

It is, however, far from beeing just a re-badge. That wouldn't make sense since Australia now has the Insignia (Opel badged) themselves.

Neither do they share the same platform as far as I know, the Commodore sure is a RWD while Insignias come as either FWD or AWD.

I wish we could get the Commodore in Europe, I don't care what badge it wears, be it Holden, Chevy or Opel.

 

[Tornado]

The Commodore is a Zeta car. The Insignia is an Epsilon one.

 

[Flaco13]

Zeta platform... I can only repeat, come to europe please!!!

Insignia = Epsilon II btw, Vectra was Epsilon I platform

 

[YSSMAN]

Zeta platform... I can only repeat, come to europe please!!!

It could happen with this generation vehicle, but it seems somewhat questionable. There are currently plans in motion for Buick to get either a rear-drive sedan based on the Commodore/SS, or to get one based on the larger variant of the Alpha chassis that'll be under the third-generation Cadillac CTS.

Given how close GM is making Buick and Opel, it doesn't seem like a large stretch of the imagination to make that transition quite easy. But, I'd find it somewhat difficult to support that in terms of business sense. As far as I know, there have been no plans to install oil burners to either platform, and beyond that, body variants popular in Europe (estates and hatchbacks) don't seem likely to join the lineup. Unless they are selling them strictly as niche vehicles (as they did with the VXR8, etc), that'd be about the only way they'd do it.

 

[Flaco13]

It could happen with this generation vehicle, but it seems somewhat questionable. There are currently plans in motion for Buick to get either a rear-drive sedan based on the Commodore/SS, or to get one based on the larger variant of the Alpha chassis that'll be under the third-generation Cadillac CTS.

Given how close GM is making Buick and Opel, it doesn't seem like a large stretch of the imagination to make that transition quite easy. But, I'd find it somewhat difficult to support that in terms of business sense. As far as I know, there have been no plans to install oil burners to either platform, and beyond that, body variants popular in Europe (estates and hatchbacks) don't seem likely to join the lineup. Unless they are selling them strictly as niche vehicles (as they did with the VXR8, etc), that'd be about the only way they'd do it.

Opel fans like me where waiting for a succesor of the Omega for a long time now, either way I think the Zeta or Alpha platform could be the solution for a top range Opel model, they plan on becoming a 'premium' car manufacturer now (step by step, the Cascada will be the first, then next gen Insignia etc.) hence targeting Mercedes, BMW etc. And what do they have? 5series; E-Class... and I guess 40%-50% of them are sold as sedans.
So in that segment the sedans are still popular enough for Opel to bring a new Omega (They could even leave the Commodore badge, Opel had a model called Commodore until the early '80s). But aren't there Holden Commodores as estate/station wagon? And finally a V8 in the lineup would be awesome and Opel needs that if they want be competitive against the other german big guys. (There where plans on a Omega Mk.2 with an LS1 engine but Opel somehow dropped it last minute.)

And us Opel guys are still mad the VXR8 never made it over the english channel, but I guess that was due to RHD / LHD, probably too expensive. As you mentioned it was a niche vehicel even for Vauxhall.

We'll have to wait and see, I hope for a bright future at GM, it looks pretty good so far and hopefully a reconciliation between GM and Opel can be accomplished so they might NOT shut down our Bochum plant!

 

[CodeRedR51]

-> Another one, this time its a Red Bull livery:

I wouldn't really call that a livery.

Their "real" livery will be unveiled today, in about 2.5 hours.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

NEWS -> Here you go:

Holden [VF] Commodore SSV

^ The Chevy's Australian cousin! Oh boy, I can't wait this Saturday!!!



-> But in all honesty, I think the design has gone soft compared to its predesessor. But the interior is a HUGE improvement!

 

[CodeRedR51]

And here, we, go....

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/16/this-is-your-2014-chevrolet-ss/

 

[DeathSmiles]

That is incredibly sexy.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> At the moment, the bad news lies that the SS doesn't have a proper manual. But we'll have to wait and see...

The engine will spin the rear wheels only, via a six-speed automatic transmission that has paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel for manual control. Unfortunately, there’s been no mention of a proper manual option just yet.

^ If thats true, it will be a huge fail in my book...

 

[JacoJa]

I don't understand why they can't just import the manual either. Why on earth would they limit it to only the automatic? Too much paperwork? Seems like a bonkers decision.

Btw, I quite like the look of the sorts model. I was hoping the SS-V would have more sportier tail lights though... Much like the current VE.

 

[Joey D]

It's probably not worth the money to have a manual in the US. Plus if it has a double-clutch system in it, it'll have better performance than a manual would anyway. Remember big American companies are worried about the bottom line, if they can do something to save a few dollars on a car, they will.

With that said though I think it looks great and shows that GM can design something that looks good when they put their minds too it. Now they need to actually market the car correctly or it's going to end up like the G8 did with no one buying them.

Also I think the interior doesn't look too bad, which isn't something I can say about many GM cars. I just hope it's not a sea of cheap plastics.

 

[Tornado]

It's about as close to a limited production car as it can be while still being mass produced, and it's hot on the tail of two failures (3 if you count the Catera) in a row trying to import an Australian design for the American market. We're lucky enough that we're getting it at all, and equipping it with a slushbox probably allows them to price it somewhat higher than they would if it was an optional extra, increasing the profit margin on it.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

No manual? Not interested. A car like that really needs a proper gearbox. Also, the exterior styling isn't that great. The interior design is very good, though.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Oh well, the search of a clean G8 GXP still continues...

 

[dsgerbc]

Dual-clutch auto is okay in principle, BUT my willingness to pony up the dough for this car just went down a few grand. And given that they are talking about Q4 '13 availability I'm probably gonna pick-up something else.

 

[Omnis]

Besides the seats and the engine, there's nothing about this car that seems like an improvement over the G8 GT.

 

[Joey D]

Wouldn't it make more sense if you were looking for a Zeta platform sports car with a manual to just buy a Camaro?

 

[marluxiaXI11]

If you only needed to put children in the back seats the Camaro would be fine.

 

[McLaren]

I wonder if US regulations have caused the rear end to change & have only 2 exhausts?

Because imo, the Holden model just looks so much sharper from the rear with the glossy black bottom of the rear bumper & polished quad-exhaust setup. You can even make out the tiny diffusers in the bumper, where as the SS seems to just have 2 small outlines.

In fact, seems to be the same in the front. The Commodore seems to have a gloss black grille whilst the Chevy looks very dull in comparison; could be the lighting.

Good lucking car no doubt, but the lack of a manual & those styling cues just make me wish they'd import the car with the exact same specs our Australian friends get.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> ...

Wouldn't it make more sense if you were looking for a Zeta platform sports car with a manual to just buy a Camaro?

^ Nope, not by a long shot. I might as well look for a decent G8 GXP.

-> If GM is placing the SS as an "High Line" car, why is that the more expensive CTS-V have a manual and the 'more afforddable' SS doesn't!? I really don't get it!?