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Gone in a Flash: Pontiac G8

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Automotive models come and go, but the Pontiac G8’s two-year run is one of the shortest on record. Introduced in 2008, the full-size G8 sedan was canceled in 2009, following parent GM’s bankruptcy and restructuring that shut down the Pontiac brand. Just as quickly as the Pontiac G8 showed up and grabbed the hearts of enthusiasts, it was gone in a flash, but not apart from an interesting twist that has kept this sedan alive in a slightly different form.

Pontiac G8 Origin

General Motors tapped its Australian subsidiary, Holden, to produce a car for Pontiac. The G8 became Pontiac’s flagship sedan and was based on the Holden Commodore, a five-passenger rear-wheel-drive model.

The Holden Commodore was designed, engineered and built in Australia. Introduced in 1978, the Commodore went through multiple generational updates and was produced through 2017. Beginning in 2018, a new model was imported from Germany. The G8 was produced before the technology to prevent auto accidents rolled out, such as lane departure alert and automatic braking.

2008 Pontiac G8 Introduction

Upon introduction, the Pontiac G8 secured flagship status for the brand. This large sedan offered V6 and V8 engines with its power sent to the rear wheels. Its dramatic styling and rear-wheel-drive layout quickly endeared people to the sedan, what some have called the poor man’s BMW.

The base Pontiac G8 sedan has a 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 256 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 248 foot-pounds of torque at 2,100 rpm. It comes paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Pontiac G8 GT has a 6.0-liter V-8 engine making 385 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 361 foot-pounds of torque at 5,300 rpm. Pontiac teams this engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Its 0-to-60 mph time comes in at approximately 5.3 seconds.

Standard equipment across the Pontiac G8 line includes alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, climate control, a tilt and telescoping steering column and a premium sound system. The G8 GT supplies a Blaupunkt audio system, dual-zone climate control, summer tires, and a limited-slip differential. Safety equipment includes stability control, traction control and brake assist.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

For 2009, Pontiac expanded the G8’s model line to include the GXP sedan. This model has the Corvette’s 6.2-liter V-8 engine, making 415 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 415 foot-pounds of torque at 5,900 rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting control comes standard. A Tremec six-speed manual transmission was also available.

The Pontiac G8 GXP has thickly bolstered sport seats, a GXP-specific sport steering wheel, rubber-trimmed alloy pedals and offers three driving modes. Incidentally, Motor Trend reported that the GXP sedan zoomed from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Death of a Dream

Following years of poor financial health and a historic economic downturn that took hold in 2008, GM declared bankruptcy in June 2009. The bankruptcy move was aided by American and Canadian taxpayers who put up tens of billions of dollars to help restructure the company.

As part of GM’s restructuring, the automaker sought to sell off or close down several brands. Ultimately, GM freed itself of Saab, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac, the latter taking the G8 sedan with it.

Chevrolet Caprice PPV and Chevrolet SS

Months after the cancellation of the Pontiac G8, GM announced that a new vehicle based on a Holden platform would be imported to the United States. That vehicle, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV, was for law enforcement fleets only. Moreover, it was based on the Holden Caprice, a slightly longer version of the Holden Commodore.

Beginning in 2013, GM introduced another variant, this one based on the VF Commodore. The Chevrolet SS, based on the latest version of the Holden, made its debut for the 2014 model year. It has the same 6.2-liter V-8 engine found in the Pontiac G8 GXP and includes a sport-tuned suspension, electronic power steering and a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Essentially, the Chevrolet SS took up where the Pontiac G8 left off.

Founded in 1926, the Pontiac brand shut down in 2010. Its Holden subsidiary was temporarily bereft of an American receiver until Chevrolet was tabbed to fill that void, delivering to enthusiasts its own iteration of the Pontiac G8. But Holden itself has changed as the company no longer builds any models in Australia. That’s also spelled the demise of the Chevy SS, once again leaving the U.S. market bereft of a full-size mainstream rear-wheel drive sedan from GM.

See Also — The History of the Pontiac Fiero

Photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

University of Michigan: Connected Vehicle Favorability Confirmed

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A survey of public opinion about connected vehicles was recently conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). That survey, authored by Brandon Schoettle (project manager) and Michael Sivak (research professor), revealed that the majority of people surveyed in three predominately English-speaking countries (US, UK, and Australia) had not heard about connected-vehicle technology, but most expressed a positive initial opinion of the same.

Connected-Vehicle Survey

The researchers conducted an online survey through SurveyMonkey.com in March 2014 with the results published early the following month. The team developed a questionnaire to assess participant familiarity and their general opinion about connected vehicles.

As defined by the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration, connected vehicles represent an initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable networked wireless communications among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers’ personal communications devices. When fully operational, the technology is expected to reduce accidents, improve mobility, and provide environmental benefits.

stop sign
With connected vehicles you wont be
blowing past stop signs.

The researchers also addressed topics related to the expected benefits of connected vehicles, concerns about the technology, the importance of certain connected-vehicle features, and participant interest in owning and their willingness to pay for connected-vehicle technology. The same core survey was conducted in all three nations with slight variations for spelling and currency.

Some 1,596 completed applications were accepted with the United States accounting for 576 responses to 520 from the United Kingdom and 500 from Australia. The researchers claim that the populace of the respective nations were represented minus people that do not have Internet access.

First Impressions

The researchers first asked the survey participants, “Had you ever heard of connected
vehicles before participating in this survey?” Overwhelmingly that answer was no, with only 21.9 percent affirming that they had.

Once they understood what connected-vehicle technology was, 62.4 percent expressed either a very positive (23.4 percent) or somewhat positive (39 percent) opinion about connected vehicles. Approximately one-third (32.6 percent) of the participants were neutral with just 4.9 percent offering negative (3.9 percent) or very negative (1 percent) opinions.

University of Michigan Transportation Institute

Source: Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Connected Vehicle Benefits

The UMTRI moved on to ask, “How likely do you think it is that the following benefits will occur when using connected vehicles?” That third question covered a number of topics including fewer crashes and a reduction in injuries, improved emergency response time, reduced traffic congestion, shorter travel time, lower vehicle emissions, improved fuel economy, lower insurance rates, and fewer driver distractions.

Some 85.9 percent of the participants believed that fewer crashes were very likely (28 percent) or somewhat likely (57.9 percent). Nearly as many (83.7 percent) believed that crash severity would fall as well.

As far as the impact on insurance rates, approximately two-thirds (67.4 percent) believed that insurance rates would fall, but an even 25 percent thought it somewhat unlikely. And despite connected vehicles doing much of the driving, nearly 40 percent were skeptical that it would cut down on distracted driving.

University of Michigan Transportation Institute

Source: Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Safety Consequence and Other Concerns

The fourth question asked, How concerned are you about the following issues related to connected vehicles?” That question also covered a number of topics including the safety consequences of equipment failure, driver legal liability, system and vehicle security as pertains to hackers, data privacy, pedestrian and cyclist interaction, learning how to operate these vehicles, potential distractions, performance in certain weather conditions, and the drivers reliability on the technology.

Some 82.1 percent of the participants expressed some level of concern about equipment or system failure. Just over two-thirds were concerned about potential legal liability for the driver or the vehicle owner, while three-quarters of the respondents believed that drivers would rely too much on the technology.

Pay Up or Not

The researchers concluded that the answers were very uniform across the three countries surveyed with high levels of agreement in a number of areas. Most participants expressed their interest in having connected-vehicle technology in their cars, although half said that they weren’t willing to pay for it. Of those willing to do so, those amounts ranged from US$20 to US$1,500.

Founded in 1965, UMTRI is a leader in motor vehicle research related to injury biomechanics. The institute has conducted more than 1,000 short- and long-term projects in a variety of areas including accident data collection and traffic safety analysis. UMTRI is also committed to advancing safe and sustainable transportation.

Australian Auto Manufacturing and the Decline in Tariffs

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Auto Manufacturing Australia Chevrolet SS

With production ending in Australia, the future of the Chevrolet SS
may hinge upon moving manufacturing elsewhere.


Within the next four years, the last remaining automotive factory in Australia will close. Ford, GM and Toyota each have manufacturing plants in this southern continent country and all three recently announced that their respective plants will soon shut down.

That Australia will be without a car manufacturing plant may seem surprising to some. However, when you learn why automotive plants were built there in the first place, you may understand why they’ll be closing.

Steep National Tariffs

Like many nations, Australia has long had tariffs in place on a number of goods. Tariffs are a tax or a duty paid on imports or exports, typically put in place to protect local manufacturing.

Earlier tariffs of 54 percent made it worthwhile for foreign manufacturers to build and maintain plants in the country. And as long as those tariffs were in place, then a handful of automakers would and did build locally, reaping a competitive advantage in a relatively small national market.

Yes, Australia’s population is small: the country is home to 22.7 million people. Australia’s population has grown by 50 percent in the last three decades. Canada, with 34 million people, has automotive manufacturing plants too. However, the US and Canada have had trade agreements in place for decades what allows cars and parts to move primarily between Michigan and Ontario free of tariffs.

Globalization and the End of Tariffs

Globalization is a word used commonly today, but its roots go back many decades. The second Random House definition for the word may best explain what is going on in Australia today, indeed in the rest of the world, …the emergence since the 1980s of a single world market dominated by multinational companies, leading to a diminishing capacity for national governments to control their economies.

In Australia, it was the Button Car Plan of 1984 that ushered in the gradual demise of local automotive manufacturing. An Australian publication, Manufacturers Monthly took a look at its impact in 2011, tracing the industry’s subsequent decline. Specifically, the plan was adopted in a bid to force industry consolidation, thereby making it more efficient.

The plan as crafted and later adopted forecast increased competition from imports, in an effort to improve the industry. Declining tariffs would play a significant part in that change, falling to 30 percent in the 1990s, then down to 15 percent by 2004. By 2010, tariffs dropped to 5 percent, but the rate comes in even lower when various trade agreements with other countries are factored in.

Declining Local Production

Perhaps the most telling change in recent years is the big decrease in local production, currently at half of the 409,000 units produced as recently as 2004. Even so, most of the cars built in Australia are exported including the Chevrolet SS, sold as the Holden Commodore in Australia. It represents a dying breed of large, rear-wheel drive models that sates the appetites of a limited number of buyers around the world. Meanwhile, Australians are embracing the many smaller and less costly models imported from abroad including Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, and China.

Many Australians are upset over the auto industry’s demise and rightly so: tens of thousands of direct and feeder jobs will go away. Likely, Australia’s brimming economy will take a hit its current 6 percent unemployment rate may rise. Even so, one group of retailers car dealers will find a way to roll with these changes.

The pending changes to Australia’s automotive industry will have some effect on dealers. Nevertheless, dealers such as DVG in Perth will continue to serve their customers with a wide variety of products from different manufacturers, said a spokesman for the DVG Automotive Group. The company has 38 dealerships in nine locations and counts current local producers Toyota and Holden (GM) among its 18 new car brands.

See Also — Australia: Auto Manufacturing Done in 2017

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

Fiat Chrysler Weighs Its Minivan Options

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Chrysler presses Canada for financial support.

***Update: Chrysler Withdraws Financial Assistance Request to the Federal and Provincial Governments in Canada***

It was supposed to have been settled by now. If everything was done according to plan, Chrysler would have identified the brand slated to receive the next generation of its minivan and the one that would get its crossover derivative.

Chrysler minivans: Made in Canada.

A collection of Chrysler minivans, all built in Canada.


CEO Sergio Marchionne made it plain a few years back that only one minivan was needed with either the Chrysler Town & Country or the Dodge Grand Caravan transitioning to a crossover utility vehicle based on the platform underpinning the next generation minivan. That announcement has yet to be made, but minivan-related news is front and center.

Making an Investment

Instead of brand decisions, we now have Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) asking for as much as CAN$700 million in incentives from federal and provincial governments to update its two Ontario manufacturing plants. That contribution would partially defray the CAN$3.6 billion Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it will cost to retool Windsor and update Brampton.

The Windsor plant has been the exclusive builder of Chrysler minivans since Dodge and Plymouth models were introduced in 1983. Brampton builds Chryslers large cars including the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Together, the two assembly plants represent FCAs entire manufacturing presence in Canada.

That presence could be jeopardized if both Ontario and Canada decide not to contribute funds. For its part, the Canadians want FCA to pledge a long-term commitment to build cars in Canada reports Toronto’s Globe & Mail. The federal government recently announced that it wound invest another $500 million in its Automotive Innovation Fund, but it hasn’t promised that those funds will go to Fiat Chrysler. At least not exclusively.

Minivans to Mexico?

Marchionne raised eyebrows last month at the Detroit auto show when he said that the company had alternatives to continuing to build minivans in Windsor, reports the Wall Street Journal. That may include shifting product to Mexico where labor costs are much lower than in Canada. Of the three North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries, Canada’s labor costs are highest followed by the United States and much further down the list, Mexico.

Canada and Ontario contributed billions of dollars in loan money in 2009 to help General Motors and Chrysler, loans that have since been paid back. Still, the country has shed more than 50,000 automotive jobs since 2000 and another 8,000 direct manufacturing jobs would be affected if Chrysler pulled up stakes. Tens of thousands of supplier and spin off jobs would also likely go away. In all, Chrysler employs 10,245 people in Canada as of Jan. 2014

Meanwhile, Down Under

A Chrysler exit would not decimate the country’s automotive industry composed of multiple manufacturers including GM, Ford, Toyota, and Honda. And, unlike Australia, the Canadian industry is heavily tied to the US and Mexico, with suppliers, components, and new vehicles moving back and forth across each border. Yet, it also raises the stakes for the remaining manufacturers, each competing in a global industry where maintaining operating costs is crucial for competitiveness and the bottom line.

Australia’s auto industry is in dire straits with Toyota following Ford and GM by announcing the end of domestic manufacturing within the next four years. The prospect that Canada might someday lose its manufacturing base and go the way of Australia is not lost on provincial and federal government leaders. What type of proposal they make to keep Fiat Chrysler from fleeing might also set a precedence for other manufacturers to follow as they weigh their own needs.

Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, N.V.

See Also Australia: Auto Manufacturing Done in 2017

Australia: Auto Manufacturing Done in 2017

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Within the next four years not a single new car will roll off of an Australian assembly line. That fact was confirmed this week when Toyota announced that it would join General Motors and the Ford Motor Company in beating their collective manufacturing feet from the land down under.

Toyota Camry of Australia

The Camry is one of three Toyota models built in Australia.

Production Shut Down Dates

Toyota’s exit will cost the country 2,500 direct jobs and many thousands more in supplier and local labor. The Japanese automaker says that it will quit manufacturing in Australia in 2017 as will GM. Ford says that it will shut down production in 2016. All three comprise Australia’s entire automotive manufacturing industry.

And all three manufacturers blame the high cost of manufacturing and the strong Australian dollar for exiting reports The Australian. Toyota has been manufacturing vehicles in Australia since 1963 in Altona, a suburb west of Melbourne, Victoria.

At its Altona plant, Toyota currently produces the Camry and Camry Hybrid for Australia and New Zealand. A third model, the Aurion, is produced and sold locally and is also shipped abroad to several Asian markets. Besides the three models, four cylinder engine production will be affected too.

Toyota Australia News Conference

On hand to announce Toyotas plans were Toyota Australia President and CEO, Max Yasuda, and Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO, Akio Toyoda. Said Yasuda, This is devastating news for all of our employees who have dedicated their lives to the company during the past 50 years. Yasuda added that the automaker had done everything it could do over the past two years to transform its business, but factors beyond the company’s control made it unviable to build cars in Australia.

While Toyota will cease being an Australian manufacturing concern by the end of 2017, the company says that it will become a national sales and distribution company. Toyota products will still be sold, but its entire product line will be imported from abroad. The executives promised to study over the coming months how its corporate divisions will operate as the changes are made.

Yasuda promised to stay the course as the company winds down Australian manufacturing. Not only do we need to ensure our local suppliers and employees can plan for their future, we also need to make sure that we continue to produce high quality vehicles and engines for our domestic and export customers, said Yasuda.

Australian Domestic Production

The Australian market has long designed and produced its own models including a handful familiar to American consumers. Both the defunct Pontiac G8 and the current Chevrolet SS are based on GM (Holden) products, the latter on the current Holden Commodore. Both Ford and GM produce models that are unique to Australia including some that are exported abroad. Neither company has said whether production of affected models will be shipped abroad or if those models will be canceled.

Australian automotive production peaked in 1970 at about 450,000 units per year. Unlike the US auto industry that has largely recovered from the recession, Australian production remains off by more than 35 percent from 2008s 324,118 units produced according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Production fell by 5 percent in 2013 against 2012, to just 210,538 units.

Criticism From Labor

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) criticized the country’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, for not standing up for local jobs. ACTS Secretary Dave Oliver commented, The Abbott Government goaded Holden into leaving, they’ve done absolutely nothing to keep Toyota in this country and as a result Australia will lose up to 50,000 direct skilled jobs, $21 billion will be wiped from the economy and regions will go into recession. Oliver said the loss of manufacturing jobs “…will have far reaching consequences around the country and throughout the economy.”

GM Restructuring Continues Apace

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Cutbacks in Korea, Australia planned. Expansion set for US manufacturing.

GM Chevrolet Impala

The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala.


News from General Motors continues to dominate the auto industry, trumping its competitor’s new product introductions. That Mary Barra will ascend to GM’s top office in 2014 is big news, what overshadows the, is he going to Microsoft or staying put?, chatter about Fords Alan Mulally.

All that suits GM just fine because as it leaves government ownership and stewardship in its rearview mirror and focuses on its future, it can finally move forward on several matters it likely has had to put off handling until the federal government sold its remaining shares in the automaker. Those matters are not minor issues either and include the following news stories:

Opel to Trump Chevrolet

The recent news wave began prior to the Akerson/Barra announcement. GM said that it was pulling back its Chevrolet Europe strategy to focus on Opel. Although GM admitted defeat, it likely won itself much needed and desired support in Europe where Opel and Vauxhall are its main products and homegrown ones at that.

Chevrolet entered Europe in 2005 and has lost money since. It wont be a complete abandonment, however, as select Chevrolet models such as Corvette will still be offered. Moreover, Russia will remain an important market for the bow tie brand.

See Also — The History of the Pontiac Fiero

Korean Manufacturing Scaled Back

Korea is an important market for GM and has been since the automaker took over the country’s third largest automaker, Daewoo, in 2001. It was one of the few very good financial decisions GM made leading up to its 2009 bankruptcy and restructuring, a company since renamed GM Korea.

GM Korea supplies the Chevrolet Spark to the US market and also builds Chevrolet models for Europe. But with GM cutting back its Chevrolet exposure across much of the western part of the continent, the automaker has said that it will scale back Korean manufacturing. Indeed, this week GM announced that it would offer up a voluntary retirement for up to 6,000 salaried workers by the end of March reports Fox News. The company says that it expects to reduce its Korean manufacturing by 20 percent to reflect its new strategy for Chevrolet Europe.

Peugeot Stake Sold

One of the worst decisions GM made post-bankruptcy was to secure an alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen, the beleaguered French automaker. Not just an alliance, but it also took a financial stake worth hundreds of millions of dollars. That 7 percent stake is now gone as GM sold its shares in Peugeot this week.

The two companies say that they plan to continue collaboration on new product, but if Peugeot fails then GM should be able to walk away relatively unscathed. So much for a strategic alliance.

loans

GM Financial trumps Ally Financial for new car loans.

GM Exits Ally

The company once known as the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) and now called Ally Financial, had long played a role in helping GM car buyers get auto financing. GM separated GMAC from its own operation in 2006, but most of its business remained with GM. When GM began its slide into bankruptcy, GMAC applied to become a bank holding company.

Later, GM gave most of its new car financing business to AmeriCredit, renamed GM Financial. It still held an 8.5 percent stake in Ally, but sold its shares on Dec. 11, 2013, for $900 million. “This transaction releases capital from a non-core asset and further enhances our financial flexibility,” said Dan Ammann, GM executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Ally continues to play an important role in financing our dealers and customers in the United States.”

Holden Manufacturing to Halt

Will we soon see an end to the beautiful cars imported from Australia that we have come to know and love? Those models currently include the Chevrolet SS and the Chevrolet Caprice SS, based on the Holden Commodore. They aren’t the first Holden-supplied models, with the Pontiac GTO and G8 starting the Aussie onslaught, disappearing as Pontiac was closed down.

GM says that it will stop making cars in Australia by the end of 2013, relying on imports beginning in 2018 to supply its Australian customers. GM, citing costs, will close down its one manufacturing and one engine plant. The company insists that it will keep the Holden brand alive. “Australians have been driving Holden vehicles for decades – and we are determined that Australians will drive Holden vehicles for many years to come,” Mr Devereux said. The high cost of doing business in Australia is behind GMs decision.

Updated Manufacturing and Jobs in the US

With GM cutting back jobs abroad pulling Chevrolet out of Europe and divesting itself of financial stakes in Peugeot and Ally Financial it may seem that the automaker is seeking to conserve cash. However, that recently expanded largesse will soon be tapped to pay for a planned $1.3 billion investment in five manufacturing plants three in Michigan and one each in Indiana and Ohio. GM says that the move will create or retain about 1,000 jobs.

The investment will pay for retooling to support the production of an existing 6-speed transmission, a new 10-speed transmission, and the building of a new V-6 engine. The funds will also pay for plant upgrades as well as for a new paint shop and logistics optimization center.

“GM is committed to a strong American manufacturing base and creating jobs in dozens of communities throughout the country. Today’s announced plant upgrades continue the momentum of a resurgent auto industry,” said GM Executive Vice President and North America President Mark Reuss. “More importantly, these investments add up to higher quality and more fuel-efficient vehicles for our customers.”

Cadillac Elmiraj

Is a Cadillac Elmiraj announcement pending?

But, Wait…There is More!

With Dan Akerson leaving and Mary Barra’s ascendancy timed to coincide with the start of the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, GM also wont miss out on a major media opportunity to showcase one or more new cars as it parades Barra before the media.

We already know that the Cadillac ATS Coupe will be revealed, but might we also learn the status for another new product that has everyone talking? That would be the Cadillac Elmiraj, a beautiful full-bodied coupe that made its debut at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. It is the latest super concept for the Cadillac brand and the one that many enthusiasts hope Cadillac decides to build. Yes, the Detroit auto show would present the ideal place to showcase this $100K+ luxury coupe, providing perhaps the best send off for Akerson and a hand off of company leadership to Barra.

See Also — GM Ignition Switch Flaw: Testing Mary Barra

About the 2014 Chevrolet SS

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The Chevrolet SS is imported from Australia, a five-passenger rear-wheel-drive sport sedan powered by a big V-8 engine. This model represents Chevrolet’s first performance sedan since 1996, joining the Corvette and Camaro in Chevy’s performance arsenal. Pricing for the new model begins at $44,470; the Chevrolet SS is sold in one trim level.

Chevrolet SS

Racing and production versions of the Chevrolet SS on display.

 

Model Highlights

Based on the Holden VF Commodore, the SS incorporates a Chevrolet face that is flanked by HID headlamps. This sedan features daytime running lights; a long, aluminum hood; a muscular stance; a tapered rear deck and wrap around tail lamps. Bright, dual exhaust tips are standard. Every model is outfitted with 19-inch polished aluminum alloy wheels that are set within summer tires.

Inside, the driver and front passenger are provided with 10-way power adjustable sport bucket seats; a bench seat offers room for three in the rear. Leather seating is standard with the Chevrolet SS.

The Chevrolet SS features an in-dash touch screen that supports the brand’s infotainment and navigation systems. Also included are a nine-speaker, 220-watt Bose sound system, dual zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, leather treatment on the steering wheel and shift knob, remote start, keyless entry, a driver information system and head-up display.

Engine and Transmission

Power for the Chevrolet SS is derived from a 6.2-liter, 16-valve V-8 engine that makes 415 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 415 foot-pounds of torque at 4,600 rpm. This engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with tap shift capabilities.

The SS’ LS3 engine has a 10.7-to-1 compression ratio and measures 4.06 inches bore by 3.62 inches stroke. Premium grade gasoline is recommended, but it is not required.

See Also — Refreshed and Reinvigorated: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Performance and Handling

The Chevrolet SS travels from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds. It features a sport-tuned chassis with MacPherson strut front and multiline rear suspension. It comes with a sport-tuned electronic power steering system, front Brembo brakes, high-performance Bridgestone tires and forged aluminum wheels.

Like the BMW 5-Series, one of its competitors, the Chevrolet SS claims a near even 50/50 weight distribution. Other competitors include the Ford Taurus SHO and the Dodge Charger.

Chevrolet SS Specifications

Built in Elizabeth, South Australia, the 2014 Chevrolet SS sits on a 114.8-inch wheelbase and is 195.5 inches long by 74.7 inches wide by 57.9 inches tall. This vehicle weighs from 3,975 pounds and has a front track of 62.6 inches and a rear track of 62.4 inches.

Headroom measures 38.7 inches up front and 37.5 inches in the rear. Legroom comes in at 42.3 inches in the first row to 39.7 inches in the second row. Shoulder room measures 59.1 inches up front to 59 inches in the back. Hip room is 57.2 inches in the first row and 58 inches in the second row.

See Also — SEMA Shock Yellow Chevy Camaro Dazzles

Safety Features and Warranties

Numerous safety features are included with the Chevrolet SS. This sedan comes with forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert, lane departure warning, traction control, stability control and eight airbags. A rear vision camera displays its picture on the front center stack’s screen. OnStar, GM’s road assistance and security system, is included.

This sedan also makes use of electronic brake-force distribution to optimize control of the rear brake pressure across all road surfaces and while operating under all vehicle loading conditions. In addition, it is supplemented by electronic brake assist to sense how hard and fast a driver hits the brake pedal, responding by providing extra braking assistance, as needed.

Every Chevrolet SS model is covered by a three-year or 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. The powertrain is covered for five years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. A rust protection warranty is for six years or 100,000 miles.

See Also — Out of the Gate: 2014 Chevrolet SS

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

GM to Slash Jobs at its Holden Subsidiary

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Europe is not the only market giving GM financial fits with its Opel and Vauxhall operations facing job cuts and plant closings. GM’s Holden subsidiary, an Australian entity with a manufacturing plant in Elizabeth, South Australia, and an engine plant in Port Melbourne, Victoria, are also facing cut backs with the company announcing on Monday the elimination of nearly 500 positions effective later this year.

Chevrolet SS from Holden.

The Chevrolet SS is an Australian import.

Holden in North America

Holden might otherwise be invisible to the North American consumer had GM not begun importing select vehicles and selling those as Pontiac models. The Holden Monaro was sold as the Pontiac GTO from 2004 to 2006, while the Holden Commodore was sold as the Pontiac G8 for the 2008 and 2009 model years. Later, after Pontiac was shut down, the Commodore was sold as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV.

Beginning this year an all-new VF Commodore will be sold in the United States as the Chevrolet SS. That model was introduced at the Daytona 500 NASCAR race this February. Canada consumers, however, will not get the Chevrolet SS.

Small Car Demand

Despite interest in its larger cars, Holden has found that demand for its volume Cruze small car has fallen. The company also blames a high Australian dollar and “one of the most open and competitive markets in the world,” for planned production cuts that are expected to be finalized by August. Those cuts will slow down car production from 400 units per day to 335, as part of its effort to realign Holden production with current and future demand.

As a result, some 400 jobs will be eliminated at the Elizabeth manufacturing plant and 100 jobs will disappear in Victoria. The company plans to offer Voluntary Separation Packages in a bid to reduce its workforce.

A Challenging Environment

On Monday, Mike Devereux, Chairman and Managing Director, General Motors Holden Ltd., explained that the company had been working aggressively these past 12 months “to address our challenges” by bringing new products to the market and by reducing prices. Said Devereux, “… to protect the long-term future of Holden we have been forced to take these actions and this restructure will better align Holden with projected future volume and workload.”

Devereaux also noted that the Australian automotive industry is heavily trade exposed as low tariffs and a high Australian dollar have made it difficult for Holden to compete against cheap imports. To remain competitive the company has slashed Holden Cruze prices by up to $2,500, but a sharp drop in sales during winter 2012 have not recovered.

The Future of Holden

GM is clearly concerned that its ability to compete in Australia has been diminished. Today, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the political sparring now taking place in Australia in light of approximately $2 billion given to Holden over the past decade. Another $215 million is also on the table, provided that GM follows through on a promised $1 billion investment to release a new Commodore in 2017.

The Australian automotive industry and related industries employ approximately 250,000 people and is considered “an integral part of the Australian economy.” Under the national government’s “new car plan,” Australia is investing $5.4 billion to support an industry that is clearly under siege. That investment, however, may not save Holden from the policies of central banks that are impacting the Australian dollar.

See Also — GM Affirms Opel; Commits Billions to its German Subsidiary

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

Australian Built Chevy Caprice Cop Car Rolls Out

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Hot Holden model dons a Chevrolet dress.

Police departments have a new vehicle choice in crime fighting.

 

At first glance, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV looks a lot like the Impala, particularly from the rear. When dressed in its unadorned detective version, the Caprice resembles the Pontiac G8, itself an American cousin to the Australian built Holden Commodore.

On the Market

The 2012 Chevy Caprice PPV is now on the market, but is available only to governmental units, such as law enforcement departments, unless you happened to be one of the few customers who discovered a Gaithersburg, Md., Chevrolet dealership advertising 13 of these vehicles to the general public. The Caprice began its quiet arrival in Chevy showrooms this past May and Criswell Chevrolet discovered in its contract with GM that it wasn’t barred from selling the car to consumers. Website Jalopnik outed the dealership and GM promptly ordered Criswell to halt sales according to Automotive News. GM lawyers immediately amended its dealer agreements to ensure future sales were for government entities.

That restriction is, of course, a source of disappointment for fans of the rear-wheel-drive Holden model powered by a 6.0-liter V-8 engine. This car first appeared in the United States in 2008 as the Pontiac G8, but was soon pulled when GM decided to shut down Pontiac following its bankruptcy and restructuring. G8 owners quickly found themselves with an orphaned model, one that has been favorably compared with BMW’s 5 Series for its size, handling and performance, but without the BMW price.

Chevrolet Police Pursuit

Within months after canceling the Pontiac G8, GM decided to bring the Holden model back to the United States, but this time strictly as a pursuit vehicle. Chevrolet already had the front-wheel-drive Impala, but as law enforcement personnel will tell you rear-wheel-drive is the preferred choice.

Competitors Ford and Dodge have competing models, with Ford planning to end production of the big Crown Victoria at the end of this year, replacing this vehicle with an all-wheel-drive Ford Taurus. The Dodge Charger, powered by its rear wheels, has become an increasingly visible presence on America’s highways and byways. All three models will help offset the upcoming Carbon Motors E7, a built for the ground up police car that will be built in Indiana and is expected to go on sale in 2013.

Hot in Georgia

One of the first deliveries of the Chevy Caprice PPV was the Forsyth County (Ga.) sheriff’s department, which began to deploy its fleet in May. The 355 horsepower Caprice is a welcome addition and will begin to replace the department’s entire 175 units of pursuit vehicles in its entirety.

Besides raw power, the appeal of the Caprice is its class leading interior room and sculptured front seats, designed to permit officers to wear a gun belt while sitting. Numerous safety features are standard including stability control and a front seat only head curtain airbag, the latter which permits installation of a full-width prisoner partition separating the front and rear seats.

Further Reading

Chevy Caprice PPV Wins Smackdown

GM to Slash Jobs at its Holden Subsidiary

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