That other Chevy sedan

There are two large Chevy sedans which I bet most of you have never sat in. One, the Caprice PPV, you probably don’t want to. It’s a police-exclusive vehicle, not based on any other Chevrolet model sold in North America. The other sedan is the subject of this week’s test drive—the SS. That’s it, just SS. No Impala, Caprice, or other modifier needed, thank you very much.

I came upon this white sedan, one of the very few in the area, at Ki-Po Chevrolet in Ransomville last week. It’s a rather inconspicuous car, especially in Heron White. Pressing the Start button however, changes the whole equation.

Under the hood lurks a 6.2L LS3 small block V-8, rated at 415 hp and 415 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s your choice transmission-wise: a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, take your pick at no extra charge. The automatic comes with a 3.27 rear axle ratio, while the manual is a 3.70; and that rear axle also contains the drive wheels, making the SS one of the very few rear-drive high-performance American sedans available today. Okay, it’s not exactly American, as the SS is built in Australia by GM’s Holden subsidiary. You may vaguely remember a version of this car from a few years ago called the Pontiac G8.

So we know that with the 6.2 that this car will go. Rest assured that it will also stop, as Brembo four-wheel disc brakes are standard equipment. Chevy has installed a couple of electronic braking systems to regulate just how much braking power is needed according to road conditions. A sport-tuned suspension keeps the SS planted on the road, while a variable-assist electric power steering system saves fuel by drawing energy only when the wheels are turned. It’s also calibrated to help reduce driver fatigue.

Being a large sedan, you’d imagine there’s a lot of room inside. And there is. Five will travel in comfort in the SS, whilst their keisters are parked on black leather seating surfaces. The look of the interior is, I feel, the one area in which the SS lets you down. It’s not cheap-looking, but the only color choice is this monochromatic black which to me is just too much black. At least it’s laid-out logically, with the audio and HVAC controls located in the center stack, which is dominated by a touch screen/backup camera/GPS-based nav system setup. Excellent sound is provided by a Bose 220-watt, nine-speaker system, and the temperature controls are a series of knobs and buttons which allow you to make adjustments without taking your eyes off the road.

Speaking of eyes off the road, there’s a nifty adjustable heads-up display of the speedometer projected right in front of you on the lower portion of the windshield. This, plus the Sirius/XM broadcast of “the 40s on Forty” kept my small mind occupied the whole drive.

And what a drive it was. That 6.2L motor really moves the SS along at a good clip. Car and Driver tested the SS at its intro, and reported a zero-to-60 time of 4.5 seconds, and a standing quarter mile run of 111 mph in 12.9 seconds. Not too shabby at all. Our Artvoice test equipment, not quite up to that of C&D, did manage to record a zero-to-55 time of “WOW!” just outside of downtown Ramsomville however.

Pricing on the 2015 SS is quite simple. It starts at $46,740. Choose your color (there are no extra-cost colors), your interior (any color as long as it’s black—no extra charge), check-off the 19” polished wheels (your only choice), and decide if you want to add a sunroof for $900 and a spare tire for $500 (really?). Throw in freight ($995) and, oh yes, a gas guzzler tax of $1,300 (the SS is EPA-rated at 14/21 mpg city/highway. Ugh.), and there you are.

Now, about arranging a ride in the Caprice patrol car...

more info at: chevrolet.com

Read more of Jim Corbran's You Auto Know every other week in Artvoice, and more frequently on Artvoice Daily.