What is the Chevy SS based off of?
The Chevy SS is based on the Holden Commodore VF sedan from Australia, built on GM's rear‑wheel‑drive Zeta platform. In practical terms, it was GM’s U.S. market interpretation of Holden’s performance sedan, produced from 2013 to 2017.
Origins and platform
Understanding what the Chevy SS is grounded in helps clarify its place in GM’s global lineup. The car was conceived as a performance four‑door, designed to deliver V8 power with a sport‑focused chassis, while leveraging an existing Australian model rather than designing a new US‑only sedan from scratch.
Shared architecture
The Chevrolet SS uses the same fundamental underpinnings as the Holden Commodore VF (and its G8 predecessor in spirit), adopting GM’s Zeta platform that underpinned several rear‑wheel‑drive sedans and sports cars of that era. This shared architecture meant similarities in wheelbase, suspension layout, and overall balance between the two vehicles.
Production history
Produced for the US market from 2013 through 2017, the SS was assembled for export from Australia by Holden, and it represented GM’s effort to offer a rear‑drive V8 sedan in the United States using an established Australian model as its base.
Technical profile
The Chevrolet SS is powered by a 6.2‑liter V8 shared with other GM performance models of the era and paired with a six‑speed automatic transmission. It is rear‑wheel drive and features tuning intended to deliver a more focused, driver‑centric experience than typical mainstream sedans.
What this means in practice
In essence, “based off of” refers to the broader engineering lineage: the SS inherits the Holden Commodore VF’s chassis and drivetrain fundamentals, while wearing Chevrolet styling, trim, and tuning that were adapted for the US market.
Market placement and legacy
The Chevy SS occupied a niche as GM’s modern, V8‑powered, rear‑drive family sedan in the United States, competing with performance sedans from other brands. Its production ended in 2017, after which GM did not revive a direct, similarly configured V8 rear‑drive sedan for the US market. The car remains a notable link in the GM global platform strategy, exemplifying how an Australian model served as a foundation for a US‑market Chevrolet product.
Relation to Holden Commodore VF
The key relationship is straightforward: the Chevy SS is the US manifestation of the Holden Commodore VF sedan. It shares the same essential platform, mechanicals, and intended driving dynamics, with Chevrolet adapting the exterior styling, interior, and market positioning for American buyers.
Summary: The Chevy SS is based off the Holden Commodore VF, using GM’s Zeta platform and a shared V8 drivetrain, repackaged for the US market as a four‑door, rear‑wheel‑drive performance sedan sold from 2013 to 2017. Its lineage traces back to the Pontiac G8 and the broader Holden/GM performance family, illustrating GM’s use of global platforms to furnish specialized vehicles for different markets.
