What is the Chevy SS based on?
The Chevy SS is based on the Holden Commodore VF sedan, built by Holden in Australia and sold in the United States as a Chevrolet model. It sits on GM's Zeta platform and uses a 6.2-liter V8, offering a unique bridge between American performance and Australian engineering.
Origins and Platform
Platform and lineage
The Chevrolet SS traces its roots to an Australian-origin performance sedan. It was developed from the Holden Commodore VF and sits on GM's Zeta platform—the same underlying architecture used for several GM rear-wheel-drive cars of that era.
Key elements that tie the SS to its Australian origins and shared engineering include:
- Platform: GM Zeta-based architecture used by the Holden Commodore VF and the Chevrolet SS
- Body/Design: Derived from the Holden Commodore VF sedan, adapted for Chevrolet styling
- Engineering lineage: Shares components with GM's small-block V8 family and the drivetrain family used across Corvette/Camaro lineage
- Production: Assembled in Australia by Holden for export to the United States
- Model positioning: The SS represents a US-market interpretation of an Australian-built performance sedan
Taken together, these elements show how the SS is anchored in the Commodore VF's architecture while wearing Chevrolet styling and branding.
Drivetrain and Performance
Powertrain and dynamics
The following details describe the mechanical heart of the SS and how it aimed to deliver its driving experience in the US market:
- Engine: 6.2-liter V8 LS3, producing around 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic; no manual transmission option was offered
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive with suspension tuned for a balanced, performance-oriented ride on American roads
- Exhaust and feel: Dual exhaust setup contributing to the characteristic V8 soundtrack
These powertrain elements illustrate how the SS merged American V8 performance with the Australian chassis and tuning inherited from the Commodore platform.
Manufacturing and Market Context
Production and distribution
Details about where the car was built, when it was offered, and how it was positioned in Chevrolet’s lineup:
- Production years: Sold in the United States from the 2014 model year through 2017 (overall production spanned 2013–2017)
- Assembly location: Built at Holden's facility in Elizabeth, South Australia, for export to the United States
- Market positioning: A US-market, rear-drive V8 sedan intended to compete with European sport sedans and high-performance peers
These manufacturing and market details emphasize the SS's unique cross-market nature—a Chevrolet badge on an Australian-built Commodore-derived chassis, produced for a limited window in the US market.
Summary
The Chevy SS represents a distinctive GM collaboration: a Holden Commodore VF-based sedan built on the GM Zeta platform, assembled in Australia and sold in the United States, powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 and paired with an automatic transmission. Produced from 2013–2017, it stands as a rare Chevrolet offering that bridged American horsepower with Australian engineering, before the model was discontinued.
Is the Chevy SS an impala?
No, a Chevy SS is a separate model, but an Impala SS is a high-performance version of the Chevrolet Impala. The "SS" stands for "Super Sport," and the Impala SS was a specific trim level available during certain production years, from 1961–1969, 1994–1996, and 2006–2009.
You can watch this video to see a 1996 Impala SS in action: 58sMaple Motors Muscle Cars Nick SouthgateYouTube · Nov 18, 2025
- Impala SS: A performance-oriented trim of the Chevrolet Impala that has been produced at different times.
- Chevy SS: A distinct model that was produced from 2013 to 2017. It was a rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered sedan that was marketed internationally as the Holden Commodore SS.
Why are Chevy SS so rare?
Chevy SS sedans are rare because they were only produced for a short four-year run (2014–2017) with low production numbers, partly due to a lack of marketing and poor sales figures that were only about 3,000 per year. The car was imported from Australia as a Holden Commodore and its production was ultimately limited by the closure of the Holden plant, according to Quora.
You can watch this video to learn more about the Chevy SS's design and why it was considered a sleeper sedan: 31sAutomotive Anonymous YouTube · Jul 2, 2025
- Limited production: The car was only produced for four model years, ending after 2017, which inherently limits the total number of vehicles available.
- Low sales and poor marketing: Despite being a high-performance sedan with a V8 engine, sales were lackluster, partly because Chevrolet did not heavily market the car.
- Imported from Australia: The Chevy SS was an imported Holden Commodore, and its production run was tied to the Australian Holden plant, which GM later shuttered.
- Short lifespan: The vehicle was essentially a stop-gap model to honor a prior deal to import sedans from Holden after the Pontiac G8 was canceled, and there was no plan for a long-term replacement.
What platform is the Chevy SS built on?
The Chevy SS is built on the GM Zeta platform, a rear-wheel-drive architecture that was also used for the Holden Commodore and the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. The platform was stiffened and improved with new, high-strength steel for the SS to create a more controlled drive.
- Platform: GM Zeta platform
- Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
- Shared with: Holden Commodore, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Caprice PPV
- Improvements: The chassis was stiffened for improved performance, using a significant amount of new medium and high-strength steel.
What makes a Chevy an SS?
Super Sport, or SS, is the signature performance option package offered by the Chevrolet division of General Motors on a limited number of its vehicles. All SS models come with distinctive "SS" markings on their exterior. The SS package was first made available for the 1961 Impala.
