What model is the Chevy SS based on?
The Chevy SS is based on the Holden Commodore VF sedan from Australia, built on GM’s Zeta rear‑wheel‑drive platform. In short, it’s the U.S.-market badge‑engineered version of a Holden sedan.
Foundations of the Chevy SS
Key facts that illustrate what the Chevy SS borrows from the Holden Commodore VF and GM's platform.
- Platform: GM's rear‑wheel‑drive Zeta architecture, shared with the Holden Commodore VF
- Basis: Holden Commodore VF sedan (SS version)
- Drivetrain: 6.2-liter V8 engine, rear‑wheel drive
- Production: Built in Australia by Holden for export to the United States (2014–2017)
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manual shift mode; no manual option for the U.S.-market SS
These elements show how the SS leverages Australian engineering within an American-market package and reflects GM’s use of global platforms for performance models.
Historical context and lineage
The Chevy SS sits in GM’s long-running line of Commodore‑based performance sedans. It follows the pattern set by earlier GM experiments like the Pontiac G8 (introduced in the late 2000s), which also used a Commodore-derived chassis. The SS represented GM’s attempt to offer a high-power, rear‑drive sedan in the United States, but production ceased after the 2017 model year as GM restructured its lineup.
Key connections
GM’s global platforms enabled cross-brand development: the Holden VF Commodore, the Pontiac G8, and the Chevrolet SS share essential underpinnings, with regional tuning and branding shaping each market’s interpretation of the same underlying engineering.
Ultimately, the Chevrolet SS is a case study in GM’s strategy to repurpose regional architectures for U.S. enthusiasts while maintaining a distinct Chevrolet identity.
Summary
The Chevrolet SS is based on the Holden Commodore VF sedan, built on GM’s Zeta rear‑wheel‑drive platform. It was produced for the U.S. market from 2014 to 2017 as a badge-engineered performance sedan derived from Australian engineering, illustrating GM’s global platform-sharing approach and marking a brief chapter in Chevrolet’s performance lineup.
What is the Chevy SS based on?
The Chevy SS was based on the Australian-made Holden Commodore. It was essentially a rebadged version of the Commodore for the North American market, sharing its platform and design.
- Holden Commodore: The Chevy SS was the U.S. version of the Holden Commodore, specifically the VF generation.
- Rear-wheel drive performance sedan: It was a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive sport sedan manufactured by General Motors' Australian branch, Holden.
- Spiritual successor: The SS is considered the spiritual successor to the Pontiac G8, which was an earlier Holden Commodore sold in the U.S.
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 kind of car is the Chevy SS?
The Chevrolet SS is a performance full-size sedan sold by Chevrolet from 2013 to 2017, as a rebadge of the Holden Commodore exclusive to the United States.
What chassis is the Chevy SS on?
The Holden Commodore / Chevy SS was built on the GM Zeta platform and came in a front-engine, RWD layout.
