What was the original name of the Chevy SS?

The Chevy SS originated as the Holden Commodore VF SS, a badge-engineered performance sedan produced by GM's Australian arm Holden and later sold in the United States under Chevrolet.

To understand the question in more detail: the U.S.-market Chevy SS was not built from the ground up as a Chevy from the start. It was developed from the Australian Holden Commodore VF SS platform, and Chevrolet chose to market the car in the U.S. under its own Chevrolet badge. In its home market, the vehicle carried the Holden Commodore VF SS name, with SS signifying a sport-oriented variant in Holden’s lineup.

Origins and Branding

The Chevrolet SS that arrived in the United States was, in essence, a rebadged Holden Commodore VF SS. The original name in Australia was Holden Commodore VF SS, part of Holden’s Commodore family, with the SS trim denoting a sportier specification.

The original name in its home market

In Australia, the car was officially titled the Holden Commodore VF SS. When adapted for the U.S. market, Chevrolet retained the SS badge but marketed it as Chevrolet SS instead of Holden Commodore.

Here are key facts about the naming and branding relationship between the two cars:

• The Chevy SS is a badge-engineered version of the Holden Commodore VF SS.


• Produced by Holden in Australia for export to the United States.


• Sold in the U.S. as Chevrolet SS from 2014 to 2017.


• The original home-market name of the car was Holden Commodore VF SS.


• The "SS" designation denotes a sport-oriented variant in both brands, retained across the badge engineering.

These points illustrate that the original name of the model that became the Chevy SS was Holden Commodore VF SS, and Chevrolet’s version was the U.S.-market badge-engineered adaptation.

Timeline and Key Milestones

The following timeline highlights how the original Holden VF SS became the Chevrolet SS for the U.S. market and its eventual discontinuation:

1. 2013: GM unveils the concept of a US-market performance sedan derived from the Holden Commodore VF platform, signaling the development of what would become the Chevy SS.


2. 2014: Chevrolet officially launches the Chevy SS in the United States, using the Holden Commodore VF SS as its basis.


3. 2017: GM discontinues the Chevy SS in the U.S., ending the domestic sale of the badge-engineered Commodore variant.

The timeline shows the path from Holden’s VF SS basis in Australia to Chevrolet’s U.S. badge, and its eventual phase-out.

Context and Legacy

The Chevy SS represents a broader era of cross-bez-brand collaboration within GM, where international models were adapted for U.S. markets. While the car carried a Chevrolet badge, its engineering and origins lie with Holden’s Commodore VF SS lineup, underscoring how regional platforms can cross political and branding boundaries in the global automotive landscape.

Summary

The original name of the Chevy SS was Holden Commodore VF SS. Chevrolet’s U.S. version was a badge-engineered adaptation of Holden’s performance sedan, produced for export from Australia and sold in the United States from 2014 to 2017 before the model was discontinued.

Is a Holden Commodore the same as a Chevy SS?

Yes, the Chevy SS is a rebadged Holden Commodore. The Chevrolet SS was the U.S. version of the Australian-built Holden Commodore, specifically the VF generation. It was sold in the United States between 2013 and 2017 and was designed to replace the Pontiac G8.
 

• Shared platform: The Chevy SS was built on the same platform as the Holden Commodore. 
• Manufacturing: The car was designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia as the Commodore and then exported to the U.S. as the Chevy SS. 
• Mechanicals: Both cars were rear-wheel-drive and featured a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine in their performance variants. 
• Design: While they were essentially the same car underneath, the Chevy SS version was created specifically for the American market, replacing the discontinued Pontiac G8. 

What's another name for the Chevy SS?

The 2013 to 2017 Holden Commodore was an executive car produced by the GM Australia marque Holden. This model year range was the last generation of the Commodore and was imported to the USA under the nameplate of the Chevy SS. Previously, the Commodore was briefly imported to the USA under the Pontiac G8 nameplate.

What is the real name of the Chevy SS?

The Chevy SS is a rebadged version of the Australian Holden Commodore. The full name is the Chevrolet SS, and the SS badge stands for Super Sport. 
You can watch this video to learn about the Holden Commodore's role as the base for the Chevy SS: 59ssavagegeeseYouTube · Sep 11, 2020

• Holden Commodore: The car was manufactured by Holden, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, and imported to the United States as the Chevy SS. 
• Super Sport: The "SS" designation is a performance trim name historically used by Chevrolet for vehicles like the Camaro and Impala, but for this sedan, it was the full model name. 

This video provides an in-depth review of the Chevy SS, highlighting its performance and features: 58sAutomotive Anonymous YouTube · Jul 2, 2025

What was the first Chevy SS?

1961 Impala
The SS package was first made available for the 1961 Impala.