2014 Chevrolet SS Priced at $44,470

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by 05stram

Just glad I do not have inflation like that around where I live. You have experienced a 10% inflation jump in four years

There is much more than inflation that causes price increases in cars. For one Increased production costs ( Labor ), increases in standard equipment, increased supplier costs (parts), changes in government regulations, new model designs.... All can effect cost of a new car. It's not unusual for some cars to go up in price every year $400 or $500 dollars.
Usually base models increas the least and the upper models increase the most.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by 05stram

Just glad I do not have inflation like that around where I live. You have experienced a 10% inflation jump in four years

10% over 4 years is only an inflation rate slightly less than 2.5% per year (after you figure in compounding). That might be a touch higher than whats been happening lately due to the slow economy, but its actually a bit lower than what has been the average over the last 25 years (about 2.75% per year)

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com...flation-rates/

the site also has a calculator where you can enter the a dollar amount, the 'old year' and the 'new year' and see what inflation would do to the price. Using that, an item costing 39,995 in 2009 would cost $43,349.53 today based solely on inflation. That doesn't take into account commodities prices or exchange rates (the Australian dollar is worth much more now than it was 4 years ago) or all the other things that Angrybird mentioned but it does cover 75% of the price increase all by itself.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by oklapike

First off, this car would be comparable to a G8 GXP, not a G8 GT. Also, after adjusting for inflation, the GXP's starting price ($39,995 in 2009) would now be $43,349. Considering this car is basically a 'second gen' G8 GXP, a price increase of about $1100 dollars is pretty damn reasonable.

Is GM really trying to sell on the notion that the engine in the GXP cost $8K more than the one in the GT?

The people buying these cars have seen no wage inflation since then (at least the ones lucky enough to not have gotten a cut). If the car companies keep down the road their on, they are going to find out what happens if they price their cars beyond the ability of their customers to buy them.

[2012-2SS]

If they still made the G8 I'd be driving that instead of my Camaro. So I was excited to hear about the Chevy SS but then severely disappointed to learn that its only an auto trans and fully loaded. I will gladly keep my Camaro.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

Is GM really trying to sell on the notion that the engine in the GXP cost $8K more than the one in the GT?

The people buying these cars have seen no wage inflation since then (at least the ones lucky enough to not have gotten a cut). If the car companies keep down the road their on, they are going to find out what happens if they price their cars beyond the ability of their customers to buy them.

They are already well aware of what happens when people can't afford to buy their cars. It caused a 40% drop in auto sales & sent 2 major automakers into bankruptcy.

And you can't really expect companies to just eat increasing costs & hppe things to turn out well.

[King T]

2014 Chevrolet SS-The Car Connection

The timing seems a bit odd--for General Motors to bring back the rear-wheel-drive V-8 performance sedan this year, just as automakers are rejiggering their powertrain lineups, more carefully than ever, to meet tighter upcoming federal requirements. Yet after 17 years without a rear-drive V-8 sedan, Chevy dealerships are getting exactly that, later this year.

But the truth is that the new 2014 Chevy SS is going to be a relatively limited-volume offering--more of a sedan mate to the Camaro, and a spicier alternative to mainstream sedans like the Malibu and Impala.

If you squint just a bit and feel like you've seen this car before--at least from the outside--you wouldn't be too far off. The SS is essentially a reworked version of the latest VF Commodore SS (the flagship muscle sedan from GM's Austrailian division, Holden), which in its previous generation version made it Stateside as the Pontiac G8. And it's essentially a refined, more aggressively styled iteration of the Chevrolet Caprice PPV that's been sold for police fleets.

With staggered wheels, a low, wedgy shape, and a tapered, teardrop-like greenhouse, the new SS looks both muscle-car-like and sleek, while the big bow-tie grille calls it out as a Chevrolet. Inside, the SS has more of a cockpit-like layout than other current models from the Chevy stable (with ice-blue lighting).

The 2014 SS will be powered by a 415-horsepower, 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 (yes, that's the Camaro's engine), with a six-speed automatic transmission (no manual) helping deliver power to the rear wheels. Acceleration times to 60 mph will take just five seconds, or a bit less. Steering-wheel shift paddles will be included, and strong Brembo brakes will be standard. Expect balanced, top-notch handling and vehicle dynamics, thanks to a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, a multi-link rear suspension, and an effort to keep the center of mass low. Forged aluminum wheels with Z-rated tires also call out some serious performance intent.

Based on what we know about the SS and its heritage, expect a rather firm, performance-car ride that's just compliant enough provided the pavement isn't too rough. Hydraulically damped bushings for the suspension, and rubber isolation in back, should help keep the cabin relatively quiet from road noise, however. Very aggressively bolstered sport seats look set up to hold you in place on the track of your choice (or just while you're doing burnouts). Back seat space was surprisingly ample with the G8, and we expect that to carry over here.

The SS will be loaded with active-safety features, including standard forward collision alert, lane departure warning, side blind-zone alert, and rear cross traffic alert, and a rear vision camera. There are also eight standard airbags, including knee bags for the driver and front passenger.

Feature-wise, the SS will also be the first Chevrolet to feature Automatic Parking Assist, which will help steer you into a parking spot. Leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated-and-ventilated front seats, keyless access, push-button start, remote start, a head-up display, and 220-watt Bose audio are all included. So is Chevrolet MyLink, which has an eight-inch color touch screen and can help manage hands-free conversations, media, and infotainment apps through a connected smartphone.

The SS will reach dealerships later this fall, and while it does have an entry price ($44,470), Chevrolet hasn't revealed all SS details yet. Check back soon for more information on features, fuel economy, and performance, as well as, eventually, firsthand impressions on what this new super-sedan is like to drive.

[Vroom_vroom]

.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

They are already well aware of what happens when people can't afford to buy their cars. It caused a 40% drop in auto sales & sent 2 major automakers into bankruptcy.

And you can't really expect companies to just eat increasing costs & hppe things to turn out well.

But at the same time, they can only fall back on sub-prime financing and extending the payments out for 84 months and beyond (and lets be honest, that's been one of the strongest drivers of the recent rise in sales) so much before they end up eating it all in the end anyway if people start defaulting on payments and they get back underwater cars, or people are simply forced to put off buying the next one because their trade is underwater.

All I'm saying is the automakers are on a knife edge right now between building up sales and revenue through special financing now and setting themselves up for another bust at a future date. I fully admit that the rising costs have a lot to do with things they cannot control, but they need to be very careful in formulating their strategy and risk management for dealing with it, and positioning themselves to be able to cope themselves and not have to fall back on the taxpayer again should anything go wrong. I don't think $45K+ Chevrolet sedans is the most affective way of going about that.

[King T]

Chevy Takes Another Swing at Performance Sedans

Chevrolet has long used SS badging to highlight its most enticing performance cars. In recent years, the SS stable has been a bit bare, however, with only the muscle-bound Camaro getting the fabled designation. Now comes something a bit different: The 2014 Chevrolet SS.

Rather than soup-up large cars like the Impala or Malibu, Chevy went with a standalone product. The SS is based on a rear-wheel-drive platform sourced from the General Motors GM Australian arm, Holden, and it packs a 6.2-liter, 415-hp V-8 under the hood. Revealed ahead of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in February in part to highlight its performance prowess, the SS begins arriving in showrooms late this year.

Chevy hasn’t said exactly how many units of the SS it will make, but it did announce in June that pricing will start at $44,470, including destination charges. It will take aim at a range of performance sedans, including the Dodge Charger R/T, Ford Taurus SHO and even stretch as a value alternative to BMW’s 5-series.

In a statement, Chevy marketing boss Chris Perry said: “The all-new SS is engineered for performance enthusiasts who’ve been clamoring for a rear-wheel-drive sedan.”

That was a significant hole for Bow-Tie enthusiasts, who haven’t had the option of a rear-wheel sedan since 1996, when the Caprice-based Impala SS went out of production. Like that sedan, the new SS will use a Corvette V-8 engine and hopes to lure performance-oriented drivers–who want something larger than the two-door Camaro and Corvette–to Chevy.

The SS will include standard items like Brembo front brakes and aluminum wheels as standard. The car will have two options: a power sunroof ($900) and a full-sized spare tire ($500).

It can sprint to 60 mph in less than five seconds, Chevy claims.

While the SS is indeed a potent offering that plays right to the hard-core enthusiast base, it does have a couple of caveats: it will be subject to the gas-guzzler tax, and it will not come with a manual transmission–just the six-speed automatic–albeit with paddle shifters.

[King T]

Nice vid showing the SS in motion and its ties to Holden

[Stew]

So, they are aiming at the Charger R/T with SRT pricing? I always love GMs targets for their cars.

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

But at the same time, they can only fall back on sub-prime financing and extending the payments out for 84 months and beyond (and lets be honest, that's been one of the strongest drivers of the recent rise in sales) so much before they end up eating it all in the end anyway if people start defaulting on payments and they get back underwater cars, or people are simply forced to put off buying the next one because their trade is underwater.

All I'm saying is the automakers are on a knife edge right now between building up sales and revenue through special financing now and setting themselves up for another bust at a future date. I fully admit that the rising costs have a lot to do with things they cannot control, but they need to be very careful in formulating their strategy and risk management for dealing with it, and positioning themselves to be able to cope themselves and not have to fall back on the taxpayer again should anything go wrong. I don't think $45K+ Chevrolet sedans is the most affective way of going about that.

+1. I think it goes without saying that if you need to take out a 72 or 84 month loan to buy the car, you cannot afford it. Also, the fact that used car prices are through the roof also shows that new car prices are too high...

That said, I think this SS is a one year offering until Chevy develops a RWD V8 offering on the new platform starting at something like $35K or whatever won't cut into the bulk of Impala sales. The size of the market depends on the price: at $45K, it's nonexistent. At $35K, I think it's a lot bigger.

[HeavyIOM]

^ +1 at 35K id probably already order one just because i need a 4 door and would rather try a Chevy V8 then a Hemi

[simon.w]

Originally Posted by King T

It would have been better if they had said "4 Door Camaro" (which it is) but that doesn't have the same pop as saying "4 Door Corvette".

Plus the saying is just what was used to describe the G8 GXP, so since this is updated GXP, I guess the same saying goes

A 2010 article from Motor Trend:

The Four-Door Corvette


From "The Examiner"
Pontiac G8 GXP review: Hot-performing '4-door Corvette' racing into oblivion


[/I]

From Car And Driver

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP.
Pontiac launches its four-door Corvette.

Would have made more sense calling the Camaro a 2-door Commodore ... 'cos that's basically what it is. We had the VE (Yes I'm an Aussie) for several years before the camaro got off the ground. And in fact the first camaro test vehicles that I saw were shortened VE's with the back door welded up.

.... Although ... we called our 2 door Commodore a "Monaro" ... you guys know it as a GTO!

They should bring the full range over ... There are several models from the entry level Evoke, the 6cyl sport model SV6, the Calais luxury model, and the SS and SSV ... and they are available in sedan, station wagon, and the ute (ElCamino) ... plus there's the luxury long wheel base Caprice.

Then you have all of the Holden Special Vehicle (HSV) derivatives as well in sedan, ute, wagon, long wheel base ... Clubsport, Clubsport R8, Maloo, Senator and GTS.

It's a great car ... and what's even better is that using the platform for the camaro and selling the commodore overseas (US and the Middle East) has extended the life of Holden manufacturing vehicles in Australia until 2022.

That is great news considering Ford Australia announced a couple of weeks ago they were closing down local production after 50 years of building "Falcons". Sad news. They're going to try and force the Taurus onto the Australians ... which will work as well as the last time they tried it. Aussies like big rear wheel drive cars.

This was my SSV before I moved over here 3 years ago ... I still think the VE looked a lot tougher than the VF. The back of the new car looks more like something from a Korean manufacturer.