What's The Best Place For Your Teen To Learn How...

Reuss: SS Badge Safe At Chevrolet Under My Watch

 
1,703 views Nov 20, 2009
Follow Nelson

Chevrolet and SS logos on a 2010 Camaro grille

HI-RES GALLERY: Chevrolet and SS logos on a 2010 Camaro grille

We've seen the Cobalt SS and Impala SS chopped from the 2010 lineup, and even heard rumors about a possible Volt SS--anathema! or not? discuss--but Mark Reuss, GM vice-president of global engineering, says the badge won't be going extinct as long as he has a say.

The loss of the Impala SS may not be much cause for worry, but the Cobalt SS was, by nearly all measures, an excellent little coupe/sedan. Features like no-lift-shifting and launch control made for some serious fun in a straight line, and it had the ability to hug an apex as well.

In fact, aside from the 2010 Camaro SS, there's not much going on in the Super Sport sector at Chevy these days. Trailblazers, Silverados, HHRs...none are really what you'd call a traditional performance vehicle.

But Reuss says the SS badge will continue forward even in the face of tough new fuel economy regulations. For a hint at where the brand is headed, Reuss tells us to look to its history. Looking to the past means legendary name plates like Chevelle, Monte Carlo and Impala. With only the Impala due for a continued presence in the Chevrolet lineup, it looks like that's the obvious choice.

Given that the Impala is destined to remain front-wheel drive, however, one has to question the "true" SS nature of such a car. Perhaps Reuss was intending us to look toward GM's SS heritage not in terms of individual brands, but in terms of philosophy: a range of potent cars from affordable to extravagant--but always, always, cars. Not SUVs or pickups.

Ruess previously headed up GM's Holden operations in Australia, and he was part of the push behind the Zeta platform that underpins the Camaro and the Pontiac G8. To keep rear-drive relevant in the greener future, however, Reuss acknowledges that the cars will have to make sense both in terms of performance and in terms of ecology.

[Auto News - sub. req.]





Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!

More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.