More Changes Coming to the Chevy SS

If you’ve been looking for changes to the Chevy SS, you must have been living under a rock for the past few years. The brand has continually rolled out a number of new features to their sedan, including what seemed like a complete exterior overhaul for the 2015 model year. Believe it or not, revisions are coming to the SS once again.

While the initial reports probably only skim the surface of the revisions coming to the vehicle, it’s still worth noting what’s in store. So before you head out to your local Chevy dealer in Ohio, see why you may want to hold off for the 2016 version of your favorite nameplate…

For the second model year in a row, the Chevy SS will be undergoing a design update. Why make alterations when the vehicle is already highly regarded? Henry Payne of DetroitNews.com attributes the changes to the retirement of the Holden Commodore in 2017. Holden vehicles were the basis for the SS, and it would be mighty difficult for the brand to continue independent production. Either way, Payne notes that the revisions will do little to change the vehicle’s “reputation as the market’s stealthiest muscle car.”

Drivers can still appreciate the SS’s resemblance to the Chevy Cruze, and they can still admire the impressive LS3 small-block V8 engine (capable of producing 415 horsepower). However, even the motor will see minor changes, as Payne anticipates the 2016 model to feature Chevy’s “new, dual-mode exhaust system,” technology that should result in a “stealthier, low-RPM purr and a throatier howl at full throttle.”

Among the other changes are the inclusions of vertical ducts (which should assist in improving the vehicle’s front-end aerodynamics), “functional” hood vents, LED lighting (which is particularly important when driving on dark or rainy nights), and eye-catching 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels. To put it over the top, customers can now opt for Chevy’s popular Slipstream Blue paint for the exterior.

“The 2016 SS design changes more fully express the true driving character of the sedan while further enhancing the car’s overall performance,” said Chevy’s Performance Car marketing manager Todd Christensen (via Payne).

We can assume that the ‘Build Your Own Sports Sedan’ feature will still be available on the Chevy website. This function allows a potential customer to choose their own trim, colors, wheels, and optional features. No other car company presents you with these kinds of opportunities.

A new manual transmission (featuring a 6-speed gearbox and 3.7 rear axle) was among the biggest changes to the 2015 model. Other revisions included the company’s Magnetic Ride Control, the high-end suspension system that assists the car by determining the road surface and helping the vehicle adjust. Chevy also added a number of new colors, including Alchemy Purple, Regal Peacock Green, Some Like it Hot Red, Jungle Green Metallic, and Perfect Blue.

The 2015 model ran on a 6.2-liter 16-valve V8 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle was capable of producing 415 horsepower and 415 ft-lbs of torque, and it delivered an estimated fuel economy of 14 miles per gallon city and 21 miles per gallon highway.

The interior will reportedly stay much the same for the 2016 model, which is good news. The SS already included leather heated passenger seats, a rearview camera, destination guidance (with Turn-by-Turn Navigation), and even a concierge system. There is also dual zone climate controls, an air filtration system, and illuminating vanity mirrors.

Of course, there are also a variety of entertainment features, led by nine Bose premium brand speakers. You’ll receive a 12-month subscription to satellite radio, and Chevy has even designed a speed-sensitive volume control, meaning you won’t have to touch the dial when you’re zooming on the highway. The SS will presumably include Chevy’s MyLink system, which features Bluetooth, Sirius XM Radio, HD Radio, and Pandora Radio.

Finally, there is a variety of safety features. There are plenty of functions that you’d expect from a 2015 model (like four-wheel antilock brakes, an anti-theft alarm system, child safety locks, and an engine immobilizer), but there’s also plenty of innovative safety technology, as well. This includes stability control (assuring that your car won’t be swerving all over the road), traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, a post-collision safety system (which is essential for delivering emergency response teams), auto-park assist (which greatly reduces the difficulty of paralleling parking), a blind-spot monitoring system (which serves as a second eye), a lane departure warning (a system that will warn you of any drivers who may have snuck into your blindspot), and a stolen vehicle tracking device (although we hope that that would never have to be utilized).

The 2015 model was commended by Edmunds.com for the performance of the V8 engine. The website also appreciated the car’s braking system, “remarkably capable handling,” and the roomy and luxurious interior. Furthermore, the website was shocked at the reasonable price tag, especially considering all the features Chevy took from the (significantly) pricier Corvette.

The SS made its United States debut in early 2013 during Speedweeks in Dayton Beach, Florida, and it was marketed as a rebranded VF Commodore. Placed between the Malibu and Impala in Chevy’s lineup, the vehicle was intended to replace the discontinued Pontiac G8, which exited the market in 2010. Furthermore, it was Chevy’s first rear-wheel drive V8 sedan in almost twenty years, as the company hadn’t produced such a vehicle since the Chevy Caprice and Impala SS. Predictably, this made the SS an instant hit, and the SS has continued to see solid sales.

The brand took bits and pieces from some of their other vehicles, particular the Corvette. The SS included a similar 6.2-liter V8 engine, and while the car was initially only available as a six-speed automatic, the vehicle could be shifted manually via paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The retirement of the Commodore could be a clue that the 2016 SS may be the final version of the nameplate. The muscle car was based off Holden’s vehicles, and the lack of a reference point could ultimately doom the SS. A lot will depend of the sales of the 2016 model, and it’s clear that the brand is doing everything in their power to make the vehicle as impressive as possible.

As Payne notes, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat could be the only sedan in the market that competes with the SS’s performance specs. Still, Chevy’s vehicle will feature the innovative “.97 G-load skid-pad performance,” as well as the luxurious, top-of-the-line interior (which we touched on earlier).

What did we tell you? Chevy has clearly dedicated plenty of time and effort to assuring that their SS is one of the most innovative vehicles on the market. Furthermore, the changes may be their last opportunity to prove that the vehicle deserves to stay on the market. We’re obviously all hopeful that the vehicle sticks around, and the 2016 model’s sales will certainly go a long way.

While you await the release of next year’s model, head down to your local Chevy dealer, including McCluskey Chevrolet in Cincinnati, Ohio. The helpful staff will find the perfect car for you (maybe a 2015 SS), and you could be driving off the lot in your new ride in no time!