So for those of you in the Detroit area you should be familiar with the GM Technical Center. I was driving past the tech center this afternoon on the way home from work on 13 Mile Road when two 2014 Stingrays, one Caprice PPV and one black Chevy SS all with manufacturers plates drove by. The exhaust note that the SS sounded great and at the next stop light which was Dequindre, I was able to get these photos! Can't wait.
Black SS on the streets of Detroit!!!
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Based on your side view mirror, I see you're a g8 owners, so what do you think after seeing this bad boy in person?
Yes, I am a happy G8 GT owner and will look to trade sometime in early 2015 based on when the weather in Michigan breaks from Winter to Spring.
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154 Posts
Seeing those pics makes me think of this song.
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Yup. There are only two ways you can drive a LHD in Australia:
1. Buy an historic car from overseas - older than 20 years old (I think).
2. Be an auto manufacturer and whack a dirty great 'LEFT HAND DRIVE' sticker across the back. The SS above has it on the back window, this preproduction G8 a photographed a few years back has it on the bumper.
1. Buy an historic car from overseas - older than 20 years old (I think).
2. Be an auto manufacturer and whack a dirty great 'LEFT HAND DRIVE' sticker across the back. The SS above has it on the back window, this preproduction G8 a photographed a few years back has it on the bumper.
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310 Posts
I see. I have only been to three RHD countries: in South Africa I haven't seen any LHD cars, in Dominica they must have a "Left Hand Drive" sticker on the back (although nowhere as big as these) and in Guyana (especially near the Brazilian border) it's a total mess and you have both types driving everywhere.
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397 Posts
Thank you sir for taking those pictures! Only in detroit will you see something like this before any of the other states. I guess it came from GM headquarters or one of the flagship dealerships in the area?
Even possible it's one of those vehicles they take around to dealerships to give them a first look?
I found a cars guide story about mark wanting a black SS for his company car, will add a link when i'am at home, adding a link with a phone sucks,
the story is about how involved chev was in the tech for VF, this car could be a preproduction build, it takes too many weeks aus to us by ship for a line built car to be in the us so soon, or it grew some expensive wings.
the story is about how involved chev was in the tech for VF, this car could be a preproduction build, it takes too many weeks aus to us by ship for a line built car to be in the us so soon, or it grew some expensive wings.
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Your right It would be a pre production pilot build most likely. To fly a car from Aus to NA would be in the order of 60 to 70k. HSV stated they want to take the GTS to the Green H E L L (I can't believe this censors that word.... Wow) aka Nurburgring but cant afford the 70k plus a car intended for sale to be out of action for the time required. So they will wait untill orders settle down and have spare time to do the trip.
found it, this story is about how chev bankrolled the VF
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
Image 1 of 1
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
Advanced VF Commodore technologies paid for by Chevrolet as part of former Holden chief’s grand NASCAR plan
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The man behind Holden’s latest US export, the Chevrolet SS, says the all-American bowtie brand bankrolled many of the new technologies fitted to the vehicle upon which it’s based, the VF Commodore.
Due on sale in May, the facelifted Commodore will bring a range of new advanced technologies, including aluminium bonnet and boot panels that were developed with the aid of a $39.8 million federal grant from the now-defunct Green Car Innovation Fund.
However, GM North America President Mark Reuss, a previous GM Holden Managing Director who championed the Chevy SS export program, has revealed that Chevrolet paid for the lion’s share of the rest of the ground-breaking technologies in the VF Commodore and Chevy SS.
They include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a reversing camera, colour head-up display, push-button starting, electric power steering and, in a first for Chevrolet and Holden, an automated parking function that will be standard in all VF Commodores.
“Everything in this car was paid for by Chevrolet,” said Mr Reuss at the Chevy SS reveal in Daytona on the weekend. “When we did VF and decided Chevrolet would be part of it, everything was a co-investment.
“A lot of this technology was developed in the US – we went both ways to get better technology for both brands.”
Mr Reuss said the VF Commodore export deal was among his top priorities upon taking the top job at GM North America in 2009, with a plan to take the Commodore NASCAR racing hatched within days of taking up his new role.
He said NASCAR and its “halo effect” for the Chevrolet brand were a key part of the deal – in addition to incremental sales of the Chevy SS – but admitted it was a gamble.
“It was a leap of faith. It was a bet that we could get this car homologated for NASCAR. We wouldn’t have had the SS if we couldn’t race it. It was all part of a plan to put race cars into showrooms.
“It’s very important for us to have a rear-wheel drive car that’s recognisable in showrooms. The Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry are front-wheel drive – nobody else does this,” said Mr Reuss, who will take delivery of a black Chevy SS company car as soon as he can get his hands on one.
“The NASCAR thing was the whole way to get VF into the US. The NASCAR link is crucial for the sport and the brand. NASCAR is a core part of the program. Why are we doing it for 5000 cars if there’s no other benefit?”
An estimated 70 million US fans will watch the VF Commodore contest the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opener at Daytona next weekend at the hands of some of the biggest names in American stock car racing, including Jeff Gordon and Danica Patrick, ranking the sport second only to the National Football League in terms of scale and reach.
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
Image 1 of 1
GM: Chevrolet bankrolled VF Commodore tech
Advanced VF Commodore technologies paid for by Chevrolet as part of former Holden chief’s grand NASCAR plan
The man behind Holden’s latest US export, the Chevrolet SS, says the all-American bowtie brand bankrolled many of the new technologies fitted to the vehicle upon which it’s based, the VF Commodore.
Due on sale in May, the facelifted Commodore will bring a range of new advanced technologies, including aluminium bonnet and boot panels that were developed with the aid of a $39.8 million federal grant from the now-defunct Green Car Innovation Fund.
However, GM North America President Mark Reuss, a previous GM Holden Managing Director who championed the Chevy SS export program, has revealed that Chevrolet paid for the lion’s share of the rest of the ground-breaking technologies in the VF Commodore and Chevy SS.
They include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a reversing camera, colour head-up display, push-button starting, electric power steering and, in a first for Chevrolet and Holden, an automated parking function that will be standard in all VF Commodores.
“Everything in this car was paid for by Chevrolet,” said Mr Reuss at the Chevy SS reveal in Daytona on the weekend. “When we did VF and decided Chevrolet would be part of it, everything was a co-investment.
“A lot of this technology was developed in the US – we went both ways to get better technology for both brands.”
Mr Reuss said the VF Commodore export deal was among his top priorities upon taking the top job at GM North America in 2009, with a plan to take the Commodore NASCAR racing hatched within days of taking up his new role.
He said NASCAR and its “halo effect” for the Chevrolet brand were a key part of the deal – in addition to incremental sales of the Chevy SS – but admitted it was a gamble.
“It was a leap of faith. It was a bet that we could get this car homologated for NASCAR. We wouldn’t have had the SS if we couldn’t race it. It was all part of a plan to put race cars into showrooms.
“It’s very important for us to have a rear-wheel drive car that’s recognisable in showrooms. The Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry are front-wheel drive – nobody else does this,” said Mr Reuss, who will take delivery of a black Chevy SS company car as soon as he can get his hands on one.
“The NASCAR thing was the whole way to get VF into the US. The NASCAR link is crucial for the sport and the brand. NASCAR is a core part of the program. Why are we doing it for 5000 cars if there’s no other benefit?”
An estimated 70 million US fans will watch the VF Commodore contest the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-opener at Daytona next weekend at the hands of some of the biggest names in American stock car racing, including Jeff Gordon and Danica Patrick, ranking the sport second only to the National Football League in terms of scale and reach.
Thanks for actually taking some pictures. Too many times on other forums, people always talk about how they spotted a car but never had the brains to actually get some evidence. Nice job.
The black looks pretty sweet. Too bad about the price.
agree with that and it helps to see pictures of a car we would actually be getting and not ongoing pic's of commodore's, at least we know there are some Chevy SS sedan's out there although a lot are going to be built to order.
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