I don’t understand why they keep doing this. Instead of puting all of their time and money in building hybrids and electric cars, they are still wasting they time and money building these kind of cars that people don’t buy anymore.
How can’t in someone in GM see this?

why dont they save the money for a nicer interior, and stop wasting the ss badges already. next thing there will be a damn aveo ss, jeeez.

I sure see a lot of HHR’s on the road. Apparently, someone is buying them.

^^ same here theyre everywhere in so cal^^^

GM has ruined what “SS” used to stand for.

“SS” on FWD crap cars, what a joke.

At least come up with different letters.

It wasn’t 6 months ago Lutz was stating the “SS” moniker was not going to be whored out anymore. It gets difficult to be a GM supporter around here when GM pulls **** like this. An SS HHR? What is the point?

Made in Mexico.

Someone certainly is buying them, I got my HHR wheel time via an airport rental.

There is a salvage yard close to me that was getting such good deals on new HHR’s they were buying them brand new off the lot and parting them out, I could not believe it. The guy told me he was selling the parts to rental fleets.

it will be called the HHR Sport, GM is trying to revive the SS badge for high performance models.

I like the HHR’s looks, and with some real power, brakes, and suspension hardware it should be a great car.

———>that HHR “SS” needs to catch up with my “SRT” LOL…..

OH ****! HHR SS!! HAHAHA

These were taken in September, talk to me when you have something recent.

Winding Road > Leftlane

Its a good idea, at least they are starting to try something with a tad bit of substance. I remember when performance packages from GM where purely cosmetic, like the RWD Monte Carlo SS and Camaro RS garbage of the late 1980s that were actually slower than the normal regular versions due to the added weight of all the plastic cladding. The Mustang LX 5.0 and GT 5.0 was another example of regular version being faster than the “GT” version. This is just GM’s mini box car like a Scion xB. Except this is better looking than the Scion, and there is no “performance” version of the xB.

SS badging most any Chevy model has been around…… well since the SS badge its self. Look at the early 60’s. Chevy had everything from the Impala SS to the Nova SS and probably some SSes I cant remember. Soon as a new model came out, there was quickly an “SS” version. It is just what they do. Nothing wrong with it.

Oh yea, Chevy did make one “GT” model………the Vega.

I think sticking with the SS badge is a pretty good idea.

People have a deluded history of the SS badge.

Once again, I’m amazed at the number of pissy, whiney, armchair product planners who think they know the car business better than the people who are in the car business.

Mbongo—GM (nor anybody else for that matter) can afford to put “all of their time and money into building hybrids and electric cars”, as you suggest. What if suddenly gas becomes cheap and the market drops out for hybrids? (don’t laugh—it could happen. It could also go to $4.00/gal. And the market varies wildly, depending on the cost of gas) Building a car like the HHR SS is a quick, inexpensive way to maintain excitement in the current product. And what in the world makes you think that “nobody’s buying these kinds of cars any more”? I think the sales figures would prove you wrong.

As for Chevy putting the SS badge on the HHR, I remember the quote from Bob Lutz recently saying that they need to stop using it so casually and reserve it for more special cars. I agree. So this semi-hot HHR might very well be called a “Sport” or something else besides SS by the time it hits the streets. In any case, I think the HHR SS/Sport is a great idea; the base car is a very nice, useable automobile, but exciting it ain’t!

I don’t understand why Chevy insists on pushing this horrendously ugly piece of ****. It’s the only car in their lineup I don’t care for.

Well, you may hate it but it sells well, and I sure love it. But if the SS version is made in Mexico just like the regular version, count me out. I’ve owned two too many cars made in Mexico that were very unreliable.

You know why people are amazed here? Because they most likely only know what they learn on streetfire.net or some other page. If the HHR sells good (they are everywhere where I live) give it some performance and styling tweaks and grab some more sales. Granted im not a fan of the HHR’s interior, but the exterior is cool.

Ss Has Been On Every Chevy Except Kodiac Trucks And The Express Van Sad But True

If it’s FWD they might as well can the whole idea. RWD/AWD for life!

About time this thing got power, but “HHR SS?” It’s just a mouthful of letters. Now “Super-Pimp 800″ sounds like something I’d want.

A turbocharged powertrain, mild exterior enhancements and lowering springs make the HHR worthy of the SS badge to me.

Oh no you DIDN’T
.
p.s. TOZO, that is some funny ****

You think this power plant will make its way in the the Cobalt/G5?

Probably not the G5, but the Cobalt SS, yeah.

Money used for this SS car would be better spent in hybrid ou fuel cell cars that North American really want. At my view, this is just a waste of time money.

Yesterday I saw a new “SS” Chevy pickup truck.

It had drum brakes on the rear.

“SS” is a whore.

I like the HHR exterior.. interior is so-so but it gets the job done. I don’t think an SS model is a very bad idea, and it might even hearken back to the SS days for the older people who tend to buy them.

never did like the HHR. doesn’t get me excited or even get a second look from me. I guess the sales can’t be that bad though. Considering they are still making it. oh well.

i bought an hhr, and it is a fun little wagon. I wish now i would have waited and got the ss.

who the hell buys this kinda xxxx???? there are much better forms of transport namely a shopping trolley

lp640 go back to your mom, you need to grow up. see that’s why lln gets a bad rap.

I think GM is just call it sport, like the equinox sport.

enough with more pics! They are all the same!! Just friggin’ release it. God.
Same engine as Sky Red line and Solisce GXP, both already out. Why need to test it for soo long???

Get Real: SS has been watered dowsn.
Almost as bad as calling that V6, FWD thing an Impala.

Theyshould stretch it, add a third row, and put in the colorado I5.

Or sell the Zafira here

Mbongo – you want the money spent on the HHR SS to go towards hybrids because you want it. You don’t hardly qualify as everyone in North America. How much money do you think they spent doing this? Not that much. Anyone with even the mildest sense of automotive technology knows that turbocharging is a cheap and easy way to boost power with out sacrificing mileage. Personally I DON’T want a hybrid. The technology is still too new and we have no clue what the long term reliability is of these systems. If anything automakers should stop wasting money on these gas-hybrids and focus on both pure electric cars and making cleaner, even more efficient diesels. If I were that hell bent on getting better mileage I would go buy a diesel, but I’m more than happy getting almost 30mpg from my supercharged V6. To all of the other haters, I agree with Fletch – a stiffer suspension and a turbo-charged engine seems suitable for an SS designation.

philsson quit crying like a little baby “wah wah i cant stand the fact that other people have opinions wah wah wah im gonna go cry to my mommy wah wah wah”
F**K you philsson if you dont like my opinions then you can go F**K yourself dumb****
this is a worldwide car website where people have diferent opinions and if you cant handle it then go to disney.com

it’s hard to take opinions seriously when its filled with unnecessary curse words and insults.

im pretty sure this will be a low volume model, i know there are some that would be interested in a “tuner” version. if i where in the market for a new car id take the SS for sure.

It definetly won’t be called the SS. It’ll probably be called the sport like the Equinox.

SS hit damn near every Chevy model produced in the 60s and earlier 70s. That’s history, and that’s where that stays. They’re using the SS designation today, and it’s hitting almost every model. Big deal!

The HHR is the best looking of the “retro” cars available, as well as the best-appointed as far as construction quality is concerned.

its very possible itll be called SS, Saud, considering the Malibu Maxx SS is just as hideous as an HHR and puts out about the same numbers. Its not hard for GM to drop a small turbo’d engine into such a car, so honestly if they can do it, why not? Maybe using SS for it isnt good for the SS image, but itll sell alot hotter with an SS badge rather than “sport” and it can be more of a halo model with an SS badge.

but yes HHR’s are GARBAGE

When this thing bitch slaps the Civic Si at race tracks all over the world (Just the Cobalt SS S/C did) then alot of you will shutup…

Hopefully this will actually be worthy of the SS badge. The current Impala SS, the current Malibu SS, and the current Silverado SS truly did ruin any cache the nameplate once held. I give the Trailblazer SS props though for turning a truly PIECE OF **** truck into something pretty damn entertaining.

Jimstar: The Civic Si isn’t about outright acceleration, it’s no secret it lacks torque and needs to be in the upper end of the power range to even feel the 197 bhp, but it handles, and it handles damn well, not to mention it’s brakes and quality assembly. You see the Cobalt, in all forms, lacks any sort of decent fit and finish, looks like **** inside and out, and while it is faster, doesn’t handle or drive nearly as well as the Civic Si. Maybe once you get your head out of your ass, you’ll be the one shutting up.

I think it’s OK to call this thing an SS. After all, 260 hp is respectable in this little MExicanmobile masquerading as a retro wagon – it wasn’t that long ago that the Mustang GT use to inspire awe with its 220 horsepower and 245 (I think) ft-lbs of torque.

Jimstar, nicely said I agree, but remember that Chevy has managed to bitch slap many popular cars for instance the Mustang, the Viper,and soon the GT40 when GM puts out the 700hp supercharged SS Corvette AKA the Blue Devil

LamborghiniZ, Its fit and finish are not nearly as bad as you people make it out to be, and in all dynamic ways, it outmatches the Civic plain and simple, its been tested. It happened in C&D and Edmunds, go look it up, phallus face.

OK.. if GM plans to stop watering down the SS name with this model, they really need to cancel the Cobalt SS SEDAN I saw in a parking lot today.. and it was WHITE to boot, so it looked just like every other generic sedan with nice wheels.

As far as the HHR goes, they are everywhere in SoCal.. but that’s mainly because Hertz is renting them almost exclusively at the airport (I counted 26 on the lot). I rented one two weeks ago, and it was the first rental car I’ve had in a long time that disappointed me. First of all, the near-vertical windshield makes it difficult to see overhead street lights and such without leaning forward over the steering wheel.. then of course the unlighted console-mounted window switches that almost caused me to be pulled from the car by airport security while trying to leave the rental lot (”I can’t find the switch!”). It wasn’t a bad driver, just nowhere near as pleasant as the Elantra or Mazda5 I rented previously.

Lambo, I got more than $200K out of a cavalier (I was the seconmd owner, and drive it to that point. It only got replaced becase it got wrecked)

got about a third of that out of a civic.
what’s this about quality assembly?

autonutt:
I’m trying to buy a mazda5

this is a worldwide car website where people have diferent opinions and if you cant handle it then go to disney.com

Comment by LP640, posted on July6 at 9:58 pm

hahahaha, true for good clean boring forums there is always motor trend, me i like the saiolr talk, its very entertaining.

jackjimturkey: Regardless of your personal experience, the Cavalier is widely regarded as one of truly awful assembly and quality. The materials are truly grotesque, I personally find it insulting that plastics of that quality were used in any vehicle. I have driven Cavaliers multiple times, no no don’t worry they sure as hell weren’t mine, and those few times driving them were the only times in my life I wasn’t happy to be getting in a car and driving. I love driving, but the Cavalier made me actually want to steer clear of the drivers seat. It’s that bad. And for your question about assembly quality, the fact that you’re implying that a HONDA CIVIC has inferior assembly quality to that of a CHEVY CAVALIER is literally laughable, the Civic DESTROYS the Cavalier in quality in every way, the Cav is one of the ****tiest vehicles…EVER.

wow our 89 accord and a friends 90 civic was wayy better than the 01 cavalier in all aspects, crappy ride too.

yeah my buddy had a 2002 sunfire, what a pos that was in every way, i mean god damn what a steamy pile of crap it was and that was the day it was new. didnt do very well he just traded oit for a 2003 grand am, now its a pos with 4 doors.

Yes As a Chevy fan i have to agree that the cavaller is not that great of a car. But they sure seem to be popular because where ever i look i at lest see 1-2 of them and when ever i am at a red light there is a line up of them on the other side of the road. also i forgot to mention that i use to work in a GM production plant and the Cavaller was never built with north american parts. the parts were namely from isuzu and suzuki so you can see why it wasent that great. i guess the only thing that was good about them is there firewall was way thicker than a civics. I think GM should of stayed with the Vega at least there was somthing to be proud of.

Htay5500, you shouln’t think your tunner **** is any better. American Muscle all the way.

Cavalier is American Muscle? That’s really sad Burmanesski!

As for the HHR, I like the new grille better.

lambo:

I’m going to value my experience over your words.

burmanesski, I like muscle cars as well as imports. don’t take this arguement seriously, a cavilier isnt a muscle car of course, theyre two totally different cars. just tht gm makes crappy passenger cars like the cavailer. most domestic cars I like are muscle cars, they make some decent cars, but theyre just not like their rivals.

Burm:

I’d not insult the skyline by calling it a “tuner car.”
Calsonic and Nismo version may, semantically be tuner cars, but they’re not equivelent to those little civics that the retards drive.

I don’t know how i would refer to such cars as a class, maybe “japanese tuner cars,” which would suggest that it came from nismo or mazdaspeed or spoon

sham the skyline never made it here

jackjim, Yes i know the Skyline is really a supercar buy may people call it a tuner. i do agree the civic and the acuras are just the tuners retards drive. Its funny because they make more noise then they have of power to back it up with. The cars i see as a good jap car is the Evo, RX7, skyline, and maybe the honda NSX.

yes, Burm, the Honda NSX, not the emasculated one they sold here.

Evo doesn’t work for me, but the skyline and RX7 Infini IV …..