The levels of road and wind noise are more in keeping with the car's mass-market roots, but the shocks are (mercifully) softened from their Aussie-market Commodore SS V-series Redline spec to better cushion Michigan's frost-heaved potholes while still offering laudable sport-sedan body-motion control. We'd love to try the magnetic setup top-spec HSV Gen-F GTS models get in Oz, but Leone cautions against expecting the Chevy SS to get that car's hotter supercharged LSA engine, or the Z/28's LS7, or even the current Corvette's more efficient but pricier LT1, any of which would bolt in easily. "We are enthused and excited about the car, but we're not planning on dropping in three new engines."

That's in part because while the car is not capacity constrained, Chevy can't really afford to sell tens of thousands of SSs when each one gets socked with a $1300 gas-guzzler tax (rated 14/21 mpg, it's even thirstier than a five-speed Charger SRT8). This sad CAFE reality means there's less incentive to stir the pot with new variants. But to those rear-drive Impala SS enthusiasts overdue for a new car to tune, tweak, and bracket-race (and make big, smoky burnouts in such as the one our art department insisted we snap, though that's no longer this car's principle raison d'etre), Leone assures, "We will support the car in accessories. Holden has a reasonable aftermarket portfolio, and a lot of Camaro equipment will bolt on."

The least-impressive element of the car is styling that lacks the movie-star appeal of its Mopar rivals. But please, Chevy, if addressing this, don't add any adamantium flourishes.

2014-chevrolet-SS-front-three-quarter-motion

2014 Chevrolet SS
BASE PRICE	$45,770
PRICE AS TESTED	$46,670
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, RWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan
ENGINE	6.2L/415-hp/415-lb-ft OHV 16-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	3974 lb (53/47%)
WHEELBASE	114.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	195.5 x 74.7 x 57.9 in
0-60 MPH	4.9 sec
QUARTER MILE	13.3 sec @ 107.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.96 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	25.2 sec @ 0.74 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON	14/21 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	241/160 kW-hrs/100 mi
CO2 EMISSIONS	1.18 lb/mi
*SAE certified