SS

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Sedan

Following the debut of the new Corvette Stingray, this is the performance flagship Chevy we've been waiting for. It was back in 2009 when the Pontiac G8 was discontinued (along with the rest of the Pontiac brand) and GM hasn't had a rear-drive V8 sedan on the market in the US since. Until now. GM has just released official specs and photos of its 2014 Chevrolet SS - our version of the recently-revised Holden Commodore - at the Daytona International Speedway. At the heart of the new beast is the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 415 units of both horsepower and torque.

Chevy claims it'll go from 0-60 mph "in about five seconds." Unlike the old G8, there's only one transmission available: a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. But don't think of this big sedan as your granddad's old Buick. The new SS comes standard with four-piston Brembo brakes up front, a near 50/50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity, partly thanks to its aluminum hood and rear deck. There are also 19" alloys wrapped in Bridgestone rubber and a sport-tuned chassis with MacPherson struts up front and a multilink independent setup out back.

Interior highlights include leather upholstery, a nine-speaker Bose sound system, head-up display, push-button start and safety features like Lane Departure warning and a Forward Collision Alert. Another interesting option is GM's new Automatic Parking Assist, which uses ultrasonic sensors to detect the width and depth of parking spaces. The 2014 Chevy SS strikes us as an impressive package, picking up the torch temporarily dropped by the demise of the Pontiac G8. Official pricing has yet to be announced, but sales will likely begin this summer.