From the press release for the '08 turbocharged HHR SS. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/16/h...s-2008-hhr-ss/

I think the evidence is pretty clear considering how they have been cleaning up the focus of the SS line over the past year. Is there really any question as to which badges the "top dog" Camaro will wear?

None of that says that it will be the top level, just high level.

To answer your question, no...it does not define what will be the top level.

I wouldn't over-read into that. It simply means that the practice of merely adding chrome wheels and mesh grill, no longer will qualify a car as an "SS".

BTW, GMPD did the the Cobalt SS SC, Trailblazer SS as well as the Ion RL.

SS cars which didn't go through GMPD were Malibu SS, Cobalt SS (n/a), Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS.

I wouldn't close the case just yet, although the defense is compelling.

While I can easily see Z28 becoming a performance package and the SS being the "Super Camaro", I can still see a Camaro SS having exclusive use of the 6.2 and handling to match (which would fit the SS mantra) and a Z28 as a Z06-like ultimate race course car.

There's enough out there to support either view. So we'll have to wait some more before we can close this case.

I have a feeling that the Z28 and SS will both have their points in such a way that even after the release there won't be a clear definition of which is "better".

which is the way it should be. both should be "top dogs"...just in different performance areas.

Trust me the SS is the Standard performance model as it is in all Chevy models that sport the badge..,...

But epect the Z/28 to be the later released performance car and Shelby killer.

Any Chevy can be a SS but only a Camaro can be a Z28!!

What I want to know is what will the upscale V6 Performance car carry for a name. I would expcect it to do better than just RS. I would hope they spell out the Rally Sport.

The V6 is the most importnat car coming and will be into the future.

Well the top V6 wont be RS or Rally Sport. We already know that. Rally Sport will be offered across the board and is nothing more than an apprearance package. No performance included whatsoever.

I feel just the opposite. I much prefer an 'RS' badge to a fully spelled out Rally Sport.

That would be as unattractive as Super Sport instead of SS imo.

That's been my hope all along too.

The RS has to over come a lame engine package rep of the recent past RS V6 cars. None of these were great cars as they were small engines asked to move heavy good looking cars and few bought them.

The new engine will draw in new buyers as it will be a respectable player but too many will recall the RS name of the under powered cars.

RS does not equal V6

But RS is just an appearance package...

And to be honest, the 4th Gens with the GFX package (first called RS, then just Sport Appearance Package) were the only ones I found visually appealing. Without the package the 4th Gens were much too bland.

I'd gladly have 'RS' displayed on my new Camaro.

That said, if so many want the Z28 to be some monster Camaro (ie- GT500 competitor) what do they propose as the trim level names be?

Camaro V6
Camaro SS (Base V8)
Camaro Z28 (Monster V8)

Is that what is being proposed? Personally I don't like the idea of there not being any kind of midway model between V6 and SS.

I'd much prefer they stick with the 4th Gen hierarchy (V6, Z28, SS). OR if they insist on SS not being top, they eliminate the SS name altogether and have V6, Z28 and some other designation for the top model.

Why?

One of the biggest beefs with the 4th gen was lack of differentiated models. I see a role for both SS and Z/28 in a new line up. Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see a V6 performance version above the base V6 and below the SS.

From what I've been told, the Z/28 will be analogous to the Z06.