Inside info at GM is indicating that not only will we have the SSwhY? (SSR - better known as the SS"why the hell are we building this thing????"), but we will have the SSwhY? PANEL VAN.

That's right, a PANEL VAN off of the SSR platform.

I know you can hardly contain your excitement about the $42,000 SSwhY?, so I expect you all to jump for joy at the availability of a PANEL VAN off of the same platform. Maybe they'll shoot for a $50,000 MSRP this time.

So now, instead of making a choice between a $42,000 Corvette and a $42,000 SSwhY?, you'll have a +$40,000 PANEL VAN to throw into the mix.

Oh, and BTW...

It looks like Bengal, Sky and Solstice are all a real "go", they now have GM program numbers and launch dates.

I'm telling you all, point blank, that the Bengal/Sky/Solstice platform is the only hope you have for a Camaro before 2008.

 

So the SSR Panel Van will be a competitor to the PT Cruiser "Woody"... only costing twice as much?

 

What's a panel van?

 

Just imagine a PT Cruiser with the back side windows replaced with sheet metal. Then imagine it being a little larger, with a front end reminiscant of a '53 Chevy Truck. I think it would be kind of cool, but more like $18k dollar cool, not $40k+.

 

Yes, I've heard of this under the HHR nameplate. Further proof that performance may not be dead, but it is in a terribly sick state, and probably wants somebody to kill it.

 

Hey, were not just getting a PANEL VAN, we are getting an SS PANEL VAN.

 

Don't you mean before 2007?

Sigma still seems to be the favorite, VE seems to need a bit more work, but at the moment I'd bet on Solstice chassis. It's pretty much on target, low priced, performance oriented, and unless there's already a complete Camaro package standing by this second, seems to be (to me) the only way Camaro could be back by it's 40th anniversairy ( ).

Chevrolet is not getting a version of a Solstice-type car per-se, but as far as something else built on it, anything could still happen.

BTW, Solstice will no doubt have some Sigma components, but will have a different chassis & cowl than say a CTS.

Just a recomendation to any press people who come here. Since no one can talk about a new "Camaro", why not ask about Chevrolet's rear drive coupes?

 

That all makes sense. During an interview a year or two ago, Kurt Rotter was asked what future Chevy product was he most excited about. He said he was excited about new rear passenger compartment treatments for the SSR.

I wonder if the convertible stays for the panel truck.

 

I'm not pissed off about it. You do have to wonder what they can charge for this type of thing, though. I'd figure cheaper the SSR without all the retractable top bits.

 

Figure it'd be kinda neat with a full-length sliding rag top, but come on. This and the SSR deserve the SS name even less than a Cavalier does.

 

You gotta wonder..... Has there even been any sort of customer demand for a vehicle like this, or are they just shooting in the dark on this stuff?!

 

Don't forget that GM has a history of telling, not asking, us what we want.

 

I'm certain that GM would do their research on the demand for this product, just like they did for the aztek.

 

LOL. Aztek popped into my head after I typed that!



Sometimes not listening to the customer is a good thing too!

 

I'm with you on that one; if it were affordable like a PT Cruiser, then I think it'd be cool. But $40K+? F**k that!!! Even if it had a 3.8 V6 instead of a 5.3 V8, it'd still be cool (because a van like that isn't supposed to be fast to start with!)