I must chuckle at Chevy. All we've heard from the Chevy guys since the Lightning came out was "wait until the SS/SSR comes out, we'll eat your Lightning for lunch without a S/C!"

Well imagine my suprise when I open my new issue of Motor Trend and they have an article on the new 2003 Chevy SSR. I always assumed it would be a superpowered 2 wheel drive Silverado. Boy was I wrong!

Its actually cool looking, its a retro looking mid 50's Chevy style pickup. The front end is 50's and middle is El Camino and who knows what for the rear. It has a retractable top and is convertible with a hard top on the bed. Its a 2 seater and overall size looks a little larger than an S10.

The part I have to laugh about are performance specs. Instead of the 300hp 6.0 V8 it will recieve initially the 5.3 285hp V8. That is 95hp less than the current Lightning. Its 0-60 is 7 seconds, I believe the Lightning is in the 4-5 second range. This thing was rumored to be a Lightning killer and instead is an import killer. Even with the 6.0 in it the SSR would still get destroyed by the F150 Lightning.

 

I had heard it was supposed to be screamer(present company excluded) Looks the EPA got wind of it before they could slip it by,,,,,98

 

looks a little high off the ground for a street truck, but overall i like the retro look it has. its pretty sharp looking.

 

I can honestly say, that is ugly. I even hate the pt cruizer

 

the pic i posted is the concept vehicle. the final one is supposed to look a little different, but not by much.

 

That six-speed orchestrates another Corvette-sourced performance component: an LS1 aluminum-block 5.7L V-8 bored to 6.6L for SS-concept duty. Chevy threw in a competition roller cam to help it crank out 480 horses and 475 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the short-cab F-150 Lightning, the SS concept is an extended cab, with two rear doors and seating for four.


Got this out of motor trend.com follow this link http://www.motortrend.com/feb01/chevy/chevy_f.html

Its a little short on details but it hits the popints I care about....HP. I still dont think it will be produced.

 

Heres a pic of the actual vehicle:

 

That looks much better than above.

 

I used to have that pic on my toolbox after I found it on the net. I kind of like it. The roof is supposed to roll down behind the seats, without folding! I really like the retro fifties look. Before I bought my F150, I was considering a PT Cruiser, until I learned it was a Neon chassis. Had they come out with one in the fashion of those old 50's era Panel Trucks (no rear windows and pre-vans for you youngsters) I would have taken the plunge. I do however like that 2003 F150 on the other post. Will wait for that if they plan on building it. ennis

 

The SS and SSR are two totally different animals. The SSR is slated for production but is not directed as competition for the Lightning. It never has been. The Silverado SS however is. It will be an extended cab shortbox...possibly a unibody design but that is yet unclear. I have not heard anything for sure about power. There has been talk of 480 naturally aspirated ponies but Im sure that would be toned down for production. But make no mistake Chevy will build it and all of you Lightning owners will have some real competition.

 

Looks like an extended VW Beetle to me

 

BRING IT ON!!!

 

Today's edition of Parade Magazine features new cars and trucks. This truck is prominently displayed on the cover. It states that production will begin late next year with a $40,000 price tag. ennis :-) : --8

 

Hell for 40k I would go with the vette. Just my .02. That thing better have TV's, DVD's, all leather and any other goodie I can think of for that price. Chevy......there some characters.

 

You can get a Vette for 40 grand? ennis