General Introduction
Chevrolet is an automobile brand which is produced by the well known General Motors. Like any other Chevrolet series introduced in the past, the Chevrolet SSR is also widely recognized all over the world. For your information, General Motors is known for its excellently manufactured trucks and cars.
The Chevrolet SSR was a two-door convertible pick-up truck which was based on the Chevrolet TrailBlazer's platform although the steel convertible top which was designed by ASC had a retro style feature. Designed by General Motors and assembled at Lansing, Michigan, it was produced from 2003 to the year 2006. While the Trailblazer had a seating for seven people, the SSR had only two. The name Chevrolet Super Sport Roadster (SSR) came up after it was patterned like the concept car called SuperSport Roadster, which was showed publicly in a 2000 auto show in Detroit. An SSR was also produced as a pace car (mostly an American term) or a safety car for an auto race during the 2003 Indianapolis 500. A pace car was used in the racetrack in an event of accidents; it limited the speed of the cars that were competing.
The Last Few Years
With only under 9,000 cars sold for US$42,000, it was unexpected for the 2004 model of the SSR to sell that low. The manufacturer announced a five-week layoff at the factory where the cars were made in December 2004. The end for the Chevrolet SSR came during November 21, 2005 when General Motors said that it was closing the factory by mid-2006. A one and only black-on-silver SSR which was the final model was made on March 17, 2006. It was estimated by analysts that a total of 24,150 SSRs were produced and only 24,112 were available for the public.
Different Models
The 2003 and 2004 models of the SSR utilized the Vortec 5300 engine with a performance of 5.3l 300 hp V8 and a 4-speed automatic transmission which was owned by General Motors. Although appealing, but with its quarter mile run of 15.9 seconds/86.4 mph, people weren't impressed. This car's safety precautions are the following; warning system when the door is not properly closed, door bins for the driver and passenger, front and side airbags for the driver and passenger, restraints for the head, an entry system which is illuminated, power locks which are remote controlled, one-touch power windows, a ventilation system, a safety belts, running lights for daytime use and advanced airbag features.
A 390 hp LS2 V8 was found on the 2005 model, this was found in the Pontiac GTO and Corvette, too. It has an option of 6-speed manual transmission and 4-speed automatic transmission.
The LS2 engine of the last model, 2006, had minor alterations which upped the output to 395 hp for the automatic transmission and 400 hp for the manual.
To keep the passengers safe when riding the car, the 2005 and 2006 models of the SSR have features like the audio code and peripheral protection for anti-theft, restraints for the head, dusk sensor and switch-off time delay for the headlight control, side airbags, an intelligent for the driver's airbag, a switch-off intelligent for the passenger's airbag, a warning system when the car door is open or when the level of the fuel is low and or when the fluid level of the washer is low and a system for recirculating the ventilation.
What The People Think
For such an expensive car and a cool glossy look, it wasn't expected that the people wouldn't be impressed by it. Its design was supposed to awe people, a convertible roadster pick-up truck, it was a total surprise that the sales was low. Although it looked like a power car, but it sure did not turn out to be one, its performance did not meet the people's expectations. Low quality for a high price, it might be what some people comment. It was little compared to the TrailBlazer which it got its platform. It did not even meet up to its own name which was a super sport roadster which you might think would be a power-steered super car.
