Please Tell Us This Is Not the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze SS. Please.

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3 7,914 views February 3, 2010

Chevrolet and SS logos on a 2010 Camaro grille

Chevrolet Cruze SS model from Singapore

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At the risk of appearing culturally insensitive, perhaps they spell "SS" differently in Singapore. Because that's the only explanation for this stripes-and-aero-add-ons body kit offered by Chevrolet Singapore to make up the so-called Cruze SS.

Looking vaguely like the Camaro "Bumblebee" character from the Transformers movie, the kit adds front, rear, and side aero skirts and a rear spoiler to the body, 17-inch wheels, and ... wait for it ... illuminated scuff plates. Now that'll help your 0-to-60 time.

The price of what GM Singapore is calling the "Chevrolet Cruze SS" kit is SG$4,980, or roughly $3,500. Pricey body kit if it doesn't do anything to the standard 1.8-liter engine with six-speed manual transmission. Which it doesn't.

We have to think this is NOT the Chevrolet Cruze SS that GM insiders are pushing for. Not even close.

Last fall, General Motors vice president of global engineering Mark Reuss said the Chevrolet Super Sport designation would return to its roots, rather than simply being the highest-performance model for every model.

With the Impala SS and Cobalt SS sedans gone from Chevrolet's 2010 lineup, the most convincing example of Super Sport performance is the 422-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 engined 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It'll do 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

Now, we've joked about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt SS, and, in a more serious vein, even specced out a semi-serious 2013 Volt SS hot-rod. Long-term, we think there are real possibilities for hot-rodding an electric-drive Chevy. Even if the gasoline sniffers don't.

But we just pray that GM in Singapore keeps its SSes to itself, and leaves real Super Sport performance to the folks Stateside who understand it. 'Cause this sure as heck hell ain't no Chevy SS to us.

[IndianAutosBlog]