Aussie-made Chev SS performs in Vegas

AMERICAN Chevrolet NASCAR racing stalwart Jeff Gordon has put his stamp on an Australian-made Chevrolet SS concept unveiled at the annual SEMA aftermarket trade show that opened today in Las Vegas.

The muscle car – dubbed Jeff Gordon SS Performance – is one of nine Chevrolet sports cars to get race-inspired pimp treatments for the show that is regarded as one of the premier hot-rodding events in the world.

Featuring a satin red paint job, custom grille, carbon fibre rear lip spoiler, upgraded brakes and special 20-inch wheels, the Gordon SS has been lowered and fitted with a Borla exhaust on the 6.2-litre LS3 V8 engine that produces 310kW and 563Nm – unchanged from the standard car.

Inside, the SS gets perforated suede seat inserts, embroidered headrests, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and accessory pedals.

The car is finished with a grey shadow line along its flanks, incorporating Jeff Gordon’s racing number 24 from his Hendricks Motorsports NASCAR Chev SS.

The Chevrolet SS – based on Holden’s Commodore and exported to North America from South Australia – is just about to be launched in the United States where it will be billed as Chevrolet’s premier rear-drive sports sedan.

The launch proceedings started with the unveiling of the American-focused SS in February at Daytona raceway, with the car spearheading the bow-tie brand’s NASCAR racing assault throughout 2013.

The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show exhibit by Chevrolet will be used to reinvigorate the 2014 SS launch in US showrooms in the next few weeks.

Other Chevrolets models being displayed at SEMA include three Corvette Stingray concepts – dubbed Gran Turismo, Atlantic and Pacific – and a flock of Camaro concepts with extra bling, including a special version of the new Camaro Z/28.

Even the Chevrolet Sonic – called Barina in Australia – comes in for some extra style, as does the Spark, Cruze, Impala and Malibu.

As well as the passenger cars, Chevrolet is exhibiting six concept trucks and SUVs at SEMA, covering the Silverado, Suburban and Taho ranges.