The 2003 Super Sport concept was inspired by Chevy’s SS models of the 1960s, but the look was pure 21st century.
According to Frank Saucedo, design director of the General Motors California studio, the inspiration for the 2003 Chevrolet Super Sport came directly from the original Chevy SS models of the 1960s. Yet as we can see, its look was pure 21st century.
The exterior design was by Franz von Holzhausen, the young GM stylist who also produced the Pontiac Solstice before moving on to become Tesla’s first and so far only design chief. There, von Holzhausen has been responsible the Tesla Models S, X, 3, Y, and of course the endlessly controversial Cybertruck. Many have noted that the sillhouette of the Tesla S bears a striking resemblance to the SS concept, especially in the roofline.
Shockingly low for a four-door sedan in 2003, the SS was just 53 inches tall, requiring a relatively long package to fit all the passengers and hardware inside. Wheelbase was 121 inches, overall length was nearly 200 inches, while the wheels were a massive 21 inches in front, 22 in the rear, to maintain the GT proportions. The pillarless four-door hardtop body was constructed in fiberglass, with pleasing dash-to-axle length and some subtle details that would later be found on the C6 Corvette of 2005-13.
Not merely a styling study but a fully functional prototype with what the GM brass called “production intent,” the SS was powered by an 6.0-liter LS2 V8 borrowed from the Corvette Z06, driving the rear wheels through a GM 4L65E four-speed automatic transmission. An experimental camshaft and special tuning bumped the output from 405 to 430 hp, while the short/long arm suspension featured coilover shocks on all four corners. The fully developed four-passenger cabin boasted a child safety seat built into the center of the rear passenger seat.
First shown at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the SS was a hit with both the media and the public. But alas, no room could be found in the Chevrolet product lineup for a low-slung, four-door gran turismo, and it never received the green light for production. At the time, the bowtie brand was in a vanilla phase, churning out Impalas, Malibus, and Cavaliers. But not too many years later, low-profile GTs with four doors were the hot ticket with the European luxury brands, as seen in the Porsche Panamera and Taycan and the BMW Gran Coupes.
The front end was mirrored on the SSR convertible pickup truck. Franz Von Holzhausen, who, despite his name, was born in Connecticut, also did a stint at Mazda before joining Elon’s Army.
Not seeing much inspiration from Chevy’s SS models of the 1960s, maybe the 1965 Impala SS fastback? But it’s a handsome vehicle for sure.
The rear looks like a smooth one piece that they couldn’t market. They’d have to chop it up with probably a plastic lower half. It’s amazing how much a patchwork of dissimilar materials and close but not exact color and finish will ruin that smooth design.
the LS2 engine was not used in the Z06, to my knowledge. It would be the LS6. Please check that. Thanks.
Typical GM, have a winning design but sit on it too long. And then if it makes production and is a good seller, kill it. No wonder they have had such financial difficulty.