Holden's Split Personality SS There aren't many 2 seater sports cars around that you can show off in at the weekend and then chuck the tool box in on Monday morning and drive to the building site. But that's just what you can do with Holden's split personality SS Ute. We've just driven the SS Ute & the SS Sedan in back to back tests.
Our SS Ute was a 'Red Hot' Special Edition V-Series. Our Sedan was a 'Phantom Metallic' V-Series. Both sported Holden's 6.0L Gen 4 Alloy V8 providing 260Kw of power and 517Nm of torque driving Holden's own 6 speed Active-Select auto transmission. The optional auto meant both cars also had Holden's Active Fuel Management system. The AFM system switches the engine from 8 cylinders to 4 and back again seamlessly (in under 20 microseconds), when conditions are right. This clever engine management system gives improved fuel economy and reduced emissions under light driving loads. Holden quote 12.6 litres/100kms (combined) for the sedan and 12.9 for the ute. We managed a respectable 11.6 in the sedan and 13.2 in the ute. We drove each for around 500kms but to different destinations – more open highway for the sedan & more stop-start for the ute.
So, what's 'Special' about the Special Edition Ute? Well only one thing - it's inherited the nose from the discontinued Pontiac G8. GM describes it, rather inelegantly, as having "an aggressive twin nostril front fascia with unique lower splitter and twin letterbox hood scoops". We confess the nostrils grew on us during our test and we became quite comfortable with its rather blokey stance. The SS sedan on the other hand was a very mean looking black beast without the trick nose but with a rear spoiler, quad chrome exhaust outlets and striking sports body kit. Both cars have leather appointed sports seats with "colour coded" instruments and dash as well as a leather covered gear stick and steering wheel. Alloy faced foot pedals completed the overall motorsport look. The driver's seat has 4 way electric adjustment and both front seats have manually adjustable lumbar support. Cruise control, dual zone climate control, Bluetooth® and a 6 disc in-dash Blaupunkt CD entertainment system (with MP3 compatibility and Aux In jack) round out the creature comforts. There's also a 6.5"multifunction colour screen - housing the optional ($3,250) sat nav system in our sedan, which also had optional rear park assist fitted ($610).
They also have Electronic Stability Control. The ESC system includes the usual ABS with EBD and EBA together with Traction Control. We were tempted to turn off the ESC to see how the ute would steer by throttle, but we resisted. Planting the right foot while turning hard left at a T-junction produced a millisecond's preview of what might have been, but the ESC kicked in and we accelerated in a surprisingly straight line on the correct side of the road. Both vehicles, even with their firm Sports Suspension took rough corrugated minor roads in their stride. The 6.0L V8 also gives you the ability to tow a trailer, jet ski or boat and the Ute will happily pull loads of up to 1,600kgs while the sedan will haul up to 2,000kgs.
These new generation Holdens have 5 star ANCAP ratings and the SS Ute is no exception. Both cars have front & side impact airbags up front plus side curtain airbags.
Our ute had a soft tonneau cover with tie down hooks and a high density robust tub-liner that looked like it could handle some pretty rough loads. If you are into hard tops though, a colour coded tonneau is available.
V8 lovers can have some serious fun with either SS and with the Active Fuel Management system can save fuel dollars - a nice compromise for those who still like a big car.
Recommended retail price for the SS V-Series Sedan is $57,290 (plus on-roads) and for the SS V-Series Limited Edition Ute $49,490.
