Impala gets 'Super Sporty'
Chevy looks to its past for performance gloss

Chevrolet honours an icon from its past this fall with the re-introduction of an 'SS' badged sports model to its Impala sedan range for 2004. In fact, SS badges are turning up on a number of models, put together with help from GM's Performance Division.

When Chevy returned the Impala to its lineup for the 2000 model year, it was perhaps inevitable that an SS version wouldn't be too long in making an appearance. After all, the first Impala SS (for 'Super Sport') appeared in 1961, three years after the original Impala hit the streets. I'm not sure if they were using the term "halo car" in those days, but that's what the original SS was, giving the top line Impala a performance gloss that helped drive sales to almost 900,000 a year by 1964.

The 1961 SS was available only in hardtop coupe and convertible form through the 1960s and featured some additional styling flourishes, including a floor shifter and console, vinyl buckets, tach and SS badges, plus some serious performance and handling additions. These included the 409 cubic inch (6.7-litre), big-block V8 that was soon pumping out 425 hp. A 4-speed manual gearbox, plus performance oriented springs, shocks, brakes, power steering and tires completed the SS package.

And this is much the same formula that has been employed to create the 2004 Impala SS, minus two cylinders, about half the displacement and some 185 hp.

The all-new for 2004 Impala has a stiff and safe structure that provides room inside for six if required, plus a generous 526 litres of cargo space. Up front in place of the original's inline sixes and V8s, are either 3.4- or 3.8-litre V6 engines, driving the front wheels. The Impala SS is built, along with the base and LS models, in GM's award-winning Oshawa No. 2 Car Assembly Plant.

The 5-seat Impala SS is priced at $36,265 and comes well equipped. Standard features include traction control, fog lamps, a theft deterrent system, dual-zone manual climate control with air conditioning (with improved flow for 2004) and power windows, locks and mirrors. Other interior amenities include remote keyless entry, cruise control, power trunk release, tilt wheel, leather seating surfaces, CD stereo system, tire inflation monitor and split folding rear seat. On the outside, a rear spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual exhausts, sport suspension, disc brakes and P235/55 R17 "W" rated tires are standard. That's a lot of stuff.

But our tester also came with a preferred equipment package for $1,425, which included even more goodies such as a driver information and convenience centre, as well as the OnStar communication system and leather wrapped wheel with audio controls.

The SS comes only in black with a monochrome overall look that includes colour-keyed side mouldings, spoiler and the SS badges. The rather cool looking body-colour taillamp appliqué is borrowed from Corvette, and the chrome exhaust tips add a nice touch.

Inside, our SS was done in light-over-lighter beige that gave the cabin a very bright look in contrast to the shiny black paint. Quality of fit and finish was excellent, making the two exposed screw heads visible in the armrest door pull even more jarring. Lending a techy note is the narrow band of graphite trim that runs across the doors and dash. The seats don't look very sporty and don't offer much lateral support, but are comfortable to sit on. It's also quiet inside at highway speeds.

Under the hood GM has pulled an old standby off the parts shelf. The SS is powered by a supercharged version of the 3.8-litre, pushrod six that powers the LS. The belt-driven Eaton supercharger boosts power output to 240 hp at 5,200 rpm and there's a worthwhile 280 lb-ft of torque that peaks at 3,600 revs. This is fed to the front wheels through a 4-speed, electronically controlled automatic transmission. Improvements for 2004 include new connecting rods and an air conditioning compressor that bolts directly to the block to help reduce noise, vibration and harshness.

With the traction control switched off, the SS charges off the line with just about the right amount of wheelspin and hauls itself up to 100 km/h in a respectably quick 7.9 seconds. Stomp the pedal at 80 km/h and you'll arrive at 120 km/h 6.1 seconds later. The linear power delivery of the supercharged engine and the prompt responses of the transmission mean there's always solid performance on tap.

The Impala SS might not live up to the glory days of the fabulous 409 SS of the '60s, but it looks good, is roomy, comfortable and well finished inside, offers loads of equipment, goes and handles well and is priced about right. What it does best as a performance car - accelerating in a straight line - is in keeping with past Impalas. It's also a car that has a hard to define, but latent North American feel to it, with which a lot of people will feel right at home.

Immediate competition:
Mitsubishi Galant GTZ, Nissan Maxima SE, Pontiac Grand Prix GTP