The Zoom Factor
No excuses needed for owning this dream machine

by Martha Hindes

While this set of wheels could ignite a fire in the automotive world, don't think of its purpose as a place to haul a load of firewood, even though it could. Rather, it's a testament to the business of bringing dreams to reality, inspired by the revered Chevies of the '50s, (and, say some, reminiscent of the sporty yet more functional Chevy El Camino car/pickup truck of a couple of decades ago).

While there's some question as to how the vehicle eventually will be classified, Janet Eckhoff doesn't have a problem spotting its place as the ultimate dream cruiser machine. As marketing director of midsize trucks at Chevrolet, she had the wonderful task of taking it out for an extended test run -- in "Slingshot Yellow," of course.

"This is more a boulevard cruiser than for pure performance," she said, somewhere between turns at the wheel. "I have a 12-year-old son and we were in that vehicle all weekend with the top down...We drove everywhere, and created an incredible amount of stir in the neighborhood and on the expressway."

One unsolicited comment that confirmed its impact came as she drove away from GM headquarters the first day. "A man leaned over and said, 'Hey baby, what's that...that's a Chevrolet? Wow. It's just beautiful.'"

Brief test runs of the vehicle at a southern Michigan racetrack confirmed Eckhoff's excitement. While its truck base didn't maneuver as nimbly as a true sports car would, it behaved like a somewhat heavier roadster, cutting hairpin corners and accelerating with authority on a road course that was agonizingly short.

And while it can't match its Corvette race car sibling -- the galvanized steel-bodied SSR isn't meant to be in the same class anyway -- it still can muster a respectable zero to 60 in just 7.6 seconds. That's only a couple of seconds slower than the powerhouse Vette.

It isn't often that major auto companies will pull out all the stops to get a pet project done, especially when it's so highly specialized only 14,000 to 15,000 a year will be crafted. But an early concept at Detroit's international auto show in January 2001 caught the eye of Rick Wagoner, now GM chairman and CEO. Wagoner kicked the project into gear by announcing it at an industry conference that summer, a testament to the fact that car guys once again are in control at GM. (Talk about putting your competitors on notice.)

"He wanted to get it done to create the kind of excitement this kind of vehicle can generate," said Eckhoff.

Wagoner's stamp of approval moved the project into the fast lane, bringing it to reality in something like two years. Everyone working on it felt Wagoner's influence, said Eckhoff. "...because they knew in the company he wanted it done faster than normal."

The SSR's rear-drive configuration pretty much determined it would have a truck rather than a car base, since the only rear-drive car platform at GM was the Sigma used at Cadillac. Instead, the rear-drive vehicle is built on the same platform used for three midsize sport utilities (Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada).

Part of the decision to make the SSR a body-on-frame truck could have been based on its girth. With a 116 inch wheelbase and overall width of 78.6 inches, it's even hefier than the Vette that comes in five inches narrower and has a 104 inch wheelbase.

Excitement under the hood comes from the Vortec 5300 V-8, that churns out 300 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. It's the newest version of Chevy's legendary small block V-8 engine that's set the benchmark for the division since it first appeared in the 1955 Bel Air. Goodyear rally tires are there for serious street cruisin' that could leave some patches of rubber on the road. The SSR rides on 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch ones in the rear, with a suspension tuned to send the most traction and control to the pavement. Its 25 gallon fuel tank means more showoff time and fewer minutes at the gas pump.

Flared rear fenders give the SSR a slightly haunchy
look that flows forward into a classically curved, retro-look nose. Most appealing to many is the unique retractable hardtop, or "stack top," roof that zips down or back up electronically in a scant 20 seconds and stows completely behind the seat without interfering at all with the truck bed.

Chevy uses what it calls a "twin cockpit" approach for the interior, pulling in exterior colors on horizontal crossbar and accents inside. The instrument panel is bold, but not fussy. Besides that knockout yellow, the vehicle comes in "Redline Red," and "Smokin' Asphalt Black." (Talk about building in expectations.)

Actual production on the '04 model vehicle gets underway by late August after Chevy builds 25 saleable "Signature Series" vehicles meant as permanent collector trucks. Production should reach its peak by year-end. The SSR is badged at $41,370, with a destination charge of $625.00, not unusual for a luxury vehicle but kind of pricey if it's not your everyday car.

But that's not its purpose, said Eckhoff. It's not mainstream at all. "You will buy this vehicle because you want to make a statement. You drive it because it looks good and people look at you when you're driving. You don't buy it for any practical reason."

GM calculates about 20 percent of the SSRs will be bought by women. And Eckhoff sees no reason women wouldn't want to own one.

"We want to have fun," she said. "It sounds terrific. It has a real throaty exhaust. When you hit the gas at a stoplight, it feels great to have people look at you."

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