The arrival of the Chevrolet SS late this year means Detroit will have a brace of high-output sports sedans aiming for the same pool of customers. Here's how the newcomer from Down Under matches up on paper to the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and the Ford Taurus SHO — best we can tell so far.
As is common with a new model, Chevy officials didn't reveal full specs on Friday night, such as whether the SS can beat the SRT8's 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. The SRT remains the horsepower king, and comes with the largest tires standard, but also weighs more. The Taurus is the only one with all-wheel-drive, but looks a step off the pace with its 365-hp EcoBoost V-6. Maybe a little fresh competition will improve the new breed of four-door Motown sports cars.
SS vs. SRT vs. SHO
| Model | 2014 Chevrolet SS | 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 | 2013 Ford Taurus SHO |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD | AWD |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto | 5-speed auto | 6-speed auto |
| Engine | 6.2 liter V-8 | 6.4 liter V-8 | 3.5 liter V-6 twin turbo |
| Horsepower | 415 | 470 | 365 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 415 | 470 | 350 |
| Standard wheels | 19-inch | 20-inch | 19-inch |
| Standard tires | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Goodyear Eagle RS-A | Goodyear Eagle |
| 0-60 mph time | >5 seconds | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| Premium fuel | Recommended | Recommended | Suggested |
| Fuel economy | N/A | 14/23 | 17/25 |
| Steering | Electric | Hydraulic | Electric |
| Weight (lbs.) | N/A | 4,365 | 4,343 |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 114.8 | 120.2 | 112.9 |
| Length | 195.6 | 200.3 | 202.9 |
| Width | 74.8 | 74.2 | 76.2 |
| Height | 58.7 | 58.2 | 60.7 |
| Front legroom | 42.3 | 41.8 | 41.9 |
| Rear legroom | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.1 |
| Base price | N/A | $47,995 | $39,300 |