CHEVROLET SSR TUNED TO DELIVER BEST OF BOTH WORLDS:
SPORT ROADSTER-LIKE HANDLING & BOULEVARD-CRUISER RIDE

With its boulevard-cruiser ride and refined roadster handling, the all-new Chevrolet SSR's road manners are a perfect complement to its heritage and unique sporty truck design.

"We had the challenging task of developing the character of a roadster, starting with the solid chassis architecture of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer family", said Mike Grohs, lead ride and handling development engineer on the SSR. "The result is a unique blend of style and performance that captures the essence of Chevy Truck Heritage".

Added Steve Padilla, Vehicle Dynamics Engineer and co-developer of the SSR's ride and handling package: "We've carefully balanced ride and handling to provide just what customers would expect from a custom built roadster - real performance that fits with exciting style.

"The ride is well controlled, but not harsh. The handling is highly capable, approaching that of a sport sedan. The steering is sensitive, without being overly responsive."

To achieve this balance, SSR engineers rapidly developed a specific chassis package, tailored to the vehicle's character and road presence. Using a combination of development experience and math modeling, they tweaked or entirely changed most of the chassis components.

The tires, shocks, springs, steering system, front stabilizer bar, body mounts, suspension alignment and geometry, and even the battery location were modified to create the desired results.

The specially modified chassis, based on the same platform as the TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, provides a sound foundation that ultimately enhances the SSR's unique driving dynamics, while accommodating its utility as a pickup truck. This helped to create a real "thoroughbred" that still had enough stamina for common work assignments.

Uniquely Sized, Dimensionally Strong
The SSR incorporates a body on frame construction - basically an upper steel unibody mounted on a frame. Fully hydroformed steel side rails provide the boxed frame with strength and stiffness, relatively low weight, and precise quality - the rails help create a strong foundation for the SSR's overall performance. The frame's overall strength provides superior durability, while allowing the suspension to do its job precisely.

The laser-cut, dimensional accuracy of the holes for suspension attachments permit maximum control of suspension components during manufacturing, providing consistent tuning for every vehicle built. And a total of seven cross members, more than the traditional four or six, boost structural strength for ride quality, handling control, and reduced noise and vibration.

The upper unibody helps support the structure for the SSR's retractable roof system; it minimizes the loss of structure typically associated with convertibles and open-top vehicles by augmenting the stiffness of the entire vehicle with special cross members.

The SSR's vertical stiffness (vertical bend in the total structure), targeted at 17.5 Hertz (hz), exceeds that of most other convertibles, whose ratings can be as low as 9 or 12 Hz. Torsional frequency with the top up is approximately 16 Hz; with the top down, it is approximately 13.8 Hz. These ratings are highly competitive with those of unibody construction convertibles.

The 116-inch wheelbase is optimized to maintain truck functionality and to offer exceptional passenger room; yet it also allows for a tight turning radius generally associated with a smaller sized vehicle.

The battery is re-located to the rear, helping to create a better overall weight distribution, while preserving the front styling. The improved weight distribution yields better steering response, tire wear and full use of the friction circle, extracting the greatest capability from every tire. Additionally, the rear-mounted battery emulates what "street rodders" have done for years - and since it is located away from the heat of the engine - the battery lasts longer.

Uniquely Modified Suspension System
A world-class independent front double-A arm / 5-link live axle rear suspension is specifically tailored and tuned for the SSR's ride and handling characteristics, while providing robustness and durability for on-road truck use.

The front suspension configuration incorporates upper and lower control arms for superior kinematics, damping, and stability, which, when combined with rack-and-pinion steering, provides smooth, precise control.

The rear suspension includes monotube shock absorbers for superior damping, shock absorber mountings outboard of the frame to enhance body and wheel control, steel coil springs for consistent ride height, and a microcellular urethane auxiliary spring for enhanced ride comfort and stability in fully loaded conditions.

The SSR has a lower stance and wider track than the standard platform. This provides a lower center of gravity for increased stability and flatter cornering.

Spring rates, internal shock valving, urethane jounce bumpers and rubber bushings are all specifically tuned to create the SSR's unique ride and handling characteristics.

The front stabilizer bar is specifically designed and located to create the roll characteristics desired by the engineers. The re-design in the front stabilizer bar increases its efficiency, allowing more roll control from a smaller bar, while also reducing weight for increased efficiency.

The body mounts, while usually not thought of as part of the suspension, were also specifically and individually tuned in three directions to balance ride and handling requirements. By adding or adjusting damping and rates in the body mounts at specific locations, the engineers were able to "tune-out" harshness, while minimizing body flexure and the usually detrimental handling effects of compliant body mounts. The result: a better balance between ride harshness and handling performance.

Great Traction and Control
Standard electronic traction control, a TORSEN differential, and 20-inche tires on the rear axle ensure the Vortec 5300 V8's great power getting to the ground with exceptional traction and control.

The TORSEN differential, a true performance car proven system, works seamlessly with the traction assist to maximize performance in driving maneuvers, such as aggressive acceleration and cornering, and over differing road conditions. It is a close relative to the rear differential developed for the Chevrolet Camaro and the technology of choice for numerous racing teams.

The electronic traction control provides controlled acceleration and vehicle stability on slippery surfaces, such as snow, ice, gravel or wet pavement at any speed. The system manages the powertrain by retarding spark, reducing airflow and modifying transmission upshifts, while working in conjunction with the TORSEN system to enhance control. It detects excessive rear wheel spin by using the vehicle's speed sensor and then reduces torque to the rear wheels by controlling spark and airflow.

With the engine-based traction assist managing the level of power, the TORSEN differential provides an extra measure of traction by precisely distributing the engine's power to the wheel with the most traction, reacting instantly before any wheel slip can occur.

The TORSEN differential employs a gearing system that reacts faster than most axle differentials, sensing torque or force feedback from a wheel that is about to slip or skid, and shifting most of the engine's power away - prior to wheel slip - to the wheel with the most traction.

Its torque distributing effect is a constant, proportional to the torque on the axle. With minimum torque on the axle, differentiation occurs freely as with an open differential, making it easier to maneuver when both rear wheels are on a slippery surface. With unequal traction under the rear wheels, the TORSEN differential applies approximately 65-70 percent of the total axle torque to the wheel with the greater traction.

The TORSEN differential also benefits the SSR's handling characteristics. In a cornering maneuver, it biases torque to the outside wheel after the inside wheel becomes saturated with torque and begins to slip. The result: smooth handling, strong traction and quicker and safer lane changes.

Highly Responsive Steering
The hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion steering has a 16:1 steering ratio that yields quick response and enhanced maneuverability. Its wheel turn angle provides excellent maneuverability, minimizing the number of steering wheel turns required for cornering. When combined with the short wheelbase, this provides a tight turning circle, estimated to be approximately 38 feet.

On-center steering feel is crisp, providing an exceptional "valley" feel. Steering efforts are well balanced with response. Steering feel is smooth, linear and predictable, without the light, darty feel of some performance vehicles.

Quick, Highly Controlled Stops
Four-wheel vented disc brakes with four-wheel ABS and dynamic rear proportioning provide outstanding stopping performance and world-class levels of brake "feel," wear resistance and low noise.

The brakes are sized to the SSR's weight, trailering and cargo-carrying capabilities. Their non-asbestos organic compound lining extends brake life to 40,000 miles, depending on how the vehicle is used and at what payload.

Huge Wheels/Specifically Designed Tires
The SSR's huge 19 x 8-inch front / 20 x 10-inch rear coated aluminum wheels are among GM's largest-ever for a light-duty truck. The large wheel sizes accentuate the striking, "custom-styled" appearance of the SSR. Its huge wheels, enhancing its road presence, elevate it to the stature of a true roadster. Created with the same proprietary technology as the Corvette's, they feature "flow formed" outer flanges for outstanding load-bearing strength.

The on-road low profile P255/45R-19 front / P295/40R-20 rear Goodyear radials are specially formulated and designed for the SSR's unique ride and handling requirements and contribute to its aggressive look. The wide tread size serves a dual purpose in providing great handling and a highly "muscular" stance.

Overall, the SSR is much more than an eye-candy show vehicle. It has the ability to perform to the level of its looks, and the handling to back up its style.

Fuel System
A large 25-gallon fuel tank provides an extensive driving range between fill-ups.

Trailering and GVW
While creating a new dimension of driving fun, the SSR also provides up to 2500 pounds of trailering capability - and a more than sufficient Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) to handle motorcycles or other types equipment that its owners are apt to load into the back end.

Preliminary Specifications

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