Put “Ss” side by side, and most people automotive will call up images of 1960s Chevy muscle cars-Impalas, Chevelles, and Camaros, big cars with big engines that delivered big power.
But for some, SS evokes the numbers 4-5-4, as in 454SS (July 1993), Chevy’s hot-rod truck that laid patches and startled pedestrians in the early ’90s. Based on a regular-cab, short-bed C/K pickup, the 454 was accomplished at stoplight launching and donut dancing. Under its hood was a huge 7.4-liter V-8 producing 255 horsepower and, more significant, a pavement-splitting 405 pound-feet of torque at only 2400 rpm. With all that twist available so low on the power band, the rear-drive 454SS could rip to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and trip the quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds at 87 mph. Looking back 10 years, those numbers are still respectable.
With time comes progress, and Chevy’s latest screamer truck, the Silverado SS, is refined where the 454 was crude. It’s still plenty quick, mind you, but it now goes about its business like a seasoned veteran rather than a hotshot rookie. Swiftly. Deliberately. Controlled.
Step up to the SS, and the first thing you notice is how the monochromatic trim-grille, fascias, and ground effects-emphasizes the lack of chrome. Besides three “SS” badges adorned with the shiny stuff, the only other trim pieces that resemble anything metallic are the gold-colored bow tie on the grille and the aluminum-hued air ducts in the bumper. Dressed in black, as our test vehicle was, the SS appears downright stealthy and garners plenty of gawks and furrowed brows from passersby. Blue and red are available as well, but we’re partial to the “Back In Black” garb.
Likewise, shades of charcoal and black dominate the interior. Leather-covered front buckets and a rear bench seat are standard, as are white-face gauges and an “SS” badge to the right of the stereo unit.
If the SS looks lower than a standard Silverado, that’s because it is. Riding on a Z60 high-performance chassis, the truck sits nearly an inch lower up front and a full two inches in back. The sport suspension uses torsion bars in front, two-stage leaf springs in back, and monotube shocks at all four corners. The 275/55SR-20 Goodyear Eagle LS tires, mounted on 8.5-inch-wide wheels, result in a track increase of almost three-quarters of an inch.
The ride is still trucklike, and it can get bouncy over rough tarmac, but it is surprisingly plush and compliant over just about every other surface. Moreover, the SS always feels firmly planted to the road, unlike many trucks that seem to suffer from float syndrome. This translates to impressive grip when the going gets fast-the SS pulled 0.74 g on the skidpad, inspiring confidence during hard cornering. The four-wheel disc brakes come into play here, too. The 12.0-inch-front and 12.8-inch-rear rotors account for drama-free performance and stop the pickup in 185 feet from 70 mph.
GM’s Quadrasteer four-wheel steering isn’t offered, and the reasoning is simple: The system adds substantial cost and weight, and increasing weight in a vehicle with sporting intentions is like telling a jockey he needs to bulk up. Sure, a tighter turning circle would be welcome in a vehicle this big, especially when parking, but the power recirculating-ball setup does a commendable job. With its quick 14:1 ratio and low-effort feel, the steering makes easy work of city driving and doesn’t feel terribly out of place when the road ventures into the country. There’s still a sense of disconnect with the front contact patches, but otherwise, the overall feel and linearity are top-notch among trucks.
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