Holden SSX

Information

Holden SSX

The Holden SSX was Designed by Mike Simcoe who also designed the Holden Monero. He said in an interview that he doesn't like concept cars so he only works on a project like this if it has a good chance of becoming a production model. When first presented at the 2002 Sydney Motor Show it was said to be production ready in just two years. The SSX was meant to be a hatchback version of the Holden Monero. The goal was for GM Holden to prove that they had powertrains and platforms fit for a whole range of cars from station wagons to convertibles.

The Holden SSX was related closely to the VY Commodore which came out the same year as the SSX was first shown. What was developed with the SSX was closely related with the underbody having only slight alterations. The Holden powertrains they used was a 5.7L Gen III V8, producing 315 hp and 465 Nm of torque, that was sent to all four wheels through a four speed automatic transmission. This was the same V8 used in the VY Commodore with the main difference being the power delivery. It used a two piece tail shaft to power the rear wheels with a secondary drive shaft going from the transfer case, forward, to power the front wheels.

The SSX was closely related to the VY Commodore but visually it was very different with the SSX being 54mm wider in the front and 93mm in the back. The body overall is 94mm wider then the VY SS its based on. It also features 19 inch alloy wheels which helps keep the footprint the same as the VY SS. The body panels are all changed from the VY SS with the only exact shared body panel being the hood. All of the other body panels were pressed in steel and featured one off LED taillights and a working fuel filler cap. The color was even a one off with it being a version of Holden’s Hot House Green and turned into Kryptonite which they painted onto the car by hand.

The interior was revised into a strict four seater with the center console running from the front down to the rear seats with a storage compartment separating the rear seats. The gauges are lit red with silver trim around the interior and black leather seats. The hatch that was the center piece of the car, not only tilts up but also has a fold down lip, and stainless steel wear strips to ease loading.