A lot of discussion has taken place in this forum regarding the history of Chevrolet's legendary Super Sport trim. There is overwhelming support for the Camaro and certain other vehicles to have the SS moniker, but not everyone is behind Chevrolet's perceived expansion of its signature trim.
Why does it matter? For some of you, it means that the SS moniker has lost its meaning. As Camaro enthusiasts, we have a special calling with the Z28, and we tend to support that trim over any other. It's easy to forget about the importance of the SS to the Camaro because it becomes bland when more than one SS is brought onto the stage. At one time, the SS represented V8 muscle. For many, that meaning has faded with time, but I want to remind everyone why the SS is still important to the Chevrolet strategy, even if GM hasn't hired me to say so.
Super Sports are superior to the competition. That is the general idea. The biggest competition in performance in the American market used to be muscle cars. When powerful V8s dominated the market, only cars like the Chevelle would get such a label. With the invasion of imports featuring lower power ratings but higher efficiency, American V8s suddenly lost their competitive edge. They were so far below the classic V8 in power that many of these imports only competed with one another in the performance department. While they competed with different features, import brands would not represent equal counterparts on the track.
Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Toyota all introduced their respective super trims. They battled in the 4-cylinder department, and those legendary American brands didn't seem to matter anymore. Their overwhelming power didn't seem to matter in comparison, and that power dropped over time. Eventually, American brands developed 4-cylinder cars that sought to compete with the foreign brands. As a result, Chevrolet needed to reinvent itself for a new generation of competition. If they introduce new monikers, the classic ones grow old and outdated. By reinventing the SS as representing top-tier performance in every division, Chevrolet can leave a mark on every track, whether that track tends to host big V8s or low-displacement 4-bangers.
Chevrolet wants the SS to mean something, so those of you that think the SS moniker has gone too far need to take a close look at the numbers. When Chevrolet produces vehicles that bear the SS label, they dominate their class. Cars like the Cobalt SS and HHR SS, even if they seem average, prove their metal on the track and beat so many cars in and out of their class that it is hard to make exceptions. They all deserve the name, so why should Chevrolet take the Super Sport out of any of their cars?