The Heat Is On

MILAN, MI — Throngs of media are crowded around the Chevrolet SSR all day long at General Motors Corp.'s '04 model preview here at a countryside dragstrip about 40 miles (64 km) west of Detroit.

The journalists seemingly are unfazed by the stifling 95°F heat (35°C), made worse by the black asphalt, lack of shade and running engines.

The high temperatures are good preparation for SSR's public rollout later this year, because, make no doubt about it, the heat is on GM to deliver another vehicle that drives the public crazy.

Hummer H2 and Cadillac Escalade definitely have created some buzz. But GM needs more than a pair of oversized trucks to recast its image. Enter SSR — a funky cross-mix of a 1950s Chevy pickup and 1970s El Camino.

SSR isn't merely an extension of a current market segment. As with H2, it's adding a chapter to the auto industry's design handbook. Whether other auto makers decide to borrow a page is yet to be determined.

First, SSR is a truck. That categorization is easier to make than previously thought, as it's built off GM's 360 midsize SUV (Chevy TrailBlazer) platform (kudos to GM for coming up with an off-the-wall derivative). That much has been known since SSR debuted as a concept at the 2000 North American International Auto Show.

Since then, it's been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a midsize truck. The truck tag clearly is deserved upon closer inspection. SSR is big, tall and heavy. This is no pocket-rocket sports car, even though SSR is an acronym for Super Sport Roadster.

The wheelbase is 116 ins. (294 cm). That's 3 ins. (7.5 cm) longer than the TrailBlazer. The curb weight is 4,760 lbs. (2,159 kg), compared to 4,612 lbs. (2,092 kg) for the 4-wheel-drive TrailBlazer. (Lightweight alternative materials were considered for the program but ultimately lost out to steel-intensive construction.)

And even though SSR's ground clearance is nearly 2 ins. (5 cm) lower than TrailBlazer, running boards are an option. Running boards? On a roadster?

In test drives around Milan, as well as a road course on the dragstrip grounds, SSR's tires (mounted on 19-in. wheels in front and 20-in. rims in the rear) scream around corners. The ride is a bit jiggly. But for a body-on-frame vehicle, the waggle is minor.

Damping is adequate, thanks to monotube shock absorbers on the double-A arm front/5-link rear solid-axle suspension.

Instead of the 6.0L V-8 in the concept model, the production SSR offers GM's Vortec 5.3L all-aluminum V-8, producing 300 hp. The powerplant is paired with a 4-speed automatic.

Despite the smaller engine and SSR's considerable weight, the roadster still roars. In 7.6 seconds it will go from 0-60 mph (97 km/h), according to GM specs. With accelerator to the floor, SSR's nose lifts slightly, the rear tires dig in and the engine bellows a wall of sound.

The interior looks sharp, but it's a wee tight (although this is no Chrysler Prowler), maddening in such a wide vehicle. The power-seat controls are difficult to reach when the door is closed.

And SSR's high beltline makes it feel like a bathtub. The aviator-inspired equipment includes three simple climate control knobs designed by Alfa Romeo SpA. The steering wheel features a satin-nickel-inspired plastic.

In front of the center-mounted gearshift are three optional circular gauges showing voltage, transmission temperature and hourly fuel consumption. Together, they add to the roadster experience.

The only disruption among the interior's linear and clean appearance is the standard GM stereo face.

SSR's exterior styling had few skeptics during its run on the auto show circuit. Seeing SSR on the road, however, may change a few minds.

The Art Deco front grille is classic, and the half-moon door handles add to SSR's curves. But from several angles, SSR looks chunky and overstuffed with its rounded fenders and bulging hood.

The retractable hardtop adds to the bubbly appearance when it's covering the cockpit. To turn the SSR into a convertible, the power-operated roof folds and stows away into a small compartment between the seats and the cargo box in less than 30 seconds.

The covered pickup box is approximately 5 ft. (1.5 m) long and 3 ft. (0.9 m) wide. And the cover is removable for drivers aching to relive their El Camino memories. With SSR pricing starting at $41,995, that's what the affordable El Camino is: a memory.

2004 Chevrolet SSR

Vehicle type: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive, 2-passenger pickup

Engine: 5.3L (5,326 cc) OHV V-8, aluminum block/aluminum heads

Power (SAE net): 300 hp @ 5,200 rpm

Torque: 331 lb.-ft. (449 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm

Compression ratio: 9.5:1

Bore × Stroke (mm): 96 × 92

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 116 ins. (295 cm)

Overall length: 191.4 ins. (486 cm)

Overall width: 78.6 ins. (200 cm)

Overall height: 64.2 ins. (163 cm)

Curb weight: 4,760 lbs. (2,159 kg)

Market competition: Your call.