Canada won't get 415-horsepower RWD sedan [UPDATED]

Chevrolet took the wraps off of their 2014 SS performance sedan during the NASCAR Daytona 500 February 16.

When its limited sales run starts late this year, it will become Chevrolet's first rear-wheel drive V8 performance sedan offering since 1996.

“The Chevrolet brand was largely built on the strength of rear-drive performance sedans, yet it's been 17 years since we've offered one,” Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, said in a press release.

“The all-new Chevrolet SS fills that void and fills it better than any other vehicle in the brand’s rich history."

UPDATE 20/02/2013: General Motors spokesperson George Saratlic has confirmed that the Chevrolet SS will not be sold in Canada, the Globe and Mail reports.

UPDATE 05/06/2013: The SS will start at $44,470 in the U.S., GM announced early June 2013.

The SS, which is based on the same architecture as the Caprice police patrol vehicle andd Australian-market Holden VF Commodore, will come equipped with a 6.2-litre, 415-horsepower LS3 V8.

It will use a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to put 415 lb.-ft. of torque to the ground. It is expected to cover zero to 100 km/h in five seconds.

The car boasts a sport-tuned chassis and, thanks to a lightweight aluminum hood and trunk lid, a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

The five-seater will come standard with leather bucket seats and a colour heads-up display (HUD). It is also the first Chevrolet with Automatic Parking Assist, which helps to automatically steer the car when parallel parking.

The Chevrolet SS's closest competitor would be the Dodge Charger SRT8 performance sedan, which is available with a 6.4-litre HEMI producing 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. It can make it from zero to 100 km/h in less than five seconds.

(Chevrolet)