Watch This Space: High Performance Holden Cruze SS said to be in the Works

In Australia, the SS badge has a special meaning to Holden owners. Its most frequently associated with the Commodore large car and to a lesser extent, the ultra-rare Torana SS of the 1970s. It�s all about big Aussie V8�s and rear-wheel-drive. It�s as Australian as Fosters beer and Four�N Twenty pies.

So now, there�s talk of a performance version of the Cruze small car in the works - and insidious rumors this front-wheel-drive econobox may carry the prestigious double �S� moniker previously reserved only for V8 models. �Sacrilege!� you scream, and I�m more than willing to agree. Nevertheless, let�s push on and see what the Australian rumor mill has in store for us.

It�s possible a high performance version of the Cruze would use the same 132 kW, / 180HP and 230 Nm 1.6-liter turbo four from the European Vauxhall / Opel Astra as there drivetrains are readily interchangeable thanks to both using the GM�s Delta II architecture.

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