Since the introduction and subsequent failure to sell the SSR, Chevrolet has been testing the retro waters with many concepts that have yet to make it to the actual production line. Most of the retro concepts vehicles have been cars such as the SS and now the replacement Camaro, but the truck and SUV market has continued to follow the modern trends introduced by the Avalanche.

Even though the SSR has been a headline grabbing sales failure, with only 8,538 sales in the US this year, Chevy is launching it's next retro styled model in 2006. Next summer marks the launch date for Chevy's new HHR, a retro styled "crossover vehicle" or five-passenger sport utility vehicle. The styling of the HHR reflects both the look of a 1949 Suburban and the current SSR.

"With its expressive design and surprising functionality, HHR is a great addition to our family of Chevrolet vehicles," said Pete Langenhorst, Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR marketing director.


Pictured: SSR, HHR and 1946 Suburban

Turns out HHR got the green light to produce this vehicle about the same time as they did the SSR, which means they did not know how much of a miserable failure the SSR would be. Armed with this information, three years later Chevy introduces this retro styled "crossover vehicle" that reminds us of the National Lampoon's Griswold's "Family Truckster" more than it does anything else.

From the artist renderings of this SUV, it appears to be heavily inspired by it's older brother, the non-selling SSR, which is more about the fashion statement than it is about performance or function. Space seems to be sacrificed for arching wheel wells, smaller side windows and a sloping hood, but that's what we take away from the drawings but that is just our opinions. We haven't seen actual photos of the production HHR which might be completely different from the artist rendering of this pre-production vehicle, as most renderings are.

Let's hope that Chevy has learned from their SSR mistakes of the past and produces a vehicle consumers will purchase this time.

Read the Forbes Article...