What Is the Difference Between a 2SS & 1SS Camaro?

The fifth-generation Camaro made its auspicious, mainstream public debut as one of the stars of the 2007 "Transformers" movie. It was a fitting introduction for Chevy's bold, aggressive and very popular modern-day muscle car.

The SS model was the next step up from the base, V-6-powered LT version in the Camaro lineup. It featured a big, eight-cylinder engine under its hood. The 1SS was the more affordable trim level, while the 2SS came with more standard comfort and convenience features.

Exterior & Interior Dimensions

The Camaro coupe was 190.6 inches long, 75.50 inches wide and 54.20 inches high, and had a 112.30-inch wheelbase. In 1SS trim, the coupe had a base curb weight of 3,719 pounds, while the 2SS version weighed in at a marginally lighter 3,702 pounds.

With a height of 54.70 inches, the convertible was a tiny bit taller with its top up, but otherwise had identical dimensions to the coupe. It was a bit heavier, though, as most convertibles are compared to their hard-top counterparts. The 1SS convertible had a curb weight of 4,127 pounds and the 2SS of 4,197 pounds.

The coupe's front seats offered 37.4 inches of headroom, 56.9 inches of shoulder room and 42.4 inches of legroom. The backseat provided 35.30 inches of headroom, 50.42 of shoulder room and 29.9 of legroom.

The convertible's front seats provided 37.8 inches of headroom, 56.9 inches of shoulder room and 42.4 inches of legroom. Backseat passengers got 35.7 inches of headroom, 42.5 inches of shoulder room and 29.90 inches of legroom.

The coupe's trunk had a capacity of 11.3 cubic feet, while the convertible's offered 10.2 cubic feet of space for gear, groceries and other cargo.

Drivetrain

Both SS models were powered by a big and powerful 6.2-liter V-8. The engine put out an impressive -- and potentially tire-shredding -- 426 horsepower at 5,900 rpm and 420 foot-pounds of torque at 4,600 rpm. Power was directed to the car's 19-inch rear wheels by either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Both SS models came standard with a limited-slip rear differential and Brembo disc brakes at all four corners. All Camaros employed multi-link suspensions front and rear. The SS models featured a more aggressive, performance-oriented suspension tuning than the standard versions.

Performance

Both SS models boasted identical performance figures. The V-8-powered Chevy could blast from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. A quarter-mile dash took 12.9 seconds at 110 mph. With the optional 1LE package installed, the car achieved an impressive 1.03G of lateral acceleration on a 200-ft skid pad. Finally, a 60-to-0 mph stop was accomplished in a short 109 feet.

Features & Options

The 1SS came equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, automatic headlights, foglights, keyless entry, remote start on automatic models, air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Chevy's "MyLink" smartphone integration system and a six-speaker CD stereo with auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. The convertible also came standard with a rearview camera and rear parking sensors. Those two features were optional on the coupe.

The 2SS added leather seating surfaces, a full-color driver information display, a heads-up display, four-pack auxiliary gauges, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a universal home remote, standard rear-view camera and rear parking sensors on both the coupe and convertible, and an eight-speaker Boston Acoustics premium sound system

Optional on both 1SS and 2SS models, the 1LE performance package added a selection of components designed to make the car more competent on a racetrack. It included a strut tower brace, 20-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle Supercar G tires, monotube rear dampers, larger stabilizer bars, more aggressive rear end and transmission gearings, a high-capacity fuel pump and a transmission cooler. Also included in the 1LE package were several exterior mods, including a matte black hood, a front splitter and a special rear spoiler.

Safety

The Camaro came standard with four-wheel ABS, traction control, stability control, dual front airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front-seat side airbags. Also standard was GM's OnStar system. The 2014 version's safety-specific features included on-demand roadside assistance, stolen vehicle assistance, remote door unlocking and automatic crash notification.

Consumer Data

Both the 1SS and 2SS models received identical fuel-economy ratings. With the automatic transmission, they got EPA mileage scores of 15 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Equipped with the manual, the two Camaros were rated at 16-24.

The 1SS model started $33,355 for the coupe and $39,355 for the convertible. The 2SS had a base price of $37,155 for the coupe and $42,255 for the convertible.