Nowadays, Chevrolet uses a radically different approach to what it did in the 2000s, when it hit the market with a pair of retro-styled models that made for some of the quirkiest vehicles on the road. But what is the SSR muscle truck and the HHR compact were to make a return? Well, using Chevy’s current financial efficiency-driven path, these would have to return as EVs, which is precisely what this digital fantasy delivers.
We’re looking at renderings that revive a pair of 2000s Chevys that would seem impossible these days. However, before we talk about how an independent artist dreamt up electric revivals for the SSR and the HHR, let’s see what these modern classics are all about.
Back in the 1990s, many of the Golden Bowtie’s vehicles were bland offerings trailing the rest of the market, with this including segments like sedans, SUVs and the then-still-reigning minivans.
The SSR was a mix of genres
In a bid to turn things around, and making full use of the retro design era that market the early 2000s, Chevrolet started the offensive mentioned in the intro by introducing the SSR in 2003.
Styled after the company’s late 1940s/1950s trucks, this mixed the pickup design with a convertible approach and a muscle attitude—it packed a 300 hp 5.3L V8 for 2003 and 2004 and moved on to a 390 hp 6.0L V8 for 2005 and 2006. The latter years also saw the automatic tranny being joined by a six-speed manual option.
The thing looked like nothing else on the road and offered respectable driving dynamics. However, its rather high price ($42,000 back in the day, or almost $63,000 in today’s money) and niche audience meant the company only sold 24,000+ units.
The HHR kept the design cool, but played a safer hand
In a few years, GM would give the vintage design craze another try with the HHR. This time around, though, Chevrolet went for a safer approach, targeting a much larger audience via a FWD compact. In addition, the car was only introduced after GM noticed the success of the 2000-introduced Chrsyler PT Cruiser. They even tasked Bryan Nesbitt, the designer of the Chrysler “muse”, to pen the model.
And while the result was spectacular and offered as a global car, the HHR came to the market in 2005, around the time the PT Cruiser’s popularity peaked. Thus, the Chevy couldn’t match its rival in terms of sales.
So while there’s no denying that the spectacular SSR accelerated the process the led to GM’s financial crisis-era bankruptcy (2009), the HHR wasn’t quite the life-saver the company hoped it would be.
GM’s current electrified era
As a result of the said history, many of GM’s current decision are the opposite of the romatinc operations is delivered back in the day. For one, the Blazer nameplate was revived as crossover instead of the cool SUV of old. However, the company’s electrification plans seem to allow a bit more room to play.
For one, GM has revived the Hummer brand with the GMC Hummer EV (here’s the giant drag racing a Lamborghini Urus). Speaking of which, the behemoth’s Ultimum platform will also underpin the Blazer EV. The electric crossover, which will be fully unveiled next month, is set to enter production in 2024. And while its styling has split opinions in a recent preview, we some 1950s Chevy wagon lines in there, which is a joy.
EV-revived SSR and HHR
Returning to these renderings, they tip the balance in favor of an enthusiast-driven approach. The works, which come from the label known as KDesign AG, mix the styling cues of the SSR and HHR with elements from the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, another Ultimum product.
And while the HHR seems better put together than the SSR (the latter’s curved windshield seems to complicate things for the modern bits), adding emotion is something the entire EV market needs. So it’s a thumbs up from us.
