“2014 Chevrolet SS Performance” name leaks out through OnStar app preview

It's been clear for a few months that Chevrolet had plans for a new model with some performance bones, from announcing that the next Impala wouldn't be the basis of its upcoming NASCAR entry to a recent renewal of the trademark for the "SS" badge it once glued on several models. Now there's fresh evidence of what Chevy's ready to drop, thanks to a premature leak from OnStar of the 2014 Chevrolet lineup, including the "SS Performance" model. Here's what everyone's expecting:

The one gaping hole missing in Chevy's lineup is some kind of rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, the job once held by the Pontiac G8. General Motors only builds such cars at its Holden unit in Australia, where its adapted the long-wheelbase version of Holden Commodore into the Chevrolet Caprice for police fleets in the United States. (Holden ended up selling off the leftover Pontiac models as Holdens, complete with Pontiac grilles, after GM's bankruptcy.)

Given that GM needs to boost Holden's output, that much of the work on bringing the G8 to the United States remains valid and that GM North American chief Mark Reuss enjoys fast cars and last headed Holden, reviving the G8 as a Chevy sedan -- with a stump-pulling V8 as a top-performance model -- makes eminent sense as a Dodge Charger fighter.

OnStar wouldn't guide us wrong, right?