2014 Chevrolet SS pricing set at $44,470

When Chevrolet announced it was delivering a proper rear-wheel drive sports sedan, its first in 17 years, excitement mounted. The Aussie import boasts 415 hp, and marks the face of the automaker's latest NASCAR racer, making the SS a potential hit for the company that seeks to prove it can still wrestle with the Europeans. The big question, of course, was the price, and how expensive would this sleek, sleeper of a sports sedan really be. Well, now we know: Just $44,470.

I say "just" with mild hesitation. Ringing in over $45,000 when dealers add the title and license fees make the SS an expensive machine, but at the same time, it can sprint to 60 mph in under five seconds and do so in a quite comfortable, unobtrusive manner. For $45,000 you'll get a 6.2-liter, small-block American-made V-8 powering a near-luxury car that seats four. And at that price, the SS splits the space between its major Detroit competitors, costing less the Chrysler 300 SRT8 but more than a Ford Taurus SHO.

The best part, however, is this: There are only two options on the SS, power-operated sunroof ($900) and full-size spare tire ($500). That's it. No one will turn German and plunder you of every dime you own just so you can drive a car that's basically equipped. (In unrelated news: Did you know Porsche can leather-wrap your rearview mirror for a mere $200?)

The SS likely won't be perfect. It does not come with a manual gearbox, which, if you ask me, is a travesty, and its looks are perhaps too dull for some. But it's a solid, honest price that offers serious American muscle in a rear-wheel drive sports sedan -- despite it being fashioned from a Holden Commodore sold by GM's Australian division. It's been a long time coming, and all signs point in the right direction.