Police get G8 after all!

[Mitlov]

Meet the 355-horsepower Chevy Caprice police cruiser, coming soon to a rearview mirror near you 





http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/the-cops-get-a-zeta-sedan-gm-unveils-355-hp-chevy-caprice-polic/

From the article, it sounds like this is a long wheelbase version of the G8, with all the normal cop stuff (upgraded suspension and brakes, high-output alternator, all that jazz).

[G0dspd]

First thing's first: it is not the Holden Commodore, a.k.a. Pontiac G8 (rest in peace). It's a left-hand-drive version of the long-wheelbase, Zeta-platform Holden Caprice/Statesman. Many of you already know that this car is also sold in the Middle East as, you guessed it, the Chevy Caprice. Also, as had been rumored -- you can't buy one. It's a fleet special only, and we can envision fistfights breaking out over these at police auctions in a few years.

So Lutz was accurate when he said that the G8 (Commodore) wasn't going to be back as a Chevy, but was he just playing with words or did he really mean that the Caprice will never be available to the general public.  If the demand is there, I don't understand why they can't sell it as an Impala replacement.

[Mitlov]

First thing's first: it is not the Holden Commodore, a.k.a. Pontiac G8 (rest in peace). It's a left-hand-drive version of the long-wheelbase, Zeta-platform Holden Caprice/Statesman. Many of you already know that this car is also sold in the Middle East as, you guessed it, the Chevy Caprice. Also, as had been rumored -- you can't buy one. It's a fleet special only, and we can envision fistfights breaking out over these at police auctions in a few years.

So Lutz was accurate when he said that the G8 (Commodore) wasn't going to be back as a Chevy, but was he just playing with words or did he really mean that the Caprice will never be available to the general public.  If the demand is there, I don't understand why they can't sell it as an Impala replacement.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.  If the car is indeed sold to North American police forces, I suspect that we'll see a Caprice for the public in a year or so.

[Mitlov]

A bunch more pics and a video at the following link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/pics-aplenty-plus-video-chevrolet-caprice-ppv-on-patrol/

[airbalancer]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/10/05/gm-will-build-chevrolet-caprice-for-police-fleets.htm

base on the camero platform

[Mitlov]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/10/05/gm-will-build-chevrolet-caprice-for-police-fleets.htm

base on the camero platform

Both the shortened-wheelbase (and two-door) Camaro and the lengthened-wheelbase Caprice can trace their platform to the Holden Commodore, aka the Pontiac G8.

[Roddy]

First thing's first: it is not the Holden Commodore, a.k.a. Pontiac G8 (rest in peace). It's a left-hand-drive version of the long-wheelbase, Zeta-platform Holden Caprice/Statesman. Many of you already know that this car is also sold in the Middle East as, you guessed it, the Chevy Caprice. Also, as had been rumored -- you can't buy one. It's a fleet special only, and we can envision fistfights breaking out over these at police auctions in a few years.

So Lutz was accurate when he said that the G8 (Commodore) wasn't going to be back as a Chevy, but was he just playing with words or did he really mean that the Caprice will never be available to the general public.  If the demand is there, I don't understand why they can't sell it as an Impala replacement.

Probably because he doesn't think anyone in the general public would buy it AND another large V8 car doesn't help them meet upcoming cafe requirements.

[neil]

The coppers aren't going to like this car, the trunk opening is to small.  Same issue is keeping the police interceptor Charger off the roads.

[articsteve]

Honestly, Lutz should receive the Noble Peace Prize for driving an auto manufacturer into the ground with useless vehicles, TWICE.

There is not a Police agency in the USA that is not laying off ppl.  From California to the City of Chicago that is laying off 300 officers in an already crime infested city.

Head lite assembly for a Crown Vic can be had for $75.00. USD.  With the Australian dollar least par with the US dollar by the time this foolishness transpires, I bet a head lite assembly for this G8 cop mobile will be $1000. USD on a very good day.  A head lite assembly for Ford Escape Hybrid is $550. USD. which is why they don't prove economical as a rough and tumble commercial vehicle.  How much for a G8 bumper and associated parts ..... 4K   

Essentially, the Crown Vic is a tank.  The parts and service is so cheap that it offsets the cost of gas.  No Police agency is gonna go with another V8 that requires parts that will make BMWs look cheap.  It's just another stupid idea supported by free money.

I would suggest to Mr. Lutz that tax payer money might be better spent installing an actual lock cylinder in the truck of new GM vehicles.

[neil]

Steve I don't see force reductions being an issue, but you are right on the cost aspects.

The 'Vic is BOF, large police forces have stocks of pre-painted parts.  Bang a fender, bring it in at noon and be back on the road by 2.  Ford says it's done in 2011, and there will be a market for the cabbie/copper market, if someone finds the right formulae.

[Mitlov]

Not sure what folks mean by cops shunning the Charger.  Sure, I've heard some gripes about maintenance costs over the Crown Vic, but Chargers are starting to outnumber Crown Vics in this neck of the woods.

[Roddy]

Honestly, Lutz should receive the Noble Peace Prize for driving an auto manufacturer into the ground with useless vehicles, TWICE.

There is not a Police agency in the USA that is not laying off ppl.  From California to the City of Chicago that is laying off 300 officers in an already crime infested city.

Head lite assembly for a Crown Vic can be had for $75.00. USD.  With the Australian dollar least par with the US dollar by the time this foolishness transpires, I bet a head lite assembly for this G8 cop mobile will be $1000. USD on a very good day.  A head lite assembly for Ford Escape Hybrid is $550. USD. which is why they don't prove economical as a rough and tumble commercial vehicle.  How much for a G8 bumper and associated parts ..... 4K   

Essentially, the Crown Vic is a tank.  The parts and service is so cheap that it offsets the cost of gas.  No Police agency is gonna go with another V8 that requires parts that will make BMWs look cheap.  It's just another stupid idea supported by free money.

I would suggest to Mr. Lutz that tax payer money might be better spent installing an actual lock cylinder in the truck of new GM vehicles.

Well I don't think that any one would accuse the Putz of having any semblance of practicality. Bob lutz has wasted more money than anyone cares to think about trying to bring his pet projects to head that any reasonable person would foresee being a complete failure. We needn't look any further than the GTO, the SSR, g8 and all the needless SS projects. To make matters worse after our semi senile friend finds that he has created another failure he begins ranting about how stupid his potential customers are. The guy is a walking PR nightmare and I think it says a lot about GM that he has been kept around. The last thing the company with GM's reputation needs is someone claiming global warming "is a crock of ".

[Erik]

Smart move on GM's part. The capacity already exists at Holden to build them. They will already have a large quantity of at least the mechanical parts available in the US (G8 leftovers). Very inexpensive way to take enter into a new market. If Ford actually does drop the Crown Vic, Chevy will likely steal the crown from them.
Gonna be a lot of smiling cops too. The very BMW like G8 GT was a sweetheart of a car to drive, so these boys will be happy after years of driving boring old Crown Vics.

[safristi]

..and here i THO'T "COPS STYLE" KAR CHASES were verbotten................don't most accidents occur under 45 MPH (or 4 Million Kilometres per hour)....