New Chevrolet Caprice RWD

Mark 12 Jul 09, 01:17

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/n ... index.html

Only hours into his latest tenure at General Motors, Bob Lutz was back at what he does best, namely, slipping product information to the media and giving enthusiasts a reason to believe in the beleaguered auto company.

Asked about the future of the Pontiac G8, slated to end production with the 2009 model year, Lutz told Automobile Magazine the car would find its way into Chevrolet showrooms under the Caprice name.

"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet," Lutz said. "It is kind of too good to waste."

CEO Fritz Henderson has repeatedly denied that the G8 would survive as part of another brand, saying he's "not a fan of rebadging."

But Lutz, citing export agreements with Australia and the fact that the Holden Commodore is already sold in many countries as a Chevrolet, assured us GM would not let the car die.

Commercial aircraft flown in: B712 B722 B732 B734 B737 B738 B741 B742 B744 B752 B753 B762 B772 A310 A318 A319 A320 A321 DC91 DC93 DC94 DC1030 DC1040 F100 MD82 MD83 A223 CR2 CR7 E175

Mark 12 Jul 09, 01:51

The base model -- priced from $27,595 -- features a 261 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 250 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful G8 GT -- starting at $29,995 -- delivers 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque thanks to a 6.0-liter V8.

Commercial aircraft flown in: B712 B722 B732 B734 B737 B738 B741 B742 B744 B752 B753 B762 B772 A310 A318 A319 A320 A321 DC91 DC93 DC94 DC1030 DC1040 F100 MD82 MD83 A223 CR2 CR7 E175

Allstarflyer (Database Editor & Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 02:03

That's a nice looking car, and I like what I read about the specs.

A few thoughts, w/o making this too political -

It's a GM car.

GM is owned by the government.

Let GM die.

Phew, ok, now anyway - it's a nice-looking ride - hope it does better on gas mileage than the G8. {boggled}

TUSpilot (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 03:52

I'm glad to see a good car survive, but the styling has taken a major turn for the worse. I wonder if people will rebuild the front of their cars to match the more attractive G8. It's still a GM car though, so I'd rather have a Hyundai than a GM in the near term.

We live in a galaxy far far away and we STILL have to connect in ATL.

JetsGo (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 03:57

Looks like an Aveo and Impala mated and called it a Caprice. {thumbsdown}

Marine Corps Aviation, The Last To Let You Down

NWA742 (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 04:00

JetsGo wrote:Looks like an Aveo and Impala mated and called it a Caprice.

Hey, what really counts on this car lie way beneath the skin.

Anyway, glad to hear they are keeping the G8 platform, and I like seeing the Caprice name coming back. Good decision..........however shocking it is........by Gen......Government Motors........who I am now a former loyal customer of as soon as they caved into the government instead of restructuring by themselves. The only involvement they should've had through the government was Ch. 11 - plain and simple.

I respect Ford much more these days.

Flying is real freedom.

captoveur 12 Jul 09, 13:30

Looks like an Impala with rear drive (like they should have done in the first place)

I guess GM is going to stop trying to tell everyone what they want and start listening.. People buying American cars want rear drive, a big engine, and some interior room.

If GM wants to keep making Accords like they are trying to do with the Impala, Honda is going to kick their ass every time. GM can't play the Japanese car game. It is too bad it took a bankruptcy and 60% government ownership to figure it out.

Would I buy a new Caprice? If the last GM car I had been exposed to was my 88 Caprice? Yep. But, after driving Hondas because GM couldn't get their act together on making a decent car that doesn't fall apart. Never!

Let them die!

I like my coffee how I like my women: Black, bitter, and preferably fair trade.

Queso (netAirspace ATC Tower Chief & Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 14:14

Mark wrote:The base model -- priced from $27,595 -- features a 261 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 250 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful G8 GT -- starting at $29,995 -- delivers 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque thanks to a 6.0-liter V8.

Yeah, but you neglected to mention the best part. The G8 GXP has a 6.2L V8 engine that produces 415hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. I know this because I have been thinking about grabbing one while they are still around. That car is a serious muscle-car DESTROYER and will be a highly collectible item about 10 years from now.

Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.

Boris (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 14:19

What this tells me is that the US taxpayers bailed out GM so it can sell cars manufactured in Australia, thus saving/creating jobs halfway around the world and keeping more Americans out of work... {crazy}

See, Obama is creating jobs... They're just not American jobs...

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers...

captoveur 12 Jul 09, 14:27

Queso wrote: That car is a serious muscle-car DESTROYER and will be a highly collectible item about 10 years from now.

Yeah... People fall all over themselves for cars from companies that no longer exist.

I like my coffee how I like my women: Black, bitter, and preferably fair trade.

Queso (netAirspace ATC Tower Chief & Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 14:41

Boris wrote:What this tells me is that the US taxpayers bailed out GM so it can sell cars manufactured in Australia, thus saving/creating jobs halfway around the world and keeping more Americans out of work...

Nothing has really changed though, many of GM's vehicles have been manufactured in Canada for a while now. My Impala was built in Windsor, OT.

captoveur wrote:
Queso wrote: That car is a serious muscle-car DESTROYER and will be a highly collectible item about 10 years from now.

Yeah... People fall all over themselves for cars from companies that no longer exist.

When it's a vehicle like that, they do. The AMC AMX and Javelin are good examples. After a car is more than 20 or 30 years old it doesn't matter if the company that built it or not is still in business any more because they dont support them anyway. Rebuilding my 1981 Citation has been a good illustration of that, more than once I have gone to the dealer for parts and they just laugh when they find out I am asking for a part from a 28 year-old car.

Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.

Boris (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 15:03

Queso wrote:
Boris wrote:What this tells me is that the US taxpayers bailed out GM so it can sell cars manufactured in Australia, thus saving/creating jobs halfway around the world and keeping more Americans out of work...

Nothing has really changed though, many of GM's vehicles have been manufactured in Canada for a while now. My Impala was built in Windsor, OT.

I know, and the Canadian government put some billions into the GM bailout. People have thought for years they're "Buying American" and they get cars manufactured in Canada, Mexico, or elsewhere. They criticize buying Japanese, but the Nissan comes from Tennessee and the Toyota from Alabama or Kentucky.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against importing cars. It just still appalls me that people think it's a proper function of government to take over private companies just to appease the unions. If they were viable operations with good management and productive workers, they wouldn't need a bailout.

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers...

captoveur 12 Jul 09, 15:06

Boris wrote: It just still appalls me that people think it's a proper function of government to take over private companies just to appease the unions. If they were viable operations with good management and productive workers, they wouldn't need a bailout.

I haven't found anyone yet who thinks the government takeover of GM was a good idea.

I guess when the UAWs money and mob ties get you elected in your home state you owe them a $70 billion favor.

I like my coffee how I like my women: Black, bitter, and preferably fair trade.

aloges (Founding Member) 12 Jul 09, 16:15

As was said earlier, please refrain from

Allstarflyer wrote:making this too political

Not every single thread needs to turn into an Obama bash. It's well known that some of you loathe the man and everything his administration says, suggests or does, so can we please get at least this thread back on topic?

sosumi

halls120 (Plank Owner) 13 Jul 09, 03:10

aloges wrote:As was said earlier, please refrain from

Allstarflyer wrote:making this too political

Not every single thread needs to turn into an Obama bash. It's well known that some of you loathe the man and everything his administration says, suggests or does, so can we please get at least this thread back on topic?

here's the problem with that.

The government bought GM. The government is now making decisions about what cars GM will or will not build. Obama is the head of government. Thus, criticizing the head of GM should be OK.

Are you suggesting we can't criticize the leadership of Ford on this particular board?

(I do see your point, but when government steps into the role of running a non-governmental business, it does sort of blur the lines, doesn't it?

)

At home in the PNW and loving it

captoveur 13 Jul 09, 03:30

aloges wrote:As was said earlier, please refrain from

Allstarflyer wrote:making this too political

Not every single thread needs to turn into an Obama bash. It's well known that some of you loathe the man and everything his administration says, suggests or does, so can we please get at least this thread back on topic?

It is on topic.. Obama now has control of GM.

I like my coffee how I like my women: Black, bitter, and preferably fair trade.

NWA742 (Founding Member) 13 Jul 09, 04:36

aloges wrote:As was said earlier, please refrain from

Allstarflyer wrote:making this too political

Not every single thread needs to turn into an Obama bash. It's well known that some of you loathe the man and everything his administration says, suggests or does, so can we please get at least this thread back on topic?

But the Obama administration made the unprecedented move of taking control of half a major industry. That is a huge influence per any discussion related to GM these days. It should be more than welcome to express feelings about the administration in this thread.

Flying is real freedom.

Cadet57 13 Jul 09, 15:52

Awesome looking car! Couple friends and I both agreed if they make a police package of this car, they could probably take the market from ford and dodge. Because as it stands, the Crown Vic is done after 2011/2012 and unless they make a P71 of the new taurus, they got nothing.

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