...and if it does, it may become a Chevrolet Commodore Police Car.
http://jalopnik.com/5230928/lapd-to-buy-chevy+badged-holden-commodore-police-cars
I can haz Chevy Commodore SS? kthnxbai!
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April 28, 2009 5:42 p.m. RexSeven HalfDork
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April 28, 2009 6:01 p.m. GregTivo Reader
I can't wait for future police auctions
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April 28, 2009 7:45 p.m. JohnGalt Reader
11 different flavors of WIN!
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April 28, 2009 7:48 p.m. Xceler8x Dork
It's the last of the big blocks Max.
(inspired by GregTivo's avatar picture.)
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April 28, 2009 8:21 p.m. Gimp Dork
ahem...
Last of the V8 Interceptors.
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April 28, 2009 8:23 p.m. senador New Reader
Chevy should just call it a Caprice. I bet people would buy the car just for the name. Bring back the old Chevy cop cars!
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April 28, 2009 8:27 p.m. P71 Dork
Dollars to donuts...
Ford's not making P71's (or any CV's) next year and that's some 60K cop cars worth of market. Charger hasn't gone over well with some departments. Holden wants to be importing them, there's a market.
So my bet is we see the G8 return in 2010 as the "Chevy Caprice" in cop/fleet only form PLUS a "Impala" for Chevy dealers (since the FWD Impala is supposed to die in 2010 as well). V6 or V8 Impy, V8 SS (the G8 GXP).
But GM might not be that smart...
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April 28, 2009 8:33 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork
Aside from the awsomeness, it is a huge jump for LAPD to step away from the P71. Partly due to how everything done to an LAPD P71 after it leaves the factory is done in house, much of it custom/from scratch, iirc. FWIW my soarces on this is a Car Craft used police car article from a few years ago, around the time departments started getting Chargers.
edit so ford is finally killing the P71?
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April 28, 2009 8:47 p.m. Volksroddin HalfDork
Commodore, I'd rock that after the Interseptor dies again. But my motor only has 25k on it. So it will be while
.
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April 28, 2009 9:13 p.m. ReverendDexter HalfDork
P71 wrote:
But GM might not be that smart...
Might?
Why even question it?
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April 28, 2009 9:43 p.m. RexSeven HalfDork
ReverendDexter wrote:
P71 wrote:
But GM might not be that smart...
Might?
Why even question it?
In a situation like this, I think P71's scenario is likely except the naming as of this point is fuzzy. Besides, fleet sales are sales. According to the GoAuto article this links to, the G8's sales upticked shortly before Pontiac's death certificate was signed and the LAPD and eight other jurisdictions were "highly enthusiastic" about the LAPD's G8 prototype, so those are two votes of confidence for the G8 to live on as a Chevy.
On a sadder note, the Solstice is dead- this'll be its last year in the lineup and won't be shifted to another division. The Vibe may or may not see it to Pontiac's 2010 execution date, depending on how GM works things out with Toyota.
Source: http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/163AD4D8E1002739CA2575A6001F0097
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April 28, 2009 10:04 p.m. P71 Dork
The G8 is already sold as the Chevy Caprice in a lot of foreign markets, so it really isn't a stretch to do the same here. Pontiac's guys are still in GM (until they get laid off too) and Holden will probably leverage Camaro parts to keep Commodore/G8's going on the ships over here. So it really isn't a stretch to see the G8 in 2010 as a Chevy Impala (with SS already) and a Caprice cop car version.
It's too bad a similar case can't be made to save the Solstice. GM never did "sports cars" though, because of the Corvette.
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April 29, 2009 12:04 a.m. driver109x Reader
I say name it the Chevelle o
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April 29, 2009 12:39 a.m. PaulY New Reader
I remember see a concept a while back in motortrend with a chevy version of the solstice called the manta ray with 300hp v6 power. It was around the time it was rumored the corvette was going to spur a sub brand of just corvettes and it would be like the baby vette. I don't see why chevy wouldn't take it but it's a huge stretch to give it a new look where as the g8 is a chevy in the middle east.
They were working on the alpha platform, a bmw 3 series sized, rwd car for cadillac with a chevy sedan version plus it would be the basis for a shorted next gen sky/solstice. Now that everything is on hold and there are no other brands, if it ever gets the green light they might design a chevy solstice replacement as well as the 2nd gen opel gt.
I really hope chevy gets this car, the impala is a lame duck compared to the malibu and the G8 is an excellent car.
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April 29, 2009 6:24 a.m. John Brown MegaDork
Since the current CTS is a variant chassis of the current Commodore why doesn't GM fire up a Caprice off the CTS rolling structure and reduce the need to import the car, maybe... just maybe putting some American people to work?
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April 29, 2009 6:55 a.m. Slyp_Dawg New Reader
slightly better idea: bring Holden (and all their cars, in LHD of course) to the states. the Ute (which was supposed to come stateside as the G8ST I believe) could be renamed the El Camino, the Monaro (aussie version of the G8, if memory serves) renamed, well, whatever (Caprice and Chevelle seem to be the popular ideas here). other than that, I think that everything Holden makes has a US counterpart from either Chevy or one of the other GM marques that isn't to be sent to the auction block or the trash bin
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April 29, 2009 7:11 a.m. Bobzilla Reader
All I can say is: 9C1
Actually, I have to say more... it's like 1991 all over again. GM providing the hotrod Caprice 9C1 that's faster than half the true pursuit vehciles offered at teh time. CV? Can't ever tell he's in the mirror anymore.
Long Live the 9C1
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April 29, 2009 7:54 a.m. gamby UberDork
Gimp wrote:
ahem...
Last of the V8 Interceptors.
lol
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April 29, 2009 8:10 a.m. DirtyBird222 Dork
Jimmy Blower?
I was just discussing this with friend's last night. My buddy with a 1980 Caprice said if they put a Chevy badge on it and called it a Caprice he would buy one just to have a new DD to match his oldie.
I would buy one regarless of Chevy or Pontiac if I had the funds.
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April 29, 2009 8:46 a.m. P71 Dork
John Brown,
They did. It's called the Camaro. Except GM was idiotic when they stopped the Camaro in 02 and so it had to be built in Canada.
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April 30, 2009 12:42 a.m. PaulY Reader
That and the Canadian Gm factory is one of, if not the best factory they have.
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April 30, 2009 7:36 a.m. aussiesmg Dork
Slyp_Dawg wrote:
slightly better idea: bring Holden (and all their cars, in LHD of course) to the states. the Ute (which was supposed to come stateside as the G8ST I believe) could be renamed the El Camino, the Monaro (aussie version of the G8, if memory serves) renamed, well, whatever (Caprice and Chevelle seem to be the popular ideas here). other than that, I think that everything Holden makes has a US counterpart from either Chevy or one of the other GM marques that isn't to be sent to the auction block or the trash bin
Considering the car was designed and built using Aussie ingenuity wouldn't bringing production here turn it into another car that is. and I am being generous, just average. I say that thinking about what the Chevy line has produced as 4 door sedans over the past 20 years. Impala, Lumina, Cavalier, Corsica, Malibu and yes even the venerable Caprice (IMHO they are heavy and bad handling)...I suggest looking at the Aussie Commodores built between 92 and 96 as a fair comparison.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore#Second_generation_.281988.E2.80.9319...
If the US industry has to learn anything beyond the current market problem other than the Union fiasco, it is that cars need to be built as world cars like the Ford Focus, building them in multiple countries makes for a more efficient International business plan, ask the only US car company not going broke this week.
Ford have been doing this for a long time, ie Mercur/Sierra, Mondeo, Focus etc, this probably has a lot to do with the English/Aussie/Asian model sharing that has gone on for decades.
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April 30, 2009 9:45 a.m. John Brown MegaDork
How does using the same design and parts but changing production locations cause the car to go frome great to average?
My opinion is to reduce the continental differences. Make a LHD version of the Holden, build it in Lansing alongside the CTS (using the same basic architecture, as well as Europe where they are building the Vauxhall/Chevrolets), make a Chevrolet Caprice with a police package and a civilian version. Common options use the V6, with a SS / 9C1 V8 option. Make a manual available on both products and on both engines. Start building REAL World cars. If the China market Buick is set to sell a kajillion units, then build and sell it in all markets. Make all DOT, lighting, emission and crash testing standard throughout the world. Hell make everyone drive LHD cars and get rid of all those mail trucks the Aussies drive ;)
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April 30, 2009 12:51 p.m. Nashco SuperDork
John Brown wrote:
Make all DOT, lighting, emission and crash testing standard throughout the world. Hell make everyone drive LHD cars and get rid of all those mail trucks the Aussies drive ;)
Oh John Brown, you crazy old bat. Governments cooperating to commonize legal requirements? Ahahahhahaha! You dream a dreamy tale!
Bryce
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April 30, 2009 1:24 p.m. John Brown MegaDork
You should know I only type "Funny"
