GM Design Grandisimo Approves Design of Next Holden Commodore Due in 2013

*2011 Holden Commodore Series II pictured here

Good news for Commodore fans; General Motors design boss Ed Welburn was in Melbourne recently to sign off on the styling of the next Holden Commodore, due in Q3 2013. The as-of-yet-unrevealed VF Commodore will be an evolution of the current generation VE, sharing the same rear-wheel-drive platform and V6 engines. "It's the absolute right Commodore for that market,” Mr. Welburn was quoted as saying, “I feel very good about it.”

Holden is said to be looking into lightening the VF’s components to improve fuel economy with the new model, and is also putting a strong emphasis on improving drivetrain efficiency. Though Mr. Welburn refused to comment on whether the Commodore would come to the U.S. badged as a Chevy, he did say:

“They are doing work for Holden and for other projects around the world. They are a very talented team – very talented – and I want to take full advantage of that. So, they are responsible for the look and feel of all Holden products, but they are doing work on Chevrolets, they have done some wonderful Buick work, and I could not be more proud of the work that they do.”

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1989 Chevy Caprice Side-Step Proves Cute Utes Can Still Be Cool

Okay, you got me. “Cute utes” are not really my thing. I’m more of a Dodge Ram SRT-10 or an HSV Maloo man myself. Yes, they’re affordable and sure if you’re on a budget and need a reliable vehicle that can carry a whole lot of work gear and tools there’s really nothing better.

So here’s a “step-side” style ute pickup based on a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice. Step-side pickups have a step moulded into the body, typically between the passenger doors and rear wheel arch. They were popular in the 1950s though are somewhat rarer these days.

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Pontiac G8 to be Reborn as the Chevrolet Caprice in the USA, According to Lutz

No sooner that we learned that Bob Lutz reversed his decision to retire from GM at the end of the year, deciding to extend his career as the firm's vice chairman in charge of all "creative elements of products and customer relationships", and the 77-year old is offering American car nuts a reason to celebrate. In an interview with Automobile Magazine, Lutz revealed that the Pontiac G8 isn't dead after all.

Despite the fact that only a month ago, in a live chat with online readers, GM CEO Fritz Henderson supported that the rear-wheel drive Pontiac sports sedan won't live in another brand, Lutz told the magazine that the G8 will be reborn in the USA as the Chevrolet Caprice.

"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." Can't disagree with Lutz on that one....

He also added that other key factors in this decision were the export agreements with Australia and the fact that the Holden Commodore is already sold in many countries as a Chevrolet.

What Lutz didn't say is in what form the G8 will survive in the USA - as a Holden Commodore / Pontiac G8 with a Chevy grille or will GM prefer to import the longer-wheelbase Holden Statesman / Caprice? That's probably a good point to start the conversation in the comment section below.

In addition to the G8, Lutz told the magazine that the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe could be closer to production than we think, noting that that members of the government taskforce were quite interested in the BMW M3-challenging sports coupe during the presentation of the firm's product plan.

"When we went through design and looked at the future product, the procession stopped at the model of the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe," Lutz said. "I think that some of these guys are personally going to buy CTS-V Coupes."

Source: Automobile , Via: Autoblog.com

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Smackdown: Ford's Taurus Police Interceptor vs. GM's Chevy Caprice PPV

Another battle has begun in the Ford / GM war: who's got the better new police car, Ford with its Taurus Police Interceptor or GM with its Chevrolet Caprice PPV? One thing sure to be a hot topic is both companies' shift in platform choices.

GM is ditching the front-wheel-drive Impala option and going back to a big, rear-wheel drive vehicle with the Zeta-based Caprice.

As our Aussie friends know, the Caprice is a re-grilled Holden Caprice / Statesman which in turn is a more luxurious, long wheelbase version of the Holden Commodore / Pontiac G8.

Ford, on the other hand, is doing the exact opposite; they're tossing the big, rear-wheel-drive (and geriatric) Panther platform and offering up front- and all-wheel drive Tauruses.

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2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car Revealed: Based on Australian Holden Caprice, LWB Version of Pontiac G8

Looks like Bob Lutz was right after all when back in July he said that the Pontiac G8 would live on as the Chevrolet Caprice - even though shortly after he hastily took his words back. Apparently, what Lutz meant to say was that the G8 would live on as a law enforcement car as GM revealed the all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado.

Set to join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011, the new Caprice is essentially a remasked version of the Australian Holden Caprice and Statesman models which in turn are more luxurious, long wheelbase versions of the Holden Commodore and its American counterpart, the Pontiac G8 that will soon be discontinued.

And just to confuse you a bit more, the Holden Caprice and its Statesman twin are already sold in the Middle East as the Chevrolet Caprice.

As with the Commodore and the G8, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM's Zeta RWD platform that also underpins the new Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture that measures 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) in length along with a four-wheel independent suspension

At launch, the Chevy Caprice PPV will be offered exclusively with a GM 6.0-liter V8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability but GM said that in the 2012 model year, a smaller displacement V6 engine will also be offered.

The Caprice PPV's V8 churns out an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) and 384 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that is specially calibrated for police duty. The Detroit automaker said that the Caprice V8 can sprint from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in under 6.0 seconds.

Additional police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include: a high-output alternator, engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers, 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps, larger four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads, heavy-duty suspension components, police-calibrated stability control system and driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

According to GM, the Caprice PPV can also be equipped with special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an "undercover" street-appearance package (9C3).

"The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement," said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas."

General Motors pointed out that the new Caprice PPV will not replace the Chevy Impala that will continue to offered in police outfit along with the Tahoe.

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