The G8 is back! Well, sort of...

[Paulie]

As far as I know, engines and gearboxes for this car are all built in America. What's the problem here then? Both countries are getting money for it, it's a win-win. Unless you hate Aussies for some reason.

There aren't any to my knowledge, because the Caprice is the luxury one. Though Holden make a good V6 (or should I say GM) so negotiations may be in place.

V6s are available in Statesmans, not sure about Caprices. This is probably actually a Statesman badged as a Chev Caprice.

Yup the Carbon E7, and it's made in Indiana, so thus employs Americans to do a job which is a better use of tax dollars. Our government wants to do something about unemployment? Here's a start or a small add on portion.

While the Crown Vic makes an awesome cop car the Charger sucks, we had them when I worked for the city and they were constantly broken.

Is the Carbon E7 even production ready? Perhaps this is a temporary replacement for the Ford before that comes? I personally hope the Carbon gets the job too actually, I'd feel sorry for the company going to the trouble of designing and building it if they were told no.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think it's the idea that he's paying taxes to his government, which are supposed to go straight to his area/country, and hopefully back to him eventually, but instead are going to Australia, and "Lost Forever." Feels like throwing money into a fire, I suppose.

 

[Joey D]

Is the Carbon E7 even production ready? Perhaps this is a temporary replacement for the Ford before that comes? I personally hope the Carbon gets the job too actually, I'd feel sorry for the company going to the trouble of designing and building it if they were told no.

I think it's supposed to start going to departments in 2012.

I think it's the idea that he's paying taxes to his government, which are supposed to go straight to his area/country, and hopefully back to him eventually, but instead are going to Australia, and "Lost Forever."

That's right. Especially since I live in the Detroit area and cars are supposed to be built here. Although GM, Ford and Chrysler seems to think building vehicles in America is a problem or something, which I find odd considering they are American cars.

 

[Jim Prower]

Union. The Automakers and Union can't seem to see eye-to-eye. So the automakers move if they can...and eliminate jobs if they can't.

 

[YSSMAN]

Ummm, GM builds more than 60% of their final products inside the United States that are sold here. With the exception of the Camaro, Impala and (maybe?) the Equinox, all of their big sellers are built in the Mid-West by American workers. Considering that they're still adding production facilities in Michigan, I'm fairly happy with them most of the time.

Talk to Ford about their Mexican production facilities, or Chrysler about their Canadian ones.

 

[Joey D]

I admit GM is getting better with moving production back into the US. I'm happy that the small car is coming here to Orion. I think it's just the outsourcing in general that gets me.

 

[Omnis]

I admit GM is getting better with moving production back into the US. I'm happy that the small car is coming here to Orion. I think it's just the outsourcing in general that gets me.

I'd rather pay $20k for a car built in Uzbekistan than $40k for the same car built in the US. The way you put it sounded awfully protectionist.

That said, has GM gotten out of their union stranglehold? I imagine jobs would be returning due to cheaper labor from the employment correction. See, the recession is a good thing.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think the issue, though, is that your money isn't being spent by you, thus, you don't have a say in where your car is made. If Joey feels he's been cheated when an Australian car shows up in the precinct parking lot, I think he's got a right to be.

 

[Tornado]

That said, has GM gotten out of their union stranglehold?

The UAW owns something like 10% of the company, so no.

 

[Philly]

Talk to Ford about their Mexican production facilities

And guess which American company didn't need to be bailed out by the government only to go bankrupt.

Building in America is too expensive to be competitive. True, the companies could work around that by actually making decent cars, but they'll still be at a disadvantage. To be honest, I think we need to fix the problem one way or another. Either make labor competitive so companies start making things here again, or drive all the manufacturing out of the country. That way we either have a problem with all the jobs being gone, but healthy companies with less expensive product, or we keep all the jobs and (hopefully) have more money floating around to buy more cars. And have a healthier GM.

 

[Jim Prower]

I'll have to add in my little tidbit: I'm working with CAT for a Senior Design project...and yes, we do have to kind of tiptoe around the UAW, here, for just about anything. From employee descriptions, it sounds as if the UAW is really who's in charge, here.

 

[Jetboy.]

I see more chance of a Ford Fusion being a Police Interceptor with the EcoBoost unit under the bonnet.

That's what I said too, about seven months ago. I figured the stability of AWD and the possibility of around 250 horse in a practical package, along with a new six speed auto.. The next in line, to me, was a no-brainer (Ruling out costs.)

I was kinda right.. We have a few out this way already, all unmarked cars for the city (Altoona, PA). Out rural it's a mix of P71's and one Charger. The Charger was one of the first ordered and (for some ungodly reason has the 6.1L) and has had no problematic issues.

Good to see Chevrolet is still planning to stay in the game here. 👍


Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[Jay]

To shift production of the Caprice from Melbourne to Oshawa would cost millions, all of which would be money that GM doesn't have, and it would take two or more years to get ready. Worth it? I think not.

Melbourne? All Australian made production Holdens are built in Adelaide, some engines are built in Melbourne (aswell as the Holdens Headquarters and prototypes)

 

[Casio]

Melbourne RULES!!!111

 

[YSSMAN]

Melbourne? All Australian made production Holdens are built in Adelaide, some engines are built in Melbourne (aswell as the Holdens Headquarters and prototypes)

Thank you for the clarification, I wasn't totally sure. All we know about Australia in the States is that kangaroos live there. Also, what a knife is.

 

[Giancarlo]

Yes, we here have played our fair share of games of knifey-spoony before.

 

[Jay]

Thank you for the clarification, I wasn't totally sure. All we know about Australia in the States is that kangaroos live there. Also, what a knife is.

Don't forget Crocs! (not the footwear)

Normally I wouldn't mention it but Melbourne is such a smelly sucky place...

 

[Paulie]

The Caprice cop car could become the next generation Impala?

Originally Posted on CarAdvice
While the demise of Pontiac has in turn sealed the fate of the Holden-sourced G8 sedan, the recent announcement of a Chevrolet Caprice police pursuit vehicle (PPV) has sparked new interest in Australian models among the American public.

It seems GM is not ignorant to this fact either with Vice President Chevrolet Global brand, Brent Dewar, hinting that a retail version of the Caprice is being considered.

In a webchat on GM’s own FastLane blog, Mr Dewar went on to explain that while no firm plans are yet in place, the brand is working on a new generation Impala which could find its roots at Holden.

“The announcement for the Caprice is currently only as a police patrol cruiser. It will be RWD with a 6.0L V8. We have not made any firm plans yet on a retail version of the Caprice. That said, we are working on a nextgen Impala that [will] come in above the Malibu. More to come….”

Reading between the lines, it seems Chevrolet is considering adopting Holden’s WM long wheelbase range as the new generation Impala.

If this is the case, then the Caprice will represent the luxury flagship for Chevrolet alongside the Corvette and Australian-developed Camaro.

In the same webchat, Mr Dewar also confirmed that a convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro has been privately revealed to dealers this week although a specific launch date is yet to be decided upon with the brand instead focussing on filling orders for the Coupe.

Lastly, Chevrolet also confirmed that no official decision has yet been made on a possible Camaro Z28 flagship model; although according to Mr Dewar there is “lots of excitement to do it….so stay tuned.”

Don't forget Crocs! (not the footwear)

Normally I wouldn't mention it but Melbourne is such a smelly sucky place...

I'll agree with that general sentiment.

 

[YSSMAN]

They've been batting the idea around for months, years even to make the Impala a Zeta-based vehicle. Brad had photos of an Impala-badged Caprice quite a long time ago. But, it depends on who you're talking to. The American GM rags have been saying for months that they're going to do the car on an extended version of the Epsilon II platform that rides beneath the LaCrosse and 9-5. No one really knows.

 

[Jay]

Is the US getting G8 wagons? I saw two truck loads of Commodores with Pontiac fronts (G8, straight from the factory) but there was a few wagons and a bunch with unpainted front bumpers which usually means they're going to HSV for the rest of the parts.

 

[Paulie]

That's a special edition Commodore being sold to Australians to clear Pontiac parts after the abrupt death of the G8. Something like 1,000 of each sedan, wagon and Ute I think.

 

[Omnis]

I can't believe how dull and boring the G8 looks as a Chevy. What a shame.

 

[Jay]

That's a special edition Commodore being sold to Australians to clear Pontiac parts after the abrupt death of the G8. Something like 1,000 of each sedan, wagon and Ute I think.

Ah, no wonder I didn't notice the Pontiac arrow on the front.

I can't believe how dull and boring the G8 looks as a Chevy. What a shame.

Well it's not the same as the G8 though, it's based off the statesman, a longer wheelbase car (different rear shape).

 

[DragoonRaven]

Always a fan of more Holdens coming across... particularly this one, as it will make cop cars really easy to recognize.

Though in the OP's post, it is said to have an LS2 - what? The LS2 is already old news. The Caprice is supposed to get a new unit called L77, which is an L76 (underbored LS2 bottom end and LS3 top end with cylinder deactivation) that can run ethanol. Also I would venture to guess the V6 they'll put in them is the LLT 3.6 direct-injection V6 from the CTS and Camaro, which makes something on the order of 306 horsepower - G8 was supposed to get this as its base model engine for 2010 before it was axed.

The Caprice will be no slouch, certainly. As long as they keep the shorter-wheelbase Commodore from coming back over here (cementing my having a "rare" vehicle), I'm just fine with that.

 

[Casio]

The current state of the US dollar isn't going to be too kind on Holden Exports. It's almost at parity now.

 

[YSSMAN]

I wouldn't expect the car to cost much more than a G8 GT (about $30K USD), and considering that they'll be selling them at fleet sizes and prices, I'd be more worried about the narrowed profit margin. Probably.