📰 Auto News The G8 is coming back as a Chevy

[Mook]

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/bob_lutz_pontiac_g8_chevrolet_caprice/index.html

Despite denials from the highest levels, including GM CEO Fritz Henderson, newly-re-tasked GM marketing man Bob Lutz told Automobile the Pontiac G8 would find its way into Chevrolet showrooms as the Caprice. A RWD Chevy Caprice? Is the Carpocalypse over?

No, unfortunately, it's not. But what it does mean is Lutz will have a greater say in product planning than sources had initially claimed.

"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 Automobile GM would not let the car die. Find out more over at Automobile Magazine.

Click to read more...

 

[Sprayin]

ew. do not want.

 

[b00ya]

now thats good news, finally get there heads out of their asses

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

Woot!

 

[Mook]

.

Bob Lutz is back, and after what seems like five minutes into his job as GM's new marketing kingpin, he's doing what he does best: making headlines. Rest assured that this is a good thing, as El Generalissimo Roberto Maximo told Automobile Magazine that yes, the Pontiac G8 will live on in the United States as the Chevy Caprice. So much for Fritz "I'm not a fan of rebadging" Henderson's statement to the contrary a couple of weeks ago.

"The last time we looked at [the G8], we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet. It is kind of too good to waste," Lutz told the mag. As for the G8 being "too good to waste": Amen to that, Bob. This also makes us wonder if law enforcement-grade models will be part of the deal with Holden to continue production. Chevy Caprice police cars? That's got a very familiar ring to it. The next question is whether a U.S. Caprice would mimic the Middle East-market Caprice, which is based on the long-wheelbase Holden Caprice/Statesman, or whether it will simply be a Chevy-badged version of the standard-wheelbase Holden Commodore/Pontiac G8/Chevrolet Lumina. Frankly, as long as there's ultimately a Caprice SS that is identical to the Pontiac G8 GXP in every critical way, we don't care.

In his conversation with Automobile, Lutz also essentially confirms that next year's Cadillac CTS coupe will be joined by a V-series variant, saying that the CTS-V coupe was the car that had most of the Presidential Task Force members' tongues wagging during the product-pipeline tour they were given by GM. Lutz even hints that a CTS-V wagon is not completely out of the question. (We'll take the wagon in brown, with the stick, Bob.)

On the bad news side, in a separate blog post, Automobile reports that Lutz kind of throws dirt on the idea of an LSA-powered Camaro Z28 (though he doesn't specifically state that the program's toast). He says that for "mainstream" sports models like the Camaro, powerful sixes (like the one in the Camaro LS and LT) and turbo fours (like the one used in the now-dead Cobalt SS, HHR SS and Solstice GXP) are more indicitive of the automaker's future direction in that regard. Hmmm. Well then, how about bolting a blower to the direct-injected V6?

Welcome back, Bob. This sounds like it could get pretty fun.

 

[DanJ]

I like the front end better as a Pontiac. "Not a fan of rebadging" hahaha, did he tell anyone at Holden that? Pontiac hasn't made an interesting car themselves since 2002.

 

[Stink Star]

ditch the impala... make this!

 

[IDAFC21]

glad to see it sticking around, tho i hope it doesnt quite come out looking like that. good news either way however

 

[Yaj Yak]

gooooood

 

[Yaj Yak]

bring back the solstice now too...

 

[Riski]

Dont like it...Looks like cross from Lincoln MK and a Cobalt....

 

[Mr Baytchos]

glad it's sticking around.....hate that grill with a passion

 

[Rebel]

Not really digging the look.

 

[Mike K]

I like it and keep in mind this might not be the look of the "sporty" version. Truly your V6 model shouldn't look as balls to the walls fast as your sporty model. I'm a little disappointed every time I happen upon a V6 G8 on the road because to me it's like those guys that do the Ferrari Fiero conversions and then leave the 4 cylinder in it.

 

[Primalzer]

I really don't care how great it looks (it doesn't look REALLY awful) just as long as they build the GXP equivalent with a manual transmission I won't care.

 

[TommyGloves]

On the fence.

 

[b00ya]

If it comes with different wheel options I will own one when they come out.

 

[Fish]

Definatly not digging the front end. As stated though, that might be the V6. People will now do the Pontiac conversion.

 

[Oreif]

While it is a very nice platform, It just looks like a plain Chevy.
At least the Pontiac version had a unique more aggressive appearence.
It kind of reminds me of when Pontiac brought out the GTO a few years ago. Excellent platform but the looks were a little too generic to make it stand out like it should have.

 

[Bru]

If they bring it back as a Chevrolet, and especially an Impala, base versions will likely be a softer version with a cushy suspension and inoffensive everything; they offer these in Australia. That way it can appeal to the most people. A performance version is a no brainer as one already exists but the current V6 is still very sporty for being a base model.

 

[Yaj Yak]

 

[The Broken Regal]

wish the body cladding was more like the pontiac

 

[SuperDaveGSE]

This is all i want to see when they do bring back the Caprice...


Good ole 9c1's

 

[Oreif]

This is all i want to see when they do bring back the Caprice...


Good ole 9c1's

Now that front end looks good. It looks so much better with the bottom as one grill/foglights. It gives it a "wider" look. The upper grill looks better as well.

 

[Primalzer]

GM would be dumb not to keep the platform around for the pure reason of the fleet vehicle. If they can make it do 30 mpg on the highway, have that cylinder deactivation, and offer a V6 with a hybrid, they'll probably get a shit ton of government contracts from federal to universities and law enforcement. and x10000000000000000000 at bringing back a 9C1 package.