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.
De
spite 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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maybe GM should finalize their plans before they make repeated contradictory statements -- doesn't really inspire confidence that the "new GM" has found a clear direction
that said, i hope they bring the long wheelbase caprice -- i think the car looks better without all the hood scoops, spoilers, and other crap pontiac tacked on to the G8 to try and make it look sporty
"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"
So by that statement, the CTS-V competes with the M3 sedan?
That's bullshit. Both cars are miles apart from one another. Same deal with their coupe versions.
That is great to hear! My only thing about that is with the new GM going lean, mean and green, or whatever their new catch phrase it. I hope that GM puts the Camaro's new V6 into the Chevy version of the G8 so they can get rid of the current G8's V6.
Please, no tack-on rebadging! A new grille and lights to fit the Chevy lineup would be awesome!
Caprice??? Okay, not too bad, but I'm hoping for an Impala SS version of it based off the HSV Clubsport R8
can i haz new front/rear clips?
@ Frederick
No tack-on rebadging? Ok, we'll leave the Commodore styling alone and just use the Chev badging that the Middle East gets, instead of the Pontiac plastic. Easier, cheaper and better looking :)
I think there's plenty of room to bring what Holden has successfully done down under and put it in the US. I could care less about the badging, although I think as a Chevy it would have potential to strengthen the lineup even more. The design here looks well executed and I think the move is smart. I just hope they keep the looks edgy as a Caprice model, if that's where they intend to stick it. If GM is hopeful for a comeback, they had better be on a mission to the best one ever told.
Long live Bob Lutz, and yeah the CTS-V coupe would look more exciting then an M3, witch many people find it boring looking for the money you pay for it.
That Middle-Eastern grille is too small and it doesn't stand out enough to be an American Chevy grille... and if it could be modified for the G8, why not the Chevs?
I did a quick photochop (it's not supposed to be GREAT) of what the Caprice would look like with a Malibu grille. Of course, the design folks can make it look a bit more menacing (it IS going to actually be a cop car, am I right?), but I'm lazy.
Voilà: http://tinyurl.com/np3k73
so this means we might still get the "El Camino"
By the way I think the Caprice name sucks. Can we move on from the 60's please??
Only Chevrolet and Cadillac are global brands which GM have. So rebadging is not a bad strategy for them. However, slow-selling luxury sedans such as Shanghai Buick Park Avenue and GM Daewoo Veritas (both are based on Holden Stateman) may not be designed by an Australian subsidiary.
How can this model be reborn? It’s a fricking Holden. Why do GM and Loser Lutz consistently believe the American buyer is stupid like he is? This is what Lutz's does as the new way overpaid marketing head? I'd rather see the Trunk Monkey in charge.
Without the G8, there would be no version of the Holden Commodore available to North American buyers. Which would mean that both US and Canadian consumers interested in getting a Commodore would be SOL.
To see the Pontiac G8 rebadged as a Chevy at least still keeps the Commodore available for this market. I for one want the Commodore on our shores because it is a damned good car, and I'm glad to see it will still be available, regardless of the badging.
"How can this model be reborn? It’s a fricking Holden. Why do GM and Loser Lutz consistently believe the American buyer is stupid like he is?"
You're an idiot. It's no more a Holden then it is a Chevrolet. It's is simply a GM product created by GM engineers. All of the brands of GM are just 'channels' through which a car is sold. In the same vein, a Corvette could be sold as an Opel. That's how it is at GM.
The only thing that sperates this from "being a Holden" and from "being a Chevrolet" is badging, drivetrain componets, colours, rims and trim. You've got to get over this "it's really just a Holden" and "it's really just a Chevrolet" because, individually, those brands don't exist. It's just a GM car in a Holden mask or a Chevrolet mask; that's it.
GM has no respect for the name plates. The Chevy Caprice? Historically the vehicle has been an overbloated boat. Now it's re-engineered into a small car? They should learn a lesson and come up with a new model name.
Lutz is a mofo. Obviously he doesn't know what he wants to do.
The car is fantastic,but the name is rather disgusting...why not something new or name it after a old car that doesn't suck like Delray or Biscayne(but not Bel Air,the car isn't flashy enough for that title)
"GM has no respect for the name plates. The Chevy Caprice? Historically the vehicle has been an overbloated boat. Now it's re-engineered into a small car? They should learn a lesson and come up with a new model name."
The era of such over sized barges with almost zero handling has passed , or maybe ur a wannabe (c)rapper and want to get a huge car with 30 inch chrome rims from your local Chevy dealer in witch you can cruise the hood with your hommies showing up ur tasteless ugly bling. This car is big enough for normal people, and if you make it a coupe it can make a great GT.
I think the G8 would be better re-branded as a Buick to bring back the Skylark and GS.
Frederick's design is approved! End of discussion. Next topic.
What happens when gas prices go back up as they will? How is it that GM never gets a clue about matters? When GM bombs again, will the taxpayers be forced to bail their sorry ass out--again--with unlimited funds?
"What happens when gas prices go back up as they will? How is it that GM never gets a clue about matters? When GM bombs again, will the taxpayers be forced to bail their sorry ass out--again--with unlimited funds?"
GM didn't bomb because of gas prices, they bombed because they had too many shitty cars in their lineup based on aging platforms that nobody wanted. They need to consolodate their lineups and streamline them to offer only their best. This G8/Caprice may have a V8, but it goes a long way to providing a good car based on a proven platform.
Don't even get me started on the money wasted on developing the Volt.
Good idea,move the G8 to Chevrolet. Bad idea, call it a Caprice. How about LTZ since Chevy used that on some luxo models. Then it can be attributed to Lutz, good or bad. I LIKE IT!
"What happens when gas prices go back up as they will? How is it that GM never gets a clue about matters?"
What, you think it's V8's and V8's alone in the Caprice?
Expain to me, just how do you get your head stuck so far up there?
GM builds mediocre cars for the ignorant masses. They do it all over with their Reborn Again New GM; laughable at best.
Long live Bob Lutz! I think that the G8 will be a great addition to the Chevrolet lineup.
However, can we forego the Caprice name? All that says to me is stodgy old Grandma's car.
How about we give this sedan the Impala name and give the stodgy front driver the Caprice name. That sound like a better plan to me.