It Lives!,,, this week,,

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/), Chevrolet (http://www.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/), GM (http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/)
BREAKING: Lutz says Pontiac G8 to survive as Chevy Caprice in U.S.; Camaro Z28 reportedly dead (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/11/lutz-pontiac-g8-to-continue-as-chevy-caprice-in-u-s-z28-likel/)

by Alex Nunez (http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/alex-nunez/) on Jul 11th 2009 at 12:19PM https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/breaking/)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/854.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevrolet-caprice-miiddle-east-market/2138117/)

2009 Chevy Caprice SS (Middle East) - Click above for a high-res photo gallery



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 (http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/bob_lutz_pontiac_g8_chevrolet_caprice/index.html) 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 (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevy-lumina-ss-middle-east/530522/). 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.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

(http://www.autoblog.com/category/australia/)
GM beginning to backpedal on Lutz' G8-turning-Caprice comments? (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/gm-beginning-to-backpedal-on-lutz-g8-turning-caprice-comments/)

by Chris Shunk (http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/chris-shunk/) on Jul 14th 2009 at 1:29PM

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/854.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevrolet-caprice-miiddle-east-market/2138117/)
2009 Chevy Caprice SS (Middle East) - Click above for high-res photo gallery


When General Motors' Bob Lutz talks, we listen. The reason, of course, is that he always gives us something good to write. Over the weekend, we told you (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/11/lutz-pontiac-g8-to-continue-as-chevy-caprice-in-u-s-z28-likel/) about an interview Lutz had with Automobile Magazine where the Maximum One said that the G8 will live on as a Chevrolet Caprice. Lutz's comments looked like a sure thing to us, as it's hard to misinterpret these words.

"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."
Just a few days later, Blogger Bob sounded a bit less certain about the future of the G8 as Chevrolet. On the company's Fast Lane Blog, Lutz simply said "we're studying the feasibility of bringing (the G8) in as a Caprice for both law enforcement and the public." That doesn't sound nearly as certain as the Automobile interview.

Kicking Tires reportedly received a similar statement from GM brass, saying "As part of its reinvention, General Motors is exploring every opportunity of effectively utilizing its global portfolio of vehicles, facilities and talent. While this exploration includes the possibility of extending imports of Holden vehicles (such as the recent Pontiac G8) to North America, no decision has been made at this time."

We're hoping this is corporate speak for 'We're going to do what Bob says, but we just don't want to promise anything just yet.' Turning the G8 into a Chevrolet model looks to us like the cheapest possible way to keep a terrific vehicle available in the States, and with the Bowtie's significantly larger dealer network, maybe GM can finally figure out how to turn a profit with with the awesome Aussie.

[Phoenix]

wow, talk about furious backpedaling!