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

[Philly]

Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle

After a 15-year absence patrolling U.S. streets, an all-new law-enforcement-only Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) joins GM's fleet in 2011. Although it's built on the same rear-wheel-drive Camaro and dearly-departed Pontiac G8-spawning Zeta platform, it's not a G8 sedan.

Chevrolet plans to make the announcement of their new police cruiser today at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. Because we asked, we've been given an exclusive look at the details of the new car they plan to begin taking orders on next year with cars set to hit the streets in early 2011.


Contrary to reports at the end of last week by a number of auto outlets, we're now able to exclusively report GM's new police cruiser brings back the old Chevy Caprice name. It also will not be a re-badged Pontiac G8 sedan. Instead, the new Chevy uses the longest wheelbase version of the Zeta platform — 118.5" — making it almost four inches longer than the 114.7" wheelbase Pontiac G8 sedan. If that bigger-than-G8 number sounds familiar, it should — it's the same length as the Holden VE Ute, the Holden Statesman and the Middle Eastern Chevy Caprice and...drum roll, please...the Pontiac "El Camino" G8 ST. That's right folks, the new police car from Chevy is as close to the El Camino as we're coming here in the U.S. We'll give you a moment to clean up any coffee you've just spit up.

Done? Good, because there's more to the story. Chevy sounds like it's setting up the Caprice to not only meet the bar set by the police vehicle competition, but to blow it away. The long wheelbase Zeta-platformed Chevy sits right in the middle of the Ford Crown Vic's 114.7" wheelbase and the larger Dodge Charger's 120.0" wheelbase.

Under the hood, GM says the Caprice will have a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine rated at an estimated 355 HP and 384 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed auto transmission. Power output compares favorably to the 340 HP HEMI in the Dodge Charger police edition and absolutely blows away the Ford Crown Vic's 250 HP 4.6-liter V8.

We're told that bigger engine will deliver an expected best-in-class 0-to-60 time of under six seconds along with a similarly best-in-class top speed. But, for those forces uninterested in the super-sized 6.0-liter eight-cylinder engine, we're also told a V6 engine will be offered beginning in the 2012 model year.

The Caprice with both engine sizes will recieve the same police car-specific vehicle systems like high-output alternator and standard 18-inch steelies with bolt-on center caps and will ride on a heavy-duty four-wheel independent suspension and a "police-calibrated stability control system."

Chevy's cop competitive streak continues to the interior with optional compatibility available for in-dash, touch-screen computer technology (by relocating the standard radio to the trunk), two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment and complimentary special packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an "undercover" street-appearance package. Good luck with the "undercover" part considering there's no civilian version of the Caprice PPV.

Even the front seats have been sculpted to "pocket" an officer's equipment belt, with the foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt's various items, allowing the officer's back to rest properly on the seatback surface. The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is also positioned farther rearward than the Charger or the Crown Vic, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline while officers take a highway-side siesta.

The new Caprice will also have significantly larger interior volume — 112 cubic feet — than the Ford Crown Victoria, including — thanks to the longer wheelbase — nearly 4 inches more rear legroom to help give handcuffed suspects a much more comfortable experience. The Caprice PPV's long wheelbase also gives it 18 cubic feet of free trunk volume. That's enough room for a full-size spare located under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area and any number of shotguns, RPGs and whatever other riot gear an officer feels like fitting into a trunk.

The new Caprice will not replace any current vehicle in the GM police vehicle fleet. Rather, it will join the Chevy Impala and the Chevy Tahoe in the bowtied brand's marked patrol vehicle lineup as a very high-powered member of GM's fraternity of police vehicles.

We can't wait to try out the driver's seat. Hopefully it'll be sometime before we try out the extra-large back seat.

I think the comment about the undercover version was appropriate. How is a car supposed to be undercover when there are no civilian versions on the road?

Also, how long until these start popping up used for civilian use? Although maybe I'd rather snag a G8 GT or GXP used...

 

[McLaren]

Doesn't surprise me. G8s are Caprices elsewhere in the world. My belief is that it should give Chevrolet all the more reason to bring G8 under Chevrolet & just call it the Caprice as well, if we're going to have them roaming around as police.

 

[ND4SPD]

Oh my god, I need this.

I'll take mine in black with the go rhino push bar and dual spotlights please!

 

[Paulie]

Doesn't surprise me. G8s are Caprices elsewhere in the world. My belief is that it should give Chevrolet all the more reason to bring G8 under Chevrolet & just call it the Caprice as well, if we're going to have them roaming around as police.

Wrong, G8s aren't sold as Caprices anywhere else in the world, they're sold as Commodores, Luminas and VXR8s. The Caprice is a longer wheelbase with more interior space and in other markets, more luxury features, including more luxurious suspension.

 

[JacoJa]

Sitting in the back of a one of these makes you feel as though you’re sitting in a dungeon (because of the high door line). The crims will feel right a home 👍.

I’m very glad this is a done-deal though. Great news for Holden, and it’ll be awesome to see the Crown Victorias replaced by these, next time I visit NYC.

 

[Paulie]

It's been 2 years since I sat in the back seat of one I think, but never the less, I don't think I'd feel imprisoned in a 300C back seat even, cosy maybe though. I can't wait to see them in some Hollywood movies then , a bunch of Holdens chasing the bad guys.

 

[McLaren]

Wrong, G8s aren't sold as Caprices anywhere else in the world, they're sold as Commodores, Luminas and VXR8s. The Caprice is a longer wheelbase with more interior space and in other markets, more luxury features, including more luxurious suspension.

Ah, my apologies. I knew the G8 existed as a bowtie somewhere in the world; forgot it was the Lumina.

 

[Paulie]

I'm actually quite curious as to why they chose the LWB variant, unless it's simply to fit their gun rack , but a standard Commodore is quite roomy inside already and the aided performance and agility in high speed pursuits would no doubt increase the police's safety and efficiency rate of getting the pursuit over and done with?

 

[Joey D]

I'm guessing it will still be built in Australia which is a huge fail. I don't want my tax dollars going to Australia to buy police cars, I want my dollars supporting cars built in this country. Now if GM moved the plant to the US shores I'd be a whole lot more accepting of it, but using my tax dollars to pay and Australian worker does not sit well we me. I hope this thing fails.

Doesn't matter though, nothing will ever be as tough as the Crown Vic is.

 

[zed300]

Paulie.....

So they don't sued for whacking the crims head on the jam when apprehending??

Sit back and check a few DVD out!! (back of head rests)

Leather fetishes???

 

[Boffin]

The Caprice instead of the normal Commy is a bit of a weird choice, but I like it as more of out Holden's are getting exposure...and I'm a tad patriotic when our Holdens are exported for unknown reasons.

I can just imagine Paulie sitting through the latest blues brothers .

Seeing as the police cars will be Holdens, he'll be yelling at the silver screen that they are going too slow, the guy didn't balance the throttle enough or that the Caprice has a waaaay better turning circle over the Charger during the mandatory carpark chase.

 

[Jim Prower]

Will there be a V6 option? I know a lot of departments don't want their officers driving big V8 cars, due to fuel economy costs, and to a perceived safety issue. (thank you, police package Nova.)

@ Paulie's queston: one reason is probably that old Nova. Back in the early '80s (before Novas were Corollas,) the CHP experimented with a high-performance V8-powered Chevrolet Nova to use as a police car. Well...the thing would swap ends like a Porsche if provoked. That scared a lot of chiefs out of high-performance vehicles, and the advent of the radio means that a V6, front-drive Impala can be just as good at catching crooks as a big Crown Vic...save for, perhaps, some reliability, familiarity, and room issues.

Given that police officers typically have only moderate driver's training, (my community used to do it in the middle of an old Wal-Mart parking lot, although state officers and those in elite units like the California Highway Patrol tend to get stricter training,) many chiefs are reluctant to break the 300hp barrier, save for a couple guys they know can drive well. I did read in M/T's Police Car story that most communities choose the V6 Charger over V8 for safety reasons.

Now, why the Commodore wasn't chosen may be a simple matter of (a) stability - longer wheelbase, less chance of swapping ends, and (b) room in the back for drunk, puking criminals.

 

[Boffin]

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.

 

[LongbowX]

Will there be a V6 option? I know a lot of departments don't want their officers driving big V8 cars, due to fuel economy costs, and to a perceived safety issue. (thank you, police package Nova.)

Given that police officers typically have only moderate driver's training, (my community used to do it in the middle of an old Wal-Mart parking lot, although state officers and those in elite units like the California Highway Patrol tend to get stricter training,) many chiefs are reluctant to break the 300hp barrier, save for a couple guys they know can drive well.

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.

It mentions in the sixth paragraph " But, for those forces uninterested in the super-sized 6.0-liter eight-cylinder engine, we're also told a V6 engine will be offered beginning in the 2012 model year." So, it will have a V6. It just doesn't mention which one. 3.6 maybe?

 

[SuperMarco]

I'm guessing it will still be built in Australia which is a huge fail. I don't want my tax dollars going to Australia to buy police cars, I want my dollars supporting cars built in this country. Now if GM moved the plant to the US shores I'd be a whole lot more accepting of it, but using my tax dollars to pay and Australian worker does not sit well we me. I hope this thing fails.

Doesn't matter though, nothing will ever be as tough as the Crown Vic is.

Yes all Holdens ( Commodores, Caprices, Monaros etc.) are built in Australia for a reason, becuase they are designed and engineered in Australia, and although Holden is owned by GM, Holden is still run in Australia. So the company is Australian.

Now asking for these cars to be built in the US is kinda like me asking for Dodge's production to move here. If you dont like the government using your money to pay the Australian workers then ask your government to go and buy other police cars.

 

[Radracing]

Sitting in the back of a one of these makes you feel as though you’re sitting in a dungeon (because of the high door line). The crims will feel right a home 👍.

I’m very glad this is a done-deal though. Great news for Holden, and it’ll be awesome to see the Crown Victorias replaced by these, next time I visit NYC.

It would be a temporay dungeon until you get to the police station and put you in a cell. LOL!

 

[JCE]

So how long before these get retied for us commoners to be able to buy?

 

[Philly]

I'm guessing it will still be built in Australia which is a huge fail. I don't want my tax dollars going to Australia to buy police cars, I want my dollars supporting cars built in this country. Now if GM moved the plant to the US shores I'd be a whole lot more accepting of it, but using my tax dollars to pay and Australian worker does not sit well we me. I hope this thing fails.

Wasn't the old Crown Vic built in Canada?

 

[Joey D]

Wasn't the old Crown Vic built in Canada?

I have less of a problem with Canada because it's still part of GM North America, although it's lame Canadian workers are building cars for the US government. That seems like a poor appropriation of tax dollars too. Although if they had to buy cars made in America all of our police cars would be Camry's and Accord's.

 

[ND4SPD]

Wasn't the old Crown Vic built in Canada?

Still is. In the old St. Thomas Assembly plant.

I have less of a problem with Canada because it's still part of GM North America, although it's lame Canadian workers are building cars for the US government. That seems like a poor appropriation of tax dollars too. Although if they had to buy cars made in America all of our police cars would be Camry's and Accord's.

We still build them for ourselves as well!

 

[Joey D]

Building them for yourself is actually good, mainly considering every Canadian police car I see is a Crown Vic. Your governments are supporting nationally made products instead of international products.

 

[Jim Prower]

Thing is, I'll bet if you asked most police chiefs, they think that Fords are made in Dearborn, Chevys in Detroit, and Chryslers in Auburn Hills. Hell, up until a couple years ago, The money from Chargers was going to GERMANY!

 

[YSSMAN]

Its great news for GM, especially as the Crown Victoria is about to exit. No one has any idea what Ford was going to do to replace the P71, and having a solid RWD sedan is going to be the best option. Especially when the old 9C1 Caprice is still regarded as one of the best police vehicles ever created. I would agree that the choice of the long wheelbase, Caprice version is a bit odd, but it does make sense.

Expect to see the cars early next year, and give it at least another two years until civilians get their hands on them. You can bet that these cars will go for at least double what they should be worth once they're retired by their respective police forces.

Better yet? If they sell well, and GM sees that the public is buying them hand-over-fist even in second hand form, they'll consider civilian units.

Will there be a V6 option? I know a lot of departments don't want their officers driving big V8 cars, due to fuel economy costs, and to a perceived safety issue. (thank you, police package Nova.)

Probably by 2012, some articles are suggesting. My guess is that it will use the 3.0L direct-injection V6 and the six-speed automatic, good for 250 BHP and some pretty solid fuel economy.


Also:

Looks good in LAPD colors


RE: Where They're Built (Government Vehicles)

I really don't think it matters in this instance. We haven't had American-made police vehicles in some time. As I recall, the Crown Victoria has been made in Canada since the early 2000s, as has the Charger, and the Impala 9C1 that pre-dated the Caprice PPV. If its a solid car that keeps our officers safe, and the money is going to an American company, I'm happy. It isn't like we're paying Mexicans or *insert other country we don't like* workers to build them. Its our friends, family, and traditional ally down in Australia. We already had contracts down there to build the car, they already spent the money for the capacity, we may as well use it.

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.

 

[ND4SPD]

Hmm all it needs is a blacked out honeycomb grill just like the P71.

Although IMO nothing will beat the P71 in terms of durability(gotta love that BOF construction), as well as it's menacing looks haha. It's a shame that Ford is killing of the P71 in 2011. They've already proposed the new Taurus SHO's as the next police offering. Even showing them off to multiple police forces across the country.

 

[CDailey]

The built in wigwags over the headlights are awesome.

 

[YSSMAN]

They've already proposed the new Taurus SHO's as the next police offering. Even showing them off to multiple police forces across the country.

The problem is money.

I would imagine that a fleet-built Caprice PPV would be cheaper to buy than a Pxx Taurus SHO. Long-term reliability would probably favor the Holden as well. Just a guess.

 

[Tornado]

What's the point of this? Yada yada "return of the Caprice" and whatnot, but if it isn't going to be sold to the public, they might as well get that Carbon E7 or whatever the hell it was called that Joey talked about a few months ago. That has the same inherent problems, but its built in America and is (supposedly) better at police work. Quite frankly, I would see little reason to get this over a Charger or a Crown Vic.

Back in the early '80s (before Novas were Corollas,) the CHP experimented with a high-performance V8-powered Chevrolet Nova to use as a police car. Well...the thing would swap ends like a Porsche if provoked.

That is the same reason why the Intrepid Pursuit Package was such a failure as well. Too many stability problems.

 

[ND4SPD]

The problem is money.

I would imagine that a fleet-built Caprice PPV would be cheaper to buy than a Pxx Taurus SHO. Long-term reliability would probably favor the Holden as well. Just a guess.

I would too. Not a fan of the new Taurus to be a police car. Although I'm sure many Robocop fans disagree.

I was re reading the original article and I found an error. For 2009, Hemi powered Charger Police cars get a bump of power to 368hp and 395ft lbs of torque. Not the 340 the original article suggests.

 

[JCE]

Hmm all it needs is a blacked out honeycomb grill just like the P71.

Although IMO nothing will beat the P71 in terms of durability(gotta love that BOF construction), as well as it's menacing looks haha. It's a shame that Ford is killing of the P71 in 2011. They've already proposed the new Taurus SHO's as the next police offering. Even showing them off to multiple police forces across the country.

I see more chance of a Ford Fusion being a Police Interceptor with the EcoBoost unit under the bonnet. However, the solution is just to keep making the Crown Vic. Yea, not a technologically smart solution but still. The P71 is cheap when compared to the competition. For that reason alone the SHO will never be a PI. Ford needs to bring back the Lincoln LS, deluxurify the interior, use the 3.7L V6, and badge it as a Ford (Police) Interceptor and just do that instead of using a FWD/AWD platform.

What's the point of this? Yada yada "return of the Caprice" and whatnot, but if it isn't going to be sold to the public, they might as well get that Carbon E7 or whatever the hell it was called that Joey talked about a few months ago. That has the same inherent problems, but its built in America and is (supposedly) better at police work. Quite frankly, I would see little reason to get this over a Charger or a Crown Vic.

+1 The Charger and Crown Vic both make very capable PI's, but the Crown Vic is better at it due to its superior reliability and cost of repair/maintenance.

 

[Joey D]

What's the point of this? Yada yada "return of the Caprice" and whatnot, but if it isn't going to be sold to the public, they might as well get that Carbon E7 or whatever the hell it was called that Joey talked about a few months ago. That has the same inherent problems, but its built in America and is (supposedly) better at police work. Quite frankly, I would see little reason to get this over a Charger or a Crown Vic.

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.