Autoblog

Has GM's OnStar accidentally confirmed the 2014 Chevy SS?

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, Rumormill

While we're not ready to label this the return of the Pontiac G8, count us eager to get behind the wheel of whatever a "2014 Chevrolet SS Performance" turns out to be. Hopefully the appearance of this reference on the OnStar website is more than just a digital placeholder.

Chevy SS rumors have been swirling lately, with General Motors registering the "SS" trademark earlier this month, just days after our spy shooters caught what looked like a hotted-up Impala. Then there's the NASCAR situation: Chevrolet has said its new entry in the racing series will be both a new vehicle and a new nameplate. We're guessing that car isn't going to be the Spark.

So this new OnStar "leak," if it is such a thing, would point to the Chevy SS being a separate model (you can check it out on OnStar's site here). If we are reading our tea leaves correctly, the model will be derived from the rear-drive Holden Commodore (the same Zeta architecture that underpins Chevrolet's law-enforcement-only Caprice PPV), while the brand's front-drive Impala will get a new, sportier variant. We'd also assume that the long-wheelbase version of the Commodore used for the Caprice cop car would donate its top-level powertrain, the 355-horsepower, 6.0-liter V8.

Maybe we should just press the OnStar button and ask?

Has GM's OnStar accidentally confirmed the 2014 Chevy SS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet SS

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

We can now add a rendering and a litte more gossip to General Motors and its recent patenting of the of the "SS" designation. GM has used the SS designator for more than 50 years but only got around to trademarking it five years ago, and persistent rumors have suggested that a civilian version of the Chevrolet Caprice PPV will simply be called the SS.

Chevrolet previously confirmed that its next NASCAR entry will be both a new vehicle and new nameplate, which suggests that the Malibu and Impala are disqualified. But a new car called the SS would fit, and the rumormill suggests it will be a derivative of the Zeta-platform Holden Commodore. The folks at Chris Doane Automotive have opened the rendering account and taken this rather conservative stab at what a reboot of a U.S. Commodore might look like.

Yes, we've been here before, and in fact, we're still here. The now extinct but universally lauded Pontiac G8 was itself a Americanized Holden Commodore, and the current Caprice law enforcement vehicle is a long-wheelbase version of that Holden that packs either a 3.6-liter, 301-horsepower V6 or a 6.0-liter, 355-hp V8. Resurrecting the G8 would return a vehicle that many loved but was handicapped by Pontiac's zombie status, improve Holden's fortunes and give Chevy a proper rear-wheel drive sedan with teeth. To all of that, we say Yes, Yes and... Yes.

Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Auto Show confirms 2014 Chevy Impala debut via Facebook [UPDATE]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

News of an impending automotive debut, especially one as big as the next Chevrolet Impala, generally come straight from the mouths of the automakers. Interesting, then, that the New York Auto Show's Facebook page is the first bit of confirmation we've seen that the 2014 Impala will be making its worldwide debut in The Big Apple.

All we have to go along with that confirmation is the teaser image you see above (click on the pic to enlarge), so we can't glean too many details just yet. We can see a Hofmeister-esque kink in the C-pillar, strongly accented in chrome trim, along with the well-known leaping impala emblem.

Past that, recent spy photos have revealed that the front-wheel-drive Impala will boast plenty of passenger room from its Epsilon-II architecture, the same guts that underpin the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XTS. We're also expecting GM's well-regarded 3.6-liter V6 underhood, along with a possible turbocharged four and e-Assist hybrid setup.

This news comes on the heels of last week's announcement by General Motors that it plans to replace the Impala in its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series effort with a new nameplate that will also see a production model offshoot, leading to renewed speculation that the automaker will not only sell a new full-size Impala, but potentially a large rear-wheel drive sedan to offer as well, possibly based on the company's Zeta platform that underpins the Holden Commodore and recently introduced Chevrolet Caprice PPV law enforcement special.

The 2012 New York Auto Show is slated to kick off on April 4, but in the meantime, feel free to go over the teaser above with a fine-toothed comb, and stay tuned for any more details we find ahead of its debut.

UPDATE: GM has confirmed the Impala with the issuance of a press release and official image. In addition, it has confirmed that a revamped 2013 Traverse crossover will also bow in New York. The Traverse will be available with GM's new front, center-mount airbag first revealed in the updated Buick Enclave, the Traverse's twin. See the official release after the jump and note the addition of a Traverse interior image above.

Continue reading New York Auto Show confirms 2014 Chevy Impala debut via Facebook [UPDATE]

New York Auto Show confirms 2014 Chevy Impala debut via Facebook [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Police Interceptor line gets official EPA fuel economy ratings

John Neff — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, SUV, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Police/Emergency

Police forces didn't care much about fuel economy back in the early days of the Ford Crown Victoria, but these days, efficiency is front and center for cash-strapped municipalities. The cost of fuel keeps rising and cities continue to cut their budgets, so one or two miles per gallon might make the difference for a city deciding between a fleet of Ford's new Taurus-based Interceptor, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV and Dodge Charger Pursuit.

And so it is with great interest we read the news today that Ford has released official EPA-certified fuel economy figures for the new Interceptor. The base model equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 is rated at 18 miles per gallon city / 26 highway, while the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is rated at 16 mpg city / 23 highway. Finally, the Interceptor Utility (read: cop-spec Ford Explorer) powered by a 3.7-liter V6 returns 16 mpg city / 22 highway.

We scoured through official specs and data from Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge to produce the comparison table above. As you can see, the new Police Interceptor from Ford is not the precinct captain of fuel economy, not even when comparing the V6 EcoBoost model against its V8-powered competitors. The acceleration numbers, meanwhile, were all taken from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Annual Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program for 2012 models. Based on their results and the official EPA numbers that we found, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV V6 looks like the best combination of both quickness and thriftness. One thing, though, is for certain: No matter which model they choose, police forces everywhere should be saving lots of fuel compared to the aged Crown Vics in their fleets now. Learn more in Ford's official press release after the jump.

Continue reading Ford Police Interceptor line gets official EPA fuel economy ratings

Ford Police Interceptor line gets official EPA fuel economy ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Chris Paukert — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, First Drives, Police/Emergency

Anything But A Trivial Pursuit

There's something inherently satisfying about using a blunt force object for its exact purpose, be it ripping the cover off a baseball with a Louisville Slugger or bonking one of those animatronic pop-up varmints with a rubber mallet at the local arcade. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there's something equally satisfying about using a precise tool designed for an exact purpose, be it a Montblanc pen or a pickle fork. With the introduction of its 2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV, General Motors is betting that law enforcement customers are willing to trade-in the former brand of satisfaction for the latter.

For decades now, an overwhelming majority of America's policemen and women have relied on the four-wheeled equivalent of a blunt object, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, as a primary tool in combating crime. Stubbornly resistant to change since its introduction during the Carter administration, the Crown Vic proudly rode its pig iron and scrimshaw frame into retirement earlier this month, a victim of growing legislative hurdles and slowing sales. Yet despite - or perhaps because of - its antiquated technology and crude construction, precincts far and wide have been clawing over each other to secure the last few examples.

GM believes it has a better way: 2012 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Company officials say they are so cognizant of the unique needs of law enforcement that they've designed and built this special pursuit vehicle specifically for their use. GM has divulged no plans to park a civilian version in your Bowtie showroom and you won't be seeing them in New York yellow, either. This is a purpose-built piece of kit. Of course, the truth is a bit more complicated than that. The Caprice PPV is actually a lightly modified version of GM's long-wheelbase Zeta sedans that are marketed in Australia as the Holden Caprice and in the Middle East as... well, a Chevy Caprice. GM recently offered ordinary U.S. consumers a shorter Zeta, in the form of the well liked but short-lived Pontiac G8, but it expired when its brand was shuttered.

GM invited us out to its Proving Grounds to play cops and robbers on the very same day that the pilot light was going out at Ford's Crown Vic plant. Coincidence? Rather than mull the question, we hightailed it out to Milford, Michigan to live out our childhood policeman fantasies and file this report.

Continue reading 2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV

2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy boasts about Caprice PPV performance in Michigan State Police test

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Police/Emergency

General Motors has a reason to preen over the results of the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluations. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV managed to eclipse its competition in top speed and braking tests. The Caprice PPV managed to scoot down from 60 miles per hour in just 125.8 feet, which is a full four feet shorter than the equivalent Ford Interceptor Sedan. Likewise, with a top speed of 154 mph, the protect-and-serve Bowtie boasts a top speed that's 6 mph faster than the 148-mph Interceptor. While that's impressive, we're more terrified by the fact that the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV managed to ratchet up an astonishing 139 mph. That's what we call a flying brick.

The Chevrolet PPV Sedan gets its power from the company's 3.6-liter V6 engine and lays it to the pavement by the miracle of good, old-fashioned rear-wheel drive. While Ford claims that the company's forced-induction V6 garners better fuel economy with equivalent performance, it will be hard for most law enforcement agencies to brush past the PPV's taller top end and shorter stopping distance. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Chevy boasts about Caprice PPV performance in Michigan State Police test

Chevy boasts about Caprice PPV performance in Michigan State Police test originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #248

Dan Roth — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:36:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Podcasts, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford, GMC

Targa Newfoundland, Hyundai Veloster, the last Crown Victoria, Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Episode #248 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week Chris, Zach, Dan and Chris Paukert talk about the Targa Newfoundland, Hyundai Veloster, the final Ford Crown Victoria, and the Chevrolet Caprice PPV. Your questions and comments power the last third of the podcast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #248:

In the Autoblog Garage
2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD
2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
Runtime: 01:28:04

Get the podcast
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Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #248

Autoblog Podcast #248 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: First batch of 2012 Chevy Caprice police cars hitting the streets

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:46:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, GM, Police/Emergency

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Do you own a fast car? Does your inner conscience often lose control of your right foot? If so, dear speeder, we have an important Public Service Announcement you'll be keenly interested in:

The first batch of Australian-built 2012 Chevrolet Caprice PPV police cruisers has reportedly made it to the States. So says Automotive News, who reports that the tally is currently very small (just 23 were sold in May to unidentified law agencies), but more are clearly on the horizon - AN helpfully reminds that police car sales can average 65,000 to 70,000 units when the economy isn't in a funk.

So, all you horizon scanners out there on the lookout for the Boys in Blue (or is that the boys in the black and whites?), you've got one more silhouette to burn into your brains. Take a good look at the Chevrolet in our high-res image gallery below, and commit it to memory. You have been warned.

(Or, ya know, you could just obey the posted speed limits...)

PSA: First batch of 2012 Chevy Caprice police cars hitting the streets originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tour the LAPD's new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 May 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, Police/Emergency

Chevrolet Caprice PPV - Click above to watch video after the jump

By now, you've probably committed every detail of the new generation of police cruisers to memory. With so many potential successors to the Ford Crown Victoria throne, it pays to know exactly which models to look out for on the road, especially if you dabble in extra-legal speeds. The guys from Translogic recently got the chance to get up close and personal with the new Chevrolet Caprice PPV courtesy of a tour by the Los Angeles Police Department. Along with getting the full scoop on what the vehicle has to offer in terms of officer and criminal comfort, we're also introduced to some of the killer tech on board the new cruiser.

Officers are now treated to an easy-to-navigate touch screen that handles everything from HVAC controls to advanced crime-fighting tech. License-plate recognition software combines two front-mounted cameras with a criminal database to alert officers of potentially threatening drivers and an additional super-sensitive infrared camera can even detect a perpetrator's footsteps at night. Go go gadget awesome.

Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Tour the LAPD's new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic

Tour the LAPD's new Chevrolet Caprice PPV with Translogic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police

Chris Shunk — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Caprice police car gets flogged - Click above to watch the video after the jump

With the Ford Crown Victoria on the outs, the competition to be the "cop car of the future" is intense. Ford has both the Taurus- and Explorer-based Police Interceptors, Dodge is prepping a copped-up Charger and Chevrolet has the Holden Statesman-based Caprice Patrol Vehicle. As you can imagine, all three companies are working hard to woo local police departments into ordering large fleets, and here we see the General Motors folks showing off its new Caprice to officers in Arizona.

The officers seem impressed with the 355-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 and tight suspension, and the added interior space appears to be winning over the boys and girls in ~~blue~~ brown, as well. Interestingly, the folks at GM's Holden division ran this event instead of team Chevy. Makes sense, especially since the event enabled Holden engineers can get feedback from straight from the customer. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police

Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Caprice police car to patrol America's streets beginning April, 2011 [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Police/Emergency

Chevrolet Caprice PPV -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Attention perps: You'll have a new patrol vehicle roaming the streets come next April. That's the month General Motors says its Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle will finally hit the local precinct. Those models will apparently all be of the detective package variety; Chevy's police package will officially go on sale in June of 2011. Ordering for the detective cars will commence in October of this year, while those officers looking forward to the police package will need to wait until next January to place their orders.

For those unaware, the new Caprice will feature a rather traditional layout, with seating for two officers in the cushy front seats and two less lucky individuals in the rear behind a full-width prisoner partition. Motivation comes from a 355-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 engine sending those ponies to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

We've wrangled up a full gallery of high-res images below and pasted a video along with the press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

Gallery: Chevrolet Caprice PPV at Chicago Auto Show

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevrolet Caprice police car to patrol America's streets beginning April, 2011 [w/video]

Chevrolet Caprice police car to patrol America's streets beginning April, 2011 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty plus VIDEO: Chevrolet Caprice PPV on patrol

John Neff — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Police/Emergency

Chevrolet Caprice PPV - Click above for new high-res images or click here for video

It occurs to us that as much as we want to test the just-announced Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle [official details], the only chance we might have is from the back seat. The new police cruiser from General Motors has been designed specifically to woo precincts away from the Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor, and does so with seats designed to accommodate an officer's belt, a humongous optional in-dash screen for electronics (at right) and a 355-hp 6.0-liter V8 to chase down the baddies.

The Caprice PPV, which really isn't a Pontiac G8 at all but rather a left-hand-drive version of the long-wheelbase Holden Statesman, was announced late last night, but this morning General Motors has provided more images of the cop car along with video of it in hot pursuit, lights blaring and siren wailing. Click below to view new high-res images in the gallery or follow the jump for the first video of the only Zeta-based RWD sedan you can't buy in the U.S.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty plus VIDEO: Chevrolet Caprice PPV on patrol

Pics Aplenty plus VIDEO: Chevrolet Caprice PPV on patrol originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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