Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fritz Henderson to Autoblog: Chevy Caprice is being looked at as "police application"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ever since General Motors announced this spring that it was killing the Pontiac brand as part of its restructuring, fans of the Holden-developed G8 sedan have been clamoring to save it as a Chevrolet. After company officials repeatedly said over the past two months that no such thing would happen, Bob Lutz re-lit the fire last week in one of his first pronouncements after un-retiring. Lutz proclaimed that the G8 would indeed become a new Chevrolet Caprice.

During our first drive of the new Buick LaCrosse this week, we had the opportunity on one of the legs to ride with GM CEO Fritz Henderson, and we pressed him for more details on the Caprice plan. Unfortunately it turns out Henderson brought his portable fire extinguisher with him, telling us:
We've been looking at it for police applications. As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."
Henderson also threw a soaking wet blanket on the idea of adding production to Oshawa alongside the Camaro, saying that the cars will continue to be sourced from Australia. So, for the moment, it looks like Zeta sedan fans will probably have to be content with taking a Blues Brothers approach to the problem: Buying their next car as a decommissioned black-and-white.

[Image: GoAuto]

Fritz Henderson to Autoblog: Chevy Caprice is being looked at as "police application" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capricechevroletchevrolet capriceChevroletCapricechevychevy capriceChevyCapricecop carcop carsCopCarCopCarsfritz hendersonFritzHendersonGM CEOGmCeoHoldenpolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarspontiacpontiac g8PontiacG8zetaWed, 15 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click the Dodge Charger cop car for a high-res gallery

Every September since the 1950s, the Michigan State Police have conducted vehicle performance testing on the latest cop cars. Prior to the early 1970s when the first oil embargo occurred, they would go out for bids every year and then test just the low bid vehicle. In those days, testing was limited to acceleration, top speed and braking distance.

According to Lt. David Halliday of the Michigan State Police, as carmakers were struggling at that time and scrambling to sell their bigger vehicles, they all started submitting bids around the same price with only a $45 spread covering all the contenders one year. Around that time they decided to start testing all of the available vehicles and they also made their test results available to all interested police agencies. For the past three decades, a chunk of that annual testing has been conducted at the Chrysler Proving Ground in Chelsea, MI.

Gallery: Michigan State Police car testing

Continue reading Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars

Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrysler-proving-groundcop car testingcop carsCopCarsCopCarTestingmichigan-state-policepolice carspolice-car-testingPoliceCarsspecial service carsSpecialServiceCarsMon, 17 Sep 2007 11:58:00 EST