Is the Chevrolet Caprice Coming to Dealers?

A new model is replacing the Chevy Impala in its NASCAR Sprint Series racing lineup, GM announced yesterday. More importantly, the automaker also confirmed that the new car will be in dealer showrooms.

GM is mum on the car's name, but it could be the Caprice, which is currently only available in police car trim. The rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle gets power from a 335-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission. If the Caprice makes its way into dealerships, we assume it'll be toned down considerably since the sedan can do zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds and has been "performance calibrated for police duty," according to GM.

We'll have to wait a few months for more details. GM said the showroom model will closely resemble the racecar and that both cars will be unveiled later this year.

Comments

Let's hope, for GM to save face with the enthusiast community, that they don't tone down the engine. Considering the fact that the engine is already a considerably toned down version of the v8 used in the G8, which rated at 361HP on premium, 355HP on regular.

Hopefully this will be an all new, less sedate Caprice than the one currently in existence in the US.

If they offer it with v8 only, it will be a winner. I understand that stupid CAFE regulations would encourage GM to offer a fuel-efficient v6, but if it's going to be high performance, leave it with smaller sales numbers and a big v8 with big HP. Think of it as a poor man's CTS-V.

I work at a Chevrolet dealership and we've already sold a couple of pre-owned ones after the local Police dept. was done with them as their demos. It is possible to get one. I think it comes standard with navigation becuase both I've seen had it. The only trace of the police package left was the "Police" dome light. This is the G8 reincarnated and both people who bought them knew what they were looking for.

Tone it down for the Caprice, sure. But give us a black Impala SS option a' la 1994 with the PD Pkg. You'll cover the old people and the dads who want to smoke the rear wheels in one car.

Totally different note.. where can I voice my opinion that GM should bring back the K-5 Blazer? Chop 2 doors off a Tahoe, give it 4WD, and capture a whole new market for cheap cheap cheap. Those K-5's are so beloved and have quite the cult following and no other mfg makes anything like it.

One can dream, right?

Why wouldn't it just be the Malibu? Ford uses the Fusion instead of the Taurus; Toyota uses the Camry instead of the Avalon.

othree,

A K-5 would be great, but I think a Ramcharger would be just a little bit better. I wouldn't turn down either one, though.

@65Chrysler300

First to come to market with this niche wins. GM has a leg up 'cause they already have the rear doors and roof, but either way, young, male 20/30-somethings w/o kids would eat these things up! Suckers can tow anything, get slightly better fuel economy than 'burbs and looks pretty sweet lifted or slammed. And the dev costs and line costs would be peanuts. Nearly pure profit.

The question is... if it's a separate model, does it affect gov't CAFE? If so, make a Tahoe with a K-5 trim level. There's gotta be a way to make this profitable all around.

Climbing down from the soap box and heading to bed.