2011 Chevy Caprice Cop Car From Oz

DENVER — Bob Lutz said yes, Fritz Henderson said no, but it looks like somebody in the General Motors hierarchy relented and decided after all that General Motors should offer a new Chevrolet Caprice police package based on the automaker's rear-wheel-drive Zeta architecture.

So, in effect, the Holden-based Pontiac G8 sedan will live on — as the 2011 Caprice police car, which carries over sheetmetal and underbody components from the long-wheelbase Australian Holden Caprice, including a version of the massive 6.0-liter V8 that powers the high-performance Commodore SS.

The official announcement of the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle was made Sunday at the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police here. GM said the Caprice PPV can be ordered next year (order code 9C1) for delivery in early 2011.

GM said the Caprice PPV will be available with a choice of V6 and V8 engines, including a flex-fuel 355-horsepower 6.0-liter unit with cylinder-cutoff technology that will have 0-to-60-mph acceleration in less than 6.0 seconds and class-leading top speed. The V6 will be offered at the beginning of the 2012 model year.

Other police-car-specific hardware includes heavy-duty suspension, standard 18-inch steel wheels, oversize four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty pads, police-calibrated stability control system, high-output alternator and heavy-duty coolers for engine oil, transmission and power steering.

We're assuming the usual assortment of lights, sirens, bells and whistles will also be offered.

Inside Line says: Prospective customers who don't happen to own a badge — that includes all you former Pontiac owners — can order the "undercover" street-appearance package. Just check the box that says 9C3. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent