The All-New Chevrolet RWD Sport Sedan: What We Know (So Far)
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General Motors has been very secretive about its Chevrolet models launching in 2013. And frankly, it’s going to make 2012 look like a joke in comparison with the all-new C7 Corvette, next-generation Silverado and a new addition to the lineup: a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan. That last of which has been an especially hot topic as of late, since Chevy confirmed its arrival in a press release, tying its launch into the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The Australians have great suspicion that this new Chevy is going to be based off the Zeta-based Holden Commodore, and many signs are pointing to that — but we don’t think it will be called the Commodore here in America. One major reason is that GM has yet to trademark the “Commodore” name here in America. It’s much easier to imagine the Caprice simply entering civilian duty along with its police patrol vehicle variants, name and all. Its current looks as a police car seem to also more-or-less resemble Chevy’s new design language featured on the 2014 Chevy Impala and 2013 Traverse that were unveiled at New York last week. And yes, it will offer a V8.
For all intents and purposes, this rear-wheel-drive car — which its official name still escapes us, but we’re calling it the Caprice for now — will pick up where the celebrated Pontiac G8 left off. So we can all stop complaining now. Also, it takes some heat off the new Impala for not offering AWD.
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i love it. although i dont know about the caprice name it doesn’t carry the panash it needs to in my opinion.
I agree about the name. I believe the Caprice name was originally an Impala with some extras. Whatever they do, Chevy needs to make a SS version.
Now that the beautiful 2014 Impala has been revealed, this view seems rather bland…It could however make a great platform for a sport Buick Riviera?
They need to make it look really cool and bring back the Chevelle name!!!
As great as the Chevelle was…
1) It was a mid-size sedan. If they brought it back, it would be a coupe-fastback Malibu. The car we are talking here is a full size sedan. If a full size took on the Chevelle name, it would not resemble the Chevelle and would upset many enthusiasts.
2)The Chevelle is not a name the average buyer would like. Chevrolet Chevelle is a weird name if you take off the history.
3) I’ve said it time and time again, Chevrolet should focus on NEW cars that will be remembered 30 years from now like its ancestors, not by simply taking on a classic’s name and features, but by innovating a brand new nameplate and style that resembles Chevrolet moving forward.
I would like to see the Caprice name revived. In the historical Chevrolet hierarchy, the Caprice was normally the top tier slotting in above Impala, Chevelle, Bel Air, etc. Chevy has used iconic names that almost everyone in the US can relate to up through the late 1970’s. They are strong and recognizable. There’s not really a need to create new names for vehicles IMHO.
Recognizable? Absolutely. But strong? My question is with who?
Who is the target market? Is it the baby boomer generation, or the coveted Millenials? Or someone else entirely? Because the seat of my pants tells me Millenials will never buy something called a Caprice…
Alex, I do non know but I like the size and the grill…..maybe a less-expensive ATS or Verano-type sedan? Yes, like the G8? Also, I saw a 1965 navy blue Impala coupe Saturday…was like new….WOW!!!!!!!!
I would!
I, along with my few friends who actually care about performance, could care less about the name, we care about the car, not its badge.
i think with this car it might just be the younger baby boomers (45-50)
In that case, you’ll only appeal to people 35 to 60 who can actually remember what “Caprice” actually is.
“Historical Chevrolet hierarchy” doesn’t mean a thing anymore to anyone. Caprice, Impala, Malibu et al. are just nameplates; they are not badges of honour or something that holds one model in higher esteem than another. The closests there is to such “historical Chevrolet hierarchy” is the LS, LT, and LTZ trims, and NOBODY is demanding Chevrolet stick to that system because it’s ‘traditional’.
Futhermore, nobody wants to “forge memories” with old nameplates that evoke images of a late 70’s America coupled with the stigma of unreliable full-size barges that are hard on gas, poorly built, and technologically inferior. If names like Monte Carlo, Caprice, or Chevelle envoke such images, then they are to be avoided at all costs and to be seen as unfit for modern production cars.
YES! More underwelming full-size barges with V8’s using names that nobody remembers or cares about!
Stick to the volume sales, and to hell with reusing old names. New cars with new names carry no old baggage or negative imagery.
I guess you don;t like it then
No. I object to regurgitating old names that are:
– “Damaged”.
– Dating from a period that the primary consumer has no understanding or awareness of.
– Refelect negitively upon the product it’s attached to.
– Publically project negative imagery that presents or associates the product with unfavourable events, people, or places or situations.
New muscle, new names, new history, no baggage.
N^4
Chevrolet should use this opportunity to write a new page of their performance history, like the G8 did (briefly) for Pontiac.
while i would agree with you in principle, the evidence goes to the contrary. regular people care so little about cars now they’ll buy ANYTHING as long as it looks and drives good. (these days reliability isn’t even an issue among any manufacturer..well except the Europeans, but people buy those anyway because they are snobs).
the reason GM keeps dropping nameplates is because GM internally felt they were damaged. but ya know what? when they dropped the nameplate, sales always went with it. go figure. GM is just getting back to the sales numbers they enjoyed with fresh named cars that replaced old, storied, nameplates.
even now, i still regularly hear car people and non car people alike, complaining about why Cadillace has no DeVille, or Eldorado instead of CTS, STS,SLS, or whatever, never mind Lincoln and it’s move to letters. most times they can’t even match the appropriate letters to the appropriate Lincoln. (i usually correct them, but i would, because i’m a car guy. they could care less. and Lincoln’s sales reflect that.)
Cant wait thanks to alex and all @ G.M. authorty for this site
Just call it the caprice and sell it to civilian and police if undercover is a problem! Lets do this
I’ve seen cg of the of the car in NASCAR trim, and this picutre is nothing like it will look other than having four wheels and a chevy bowtie. Stay tuned, you are gonna like the real thiing.
And while I’m all for not changing model names when improved version come out (except for Aveo as it ws such a bad car), but this car should not be called Caprice. Maybe use Caprice on an upscale version of the 2014 Impala as in the past, but this new car deserves a new name.
Another Sedan..Really? Blah!
I certainly hope it doesn’t look like this! It has 2 to many doors as well! This Police version is about as nice looking as the 2003 and up Malibu with the bugeyed headlamps!
Agree about the Caprice name!
It should be the Highest upscale version of the New Impy.
I think Caprice and I see a Boat with wheels and a grampa driving it!.
They need a Sport Coupe other than the Camaro cause not everyone fits in it with it low roofline profile shape.
The good,RWD and a V8 but thats it so far!
Yes, Caprice is top-end Impala for sure…..luxury
Sorry to break it to you guys but it’s known as the caprice or statesman here in Australia . It will probably be given another name in the us. This exact model has been selling here for nearly 6 years in this shape and platform. Theres been talk of it going stateside for the last 3 years with Holden designing the police variant for quite some time. It’s holdens bit bigger lwb version of our commodore or g8 as it was known in America.
I remember reading somewhere that GM “promised” the actual name would be something that would please us all. I really don’t see them rolling out a G8 and putting a bow-tie on it. I expect this car to look awesome.
I can see it now – a photo shoot with this car in black next to a Camaro titled “Chevy muscle is back!” (obviously fitted with the anticipated V-8)
…or TT V6…? Nah, engine is too sophisticated for Chevy. Unless the Camaro gets it.
Ugh I don’t like V8s
Chevelle + NASCAR = No Brainer
This adds to my disappointment. Every time I see something like this it just tells me that more resources are being poured into areas that fit neither what I want, nor what I think Americans will want (and afford) in the future. GM just seems totally stuck on sedans. Look at just about any other brand and we see much more variety being offered for U.S. consumers. I wish GM would put performance into a few smaller packages rather than put most of its marbles, again, into cars that guzzle gas. It takes technology and manufacturing efficiency to be competitive in segments that involve less steel, and I’m not sure GM can do that. GM, show me. Give me a reason not to become a fan of Mazda, Subaru, or Ford.
i feel your pain, but the reality of the matter is that in the states, nobody buys performance economical cars. and if they do they are highly focused and too pure for anyone but enthusiast, ie the Miata (which is actually the ONLY affordable performance car that sells in decent numbers, and compared to what GM is used to it’s peanuts)
as for the formula GM and most US automakers use, well this IS V8 country. thats what the majority of consumers ask for and purchase. look around you, or check the production numbers. Charger SRTs, and RTs, and V8 Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes and such easily out sell and out number smaller supposedly performance orientated FWD/RWD smaller cars.
and honestly, the only reason cars like the EVO, WRX, Mazda Speed 3, GTI, and such exist is because in their home market the laws and culture dictate that’s how performance is done.
so it’s more of a “if you want small zippy and fun, buy foreign, because the US never did it that way and when we try, it’s always a weak copy of what they do better anyway.” and vice versa.
“so it’s more of a “if you want small zippy and fun, buy foreign, because the US never did it that way and when we try, it’s always a weak copy of what they do better anyway.” and vice versa.”
Cobalt TC/SS?
Yep, while objectively good cars, they sucked vs the Japanese and Euro offerings. One: the “look” wasn’t right. Second: no racing pedigree or aftermarket support. In the end: FAILURE. They didn’t even get some of that down and dirty street fighter aura the SRT4 Neon had. And comparatively aren’t even regarded as “cheap speed” used car options like the Neon.
Pedigree means nothing. There is nothing that says a car can accel in one generation and them bomb in another. The “pedigree” argument holds as much weight as the “nameplate from history” does.
260hp for less than 30KUSD. The only thing that had more hp at the time was the Mazda Speed3, and that cost $40K.
Also, it’s nurburgring lap at the time was a record for production FWD cars.
It was far from a ‘failure’ and was every inch an SS; even more so than the bloated mid-90’s Impala SS was.
The calls for a Cruze SS are louder than those for a Caprice.
I don’t know about your argument against pedigree. That alone is what keep European exotics in the stratospheric realm they exist in. Pedigree is why there is a sizable part of the enthusiast community that says there is no such thing as a Japanese classic.
That said I’m not saying the SS Cobalt was garbage. It just missed its mark. Like the Ford probe GT, it was aimed squarely at the younger sport compact crowd and performance wise whooped them. But the elements of its execution weren’t right. No affordable performance car is worth anything without full on acceptance by the aftermarket. Same goes for racing success. GM proved the hell out of the ecotec. Even now the turbo Ecotec is one of the stoutest turbo 4s ever made. But the target audiance is ignorant of that. Same with those lap times. And even worse it had next to no presence on the street or local track (the SRT4 neon OWNed and still kicks ass in both arenas).
Again the US can do great little cars. But they don’t have the magic splash of ingrediants that a target audiance weened on Japanese and Euro hot hatches and sport compacts has acquired a taste for. No matter how superior, they are always just a little to American to be fully embraced.
Correction, muscle car enthusiasts refuse to recognize Japanese classics. As the 80’s and 90’s continue to fade farther and farther away, there will be more Japanese classics. The celebrated NSX, Supra, original Miata, RX-7, Skyline R32 and CRX can all be seen as classics.
European exotics are kept on the pedestal because they have always been the complete package with no substitutes. It’s that simple. Brands like Porsche and Ferrari have also always pushed the envelope of performance. There has never been an Enzo-fighter from GM, Ford, or Chrysler.
And if you ask the *young* enthusiasts around Detroit, they all respect the Cobalt SS (turbo) and SRT4 Neon. They just didn’t have that WRX/EVO-fighting All-Wheel-Drive. They also weren’t offered as hatches. So to your point, yes, they missed a few ingredients.
While agree with you, I would hardly say only muscle car guys refuse to accept Japanese cars as potential classics. Except for a loyal following amount our generation here in the states, and Australia. Generally newer Japanese Cars fight an uphill battle. (r32-35 GTRs, NSX and Supras excepted Cus you know, the are exceptional. A CRX or Civic DX, not so much)
My comments on the pedigree of USDM sport comapacts relates to proven racing pedigree, something all of the Japanes and Most Euro compacts have. Yes the cobalt raced, but it was never celebrated or trumpeted by GM.
A performance car is nothing if its reputation isnt born from the streets and the track.
Ironically, the Cruze is decimating the WTCC circuit. And GM again refuses to celebrate it with a performance model :/
AGREED! I was actually thinking of the Cruz when writing that. Another thing GM will do is NOT release a version of the car that even resembles the race version. Let alone perform like one. *Shrug * for us GM faithful is soooo frustrating!
First have to say im going to be buying a car in two years and if its a caprice and looks like that hell no!!! no way am i going to spend money on that why dont they bring that opel astra opc to the line up new fresh, modern
well we did get the Opal Astra, (Saturn Astra) and no one bought it. only us car guys actually understand or even desire the GM euro offerings. most US consumers just see yet another economy car from GM, aaaand PASS, as they eagerly run to buy a duller Civic, or Corolla.
side note, if u wanna see what the Caprice/Stateman looks like in Australia and the middle east check out this link.
http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/caprice
first off the car does not look like your picture, second the name is top secret and will be announced soon it will not be caprice. third this will be the first car related to nascar to actually look like its race car counterpart. fourth this will truely tell us at GM if race on sunday buy on monday is real, with race cars of the recent past not resembling their production counterpart car the selling of race on sunday buy on monday has become very diluted. We will get back to our roots with a car closely looking likes the race car. Options will be limited and engine choices will be limited, the car looks great and I think you will all like the name…more to come.
Thanks, jd. Hopefully the powertrain is a knockout. If it’s anything like the G8 or Camaro, it should be.
JD, how soon?
Thanks for the insight, jd. Glad to hear that the name will be new and that GM is working to reestablish a styling connection with their NASCAR vehicles. I kinda hope the name is a completely new word that suggests performance syllabically (sp?) like the Camaro did/does. Especially since it seems like this vehicle will be a mechanical “big brother” to the Camaro.
Glad it won’t be called a Caprice (cop cars/taxi’s) all old school stuff! A new name with a new direction, we all know the Aussies can build a pretty good car!