After Chrysler announced they will continue the production of the emblematic Dodge Viper, GM reared its head and claimed the G8 will live on too. That in turn sparked a series of speculations swarming on the net about the future Chevrolet Caprice. After several GM executives rejected the G8-Caprice idea, including CEO Fritz Henderson, hopes of continuing the G8 dissolved for good with even Bob Lutz' support ending.
"The G8 will not be a Caprice after all. I'd mentioned it, and said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste.”
"That's all still true. But I have to say that, with my new "marketing" hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be" Bob Lutz' post read.
GM's Vice Chairman continued, "I know that we’ll get a lot of complaints from G8 lovers, because I’m one of them. And the product guy in me is complaining as loudly as anyone. But the marketing guy says there’s no case. With budgets being what they are for the time being, the resources must be allocated elsewhere."
With the government task force being more interested in the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe project, GM still hopes of having a fruitful future for the rear-wheel drive cars.
Bob Lutz concluded the announcement without forgeting the Australian team that gave birth to the Holden Commodore “...we have a tremendous RWD team in Australia that gave us the beloved G8, a team that we will tap into at some point again in the future for its expertise and sheet metal. Just not right now.”
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