Citing an informed and confidential source within GM's executive ranks, Automotive Traveler has confirmed that not only will Pontiac's highly regarded G8 sedan migrate to the Chevrolet brand, but it will be built in North America at GM's Oshawa, Ontario plant.
"Maximum" Bob Lutz, after being re-instated as the "Vice Chairman for all creative elements of products and customer relationships", may have tipped the cards when Automobile Magazine conducted their latest interview with him. Mr. Lutz, car guy extraordinaire, remarked, "The last time we looked at (the G8), we decided that we would continue to import it as a Chevrolet". He also quipped that the G8 was too good to waste. This caused all sorts of consternation among the hierarchy within the Renaissance Center, because the current GM CEO, Fritz Henderson has been widely quoted as "I'm no fan of rebadging" implying that the G8 had no future in North America.
 However late this morning, Automotive Traveler learned through confidential sources at GM that the G8 (based on GM's Global Zeta platform, a lighter, more efficient version on the chassis that currently underpins the G8) will be built in Oshawa, Ontario, right alongside it's stable mate, the Chevy Camaro. We have learned that the new car will most likely be called the Caprice, and that it will be launched within 18 months, most likely at the start of the 2011 model year after Pontiac gets its last rites. The major obstacles to be ironed out will be redesigning the front fascia (the Caprice marketed in the Middle East, shown above, does not conform to current US Regulations), and finding a way to increase production capacity within the designated plant.
 Again, citing our sources, there are two major reasons for this move. First, the current generation Impala, introduced in fall of 1999, rides on a modified front-wheel-drive "W" series platform derived from the Lumina. While still selling in respectable numbers, it is increasingly non-competitive in the mid-sized sedan category, with a platform approaching almost two decades old. Second, GM is losing ground in the very lucrative fleet and police package markets that is currently the lifeblood of the company that is taking tax payer money just to stay afloat. The "9C1" and "9C3" Special Police Specials are available only with a V6 engine, and are out of favor with most law enforcement agencies who prefer the equally ancient Ford Crown Victoria, or the Dodge Charger. With a V8-equipped, rear-wheel-drive sedan once again back in the mix, GM should have no trouble topping the sales charts in this lucrative part of the business.
 All this should come as good news to the fans of the G8. This will allow GM to maximize its investment in the platform, while helping to bring down the cost of production by spreading its operating costs over a larger number of units, much more than what could have been recovered from Camaro sales alone. And the good news should continue for those who are waiting for a Camaro convertible, because with increased production (of similar models), because the investment costs could be recovered quicker by spreading the costs over the entire Oshawa production capacity.
Together with the acclaimed front-wheel-drive Malibu, the 2008 North American Car of the Year, Chevrolet is poised to once again assume its place as America's CAR company, offering consumers two modern large family sedans to compete against the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and Ford's recently re-launched Taurus. Things are starting to look a bit brighter for GM as it has now emerged from bankruptcy.
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