G8 based Chevrolet Caprice for the U.S. is dead again

Perhaps Bob Lutz got a little caught up in the moment after his short lived retirement. After stating a few days ago that it would be a waste to see a car as good as the Pontiac G8 die, and mentioning that it might be a possibility that the car would come stateside badged as a Chevrolet Caprice, ol' Bob has changed course.

"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."

Lutz is quick to point out that the decision to kill the G8 will have no effect on GM's future rear-drive vehicles, and he went on to say, "... 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."

Such a shame.