Feel free to bow your head in a moment of silence.

Then laugh. Because this is what the UK  folk are experiencing right this very moment.

Shame.

Here’s a quick reminder of why we live in Cape Town and not the UK.

Last week Table Mountain showed off some serious tablecloth action.

Kak windy.

But then this past weekend in Camps Bay everything went back to schweet.

Ridiculously good looking.

One more just to rub it in.

Dave  finally has a brainwave and installs some umbrellas and deckchairs on Campers just for Caprice customers.

Love that work.

Good times.

I was fortunate enough to arrive back in Los Angeles for winter break just before  the end of the Los Angeles Auto Show.  The LA Auto show is a tradition for me; I can’t remember a time I’ve missed it in the last 20 years.  I used to be that obnoxious  5-year-old sitting in the cars, and now, I complain about that 5-year-old…

I went to the show with my Dad, my brother Kevin, and my friend Mike.  All 4 of us are “car guys.”  Mike’s preference is Japanese imports, my brother loves German precision, my Dad’s an old school muscle car guy who currently loves the simplicity and reliability of his 03 Grand Cherokee, and I’ve dabbled in a bit of everything.

The show this year was considerably smaller than I recall it being in years past.  Nissan/Infiniti didn’t even bother to show, surprising considering LA is such a big market for them.  Aston Martin didn’t show; but Galpin Aston Martin brought a few cars from their fleet to fill the void.  The aftermarket parts expo in Petree hall only took up half the hall; the back half being filled by a kid’s zone with power wheels cars and video games.  A majority of the displays from the manufacturers well less grandiose than in years past.  Chrysler, in particular was in a sorry state; no new concepts, the only display vehicle being the Lower 40 Wrangler that’s been shown all over the place already.   Their display floor was barren as well; only the Ram had multiple configurations shown.

Ford had the best display in my opinion.  It was flashy, multiple versions of each car (the Fiesta in particular), and the ability to test drive a few select Ford models on the streets of downtown LA.  Being a former Mustang GT owner, I took the liberty of piloting a new Mustang GT… faster than my 03, sounded great, but not enough to seduce me back into one.

As far as GM goes, I had mixed feelings about their displays.  Nothing seemed to be garnering much attention from the show-goers, other than the Camaro (which there were at least 6 of).

Arguably, my father is dead in the middle of Buick’s demographic.  He’s 59 years old, retired, and wants something comfortable and reliable.  As we walked into the Buick display, he asked me why GM hasn’t killed Buick off yet.  I told him how well they sell in China, and took him over to take a look at the new LaCrosse.  While he was impressed with the features, he said that the Buick styling was still off-putting for him.  He was however impressed with the GMC Terrain SUV as a potential replacement for his Grand Cherokee, saying he liked the styling.  GM, if you’re listening, bring out a Denali version and he might be sold.

Mike’s dad is a retired police officer, and he’s spent some time around Patrol Cars, so we talked a bit while looking at the Chevy Caprice, which will be a fleet only vehicle.  He kept saying that it’s too narrow for a cop car, and the center console ended up far too busy as a result.  I mentioned how the fancy light bar looks nice, but were I responsible for purchasing new patrol cars for a department, I’d be looking for the vehicle that I can interchange as many of my existing parts with as possible.  No wonder the Crown Vic has been popular for so long.

The Volt was barely being ogled.  Why?  Because  we’ve all seen it before.  For too long.  News flash GM: reduce the concept to production time.  You’ll capture more of the hype of a model being new that way.  I’m really curious to see how well the Volt will do.  It’s a solid concept, but costly for a Chevrolet, more expensive than the Prius, which may ultimately prevent it from being a Prius-beater.

Nobody seemed to care that the Cruze was there.  Which is a shame, because the Kia Forte, which is already on the road, was getting plenty of attention.

With the Detroit show coming quickly on the heels of LA, it’s never been known for big debuts.  Here’s hoping that GM is saving its heavy hitters for the next show.  They need them.

Its about that time that you start thinking about where you gonna be come midnight on December 31st 2009 (thats New Years Eve if you’ve been clapping the chronic so early on a Monday..yes im looking at you Dogballs).

Do you know yet where you’ll be..do YOU need some assistence?

Well let uncle Savage help you out a bit hey.

You could go somewhere in town and be stuck in traffic and have to worry about roadblocks and wild animals etc or you could go somewhere where you can see the ocean..where life is amazing and good things happen. Where unicorns play and fairies like the one in the poster will see you into 2010..

Where is this place uncle Savage i hear you screaming with joy.

Right here my precious.

In a stroke of genius, Cafe Caprice has gone a step further at ensuring that its regular customers (we use the term VIP squatters thanks)  feel even more special by printing their names on its hallowed window’s.

Those of you who call Caprice your second home can now truly say you are part of the furniture.

Next time you walk in, take some mates to the top section and just casually mention that the names on the window are sacred. Then point out that yours is there and enjoy the bragging rights.

The window previously had a secret message in jumbled words but im loving this new idea. I was gonna post all the windows with all the names on them ,but then i’d be denying you the pleasure of finding out if you cracked the nod hey. Go see for yourself.

Pffffft….wonder who put david and dani raad on there. No idea who they are.

Love your work.

Good times

Minha nova série de entrevistas com o CAPRICE!!! Link abaixo:

My new CAPRICE series interviews starts today! Past, present and future with
Anton Brejestovski. The other parts will be aired soon. You can read it here:

CAPRICE Official Site

CAPRICE Official MySpace

The Cover:

To be released next month!!!

Dans le dernier numéro de Stratégies (n°1566) vous pouvez constater que l’échec Mailorama en a bouleversé plus d’un. Si Pierre Labasse et Jean-Marie Charpentier (respectivement président d’honneur et administrateur de l’Association française de communication interne) mettent le doigt sur la sur-importance prise par la recherche de l’image et le souci de la réputation au détriment d’un vrai dialogue social, d’autres ne semblent pas avoir saisi la nature du débat généré par Mailorama. Commençons par Pierre Cadou, directeur de Casa del Sol qui pleurniche et regrette Séguéla! “Séguéla réveille toi, ils sont devenus fous!”. Pierre Cadou est l’archétype même du type qui vit dans le passé. Les responsables de l’action Mailorama sont pour lui des “énergumènes irresponsables qui donnent un cliché de la publicité négatif et faux“. Relisez bien cette citation… Ok, le Pierre Cadou critique la “communication révolutionnaire” de Mailorama en appelant à la rescousse Mr Séguéla. Oui, Mr Séguéla, celui de la Rolex, celui qui représente tous les clichés de la publicité! Pierre Cadou, tu sors, ton discours est totalement incohérent et obsolète.

Notre second patient vivant dans un autre moment n’est autre que Thomas Jamet, directeur général adjoint de Reload. Ce dernier ne demande pas à Séguéla de venir à notre secours mais considère que l’opération Mailorama fut “une grave erreur” {…} car “symptomatique d’une méconnaissance gravissime des nouvelles règles de communication.” Première nouvelle, il y a des nouvelles règles pour communiquer! Ce serait une sorte de manuel scolaire avec inscrit en noir sur blanc ce qu’il faut faire pour réussir sa campagne? Voilà encore un homme qui plombe la créativité et la recherche d’innovations. Si pour communiquer il suffisait de lire un manuel, alors tout le monde serait publicitaire ou consultant. Thomas Jamet estime ensuite que de “jeter des billets d’un bus promotionnel” est “révélateur d’une manière totalement dépassée de communiquer”. Vous vous souvenez vous d’une action similaire? Moi pas, il est rare qu’un annonceur choisisse de ne pas passer par les canaux traditionnels pour communiquer. Ici, l’objectif était de transférer les investissements publicitaires en les offrant ni plus ni moins à des gens comme vous et moi. C’est simple, un bus au nom de la marque se déplace et offre des enveloppes avec des sommes plus ou moins importantes. Mailorama c’était finalement une grande loterie avec accès gratuit pour les “joueurs”.

Voilà, les bases de la problématique sont posées. On a d’un côté un annonceur qui vous offre de l’argent et de l’autre, deux acteurs qui s’interrogent. Au milieu de tout ça, on a des Hommes capricieux. Capricieux? Oui capricieux, des Hommes capables de mettre le feu à des voitures s’ils n’ont pas ce qu’ils veulent. Nos deux acteurs aux idées retardées avancent le fait qu’une telle action n’est pas responsable en période de crise économique! Cette hypothèse est-elle valable? En période de crise, on m’offre de l’argent!… et je brûle des voitures parce que je fais mon enfant pas content (voir photo). Je pense sincèrement que l’action proposée par Mailorama aurait été un succès si l’Homme n’avait pas était si capricieux. Évidemment que la dernière pub Mirlaine machine ne fera pas de dégâts en passant à la Tv, est ce pour autant une bonne campagne? Une campagne ne peut pas être uniquement considérée par rapport à ses résultats physiques. L’idée novatrice ne peut pas être ignorée.

L’Homme est un enfant capricieux qui n’a pas d’objectif précis. Une infime possibilité se présente et hop  il se révolte! Comment expliquer des incidents après l’échec de son équipe de foot? La crise encore? Toujours pas,  juste un caprice. Je loupe la distribution de billets Mailorama, mon attaquant loupe un penalty et c’est l’émeute. Pourquoi? L’Homme a besoin de motifs pour se soulever. L’Homme a certainement des problèmes le rendant aussi capricieux et infantile mais Mailorama n’était PAS une mauvaise idée. Le concept avait d’ailleurs déjà germé de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique… et avec succès. Le caprice, une spécialité française? Je reviens pour conclure sur l’idée de loterie. Heureusement que les Hommes français ne se déchaînent pas à chaque tirage de l’EuroMillion, il n’y aurait plus beaucoup de voitures… Une solution pour Nicolas Hulot?!

Yesterday was Women’s Enterprise Day, which focuses on celebrating the successes of female businesswomen and encouraging others to turn their passions into profit.

Caprice Bourret who has been a successful model since 1996 has always seen herself as a businesswoman but claims she was “diving in at the deep end” when she decided to launch her own lingerie company,

I would like to share her top tips with you here:

1.  I never went to college, but you have to learn to educate yourself. You need to know every aspect of your business.

2. Be persistant. You will be knocked back, as I have.

3. You have to get people that are qualified, because ultimately they will help you make money.

4. If quality isn’t there your customers will know and you will lose your business. I take a hit on my margins because I’m looking for longevity.

5. You have to learn about cashflow.

6. You always have to think five months down the line. I am a very conservative businesswoman in general.

7. It is still sort of a man’s world. You have to prove yourself. Especially coming from a modelling background I have found it hard to gain credibility.

To read the rest of the article “Caprice backs Women’s Enterprise Day”

please visit this link

Programme du jour : Ecole, crèche, et scandale !

 

La semaine n’est pas exceptionnelle. Je me réveille un peu avant 7h, je m’habille en faisant la bouille mais finis par sourire après une petite explication avec Maman. Je réveille ensuite Papa. Nous descendons déjeuner, je bois mon lait puis mets le reste de mon petit déjeuner (2 cookies, mes vitamines, une barre de céréale et une pompote) dans un petit sac plastique. C’est un peu un rituel, avec Maman je peux manger dans la voiture alors j’en profite.

Nous arrivons à l’école vers 7h45, un gros bisou et je suis en classe.

13h30 Maman vient me chercher pour la crèche, je suis adorable et vais chez les Bluebells, le sourire aux lèvres.

18h30, elle vient me chercher, nous rentrons passons par le Proxi, achetons quelques courses puis rentrons à la maison.

Je suis plutôt gentille jusqu’au moment de prendre ma douche, où je décide, comme souvent, de faire un petit scandale. La douche est donc rapide, Maman me met en pyjama et je me retrouve au lit à 20h. Rédacteur : Aurélia, ma Maman.

Toutes mes dernières photos : Cliquez ici et vidéos : Cliquez ici.

Holden’s opportunity to export its Caprice model to police in the US is under threat as Ford’s American division plans a replacement for the popular Crown Victoria.

Chevrolet last month unveiled the Caprice PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) and announced that it would aim to sell the long wheel-base Australian as a police-only vehicle from early 2011.

But Ford – who currently builds around 75 per cent of all US police vehicles – is due to showcase its new Police Interceptor in the first quarter of 2010 before its launch at the end of 2011.

Ford’s Crown Victoria successor is widely tipped to be the new Taurus, which is currently the only car it makes with similar dimensions.

Ford claims the Police Interceptor has been under development for 14 months with input from its “police advisory board” and will be built in the US with improvements to fuel efficiency, quality and durability.

The outgoing Crown Victoria is powered by an 186kW/402Nm 4.6-litre V8 and is equipped with fire suppression technology and bullet-proof door panels.

Ford says it sells around 45,000 as police vehicles each year.

The 2010 Taurus SHO with the EcoBoost V6 puts out 272kW and 495Nm and seems the best fit from the current Ford stable.

The Caprice with the 6.0-litre Gen 4 V8 compares relatively closely with 260kW and 517Nm of torque.

With around 70,000 police vehicles sold in the US each year there is still an opportunity for Holden to export close 25,000 Caprices each year.

Both new vehicles will be considered by police departments and emergency services when orders are taken next year.

by Tim Beissmann

Rarely Used list of Girls (2005) only 3 have entered the top 100. Are names really slow to enter and creep or do they suddenly appear at like 600?

Aeron, Aine, Allegra, Amity, Arabella, Ariadne, Artemisia, Aviva, Avril, Beatrix, Britt, Calla, Caprice, Cassia, Cecily, Daria, Dimitra, Donatella, Eleni, Ellery, Elodie, Emeline, Emlyn, Esme, Fifi, Finola, Gaia, Gemma, Hadassah,Hermione, Hollis, Honor, Isadora, Jemima, Junia, Kateri, Kiki, Lark, Lavender, Lilias, Linden, Lyra, Maisie, Mattea, Mehitabel, Melia, Mercy, Niamh, Olympia, Orly, Pippa, Romy, Shenandoah, Shoshana, Stefania, Tamsin, Tayla, Thomasina, Tilda, Topaz, Tova, Vashti, Venice, Verity, Zilla.

Arabella 2005- 795, 2006- 649, 2007- 648 2009-657

Gemma 2008- 888

Hadassah 2007- 996, 2008-988

and the SSA website has gone down for me so I can’t find the rankings for Tayla for the last 5 years?

Programme du jour : Chouineries et repos.

 

Je me réveille à 9h45 en pleurant, Maman voudrait que je lui fasse un bisou avant d’aller réveiller Papa mais je ne l’entends pas de cette oreille. Nous descendons péniblement prendre notre petit déjeuner. Là encore j’oscille entre chouineries et larmes, ce qui me vaudra d’aller me calmer dans ma chambre une bonne partie de la matinée.

Je commence à être un peu plus conciliante vers 13h, je mange mon porridge et joue un peu avec Papa. 14h, c’est l’heure de la sieste, je me réveillerai 2h plus tard d’humeur changeante. Maman m’explique gentiment qu’elle n’est pas prête à supporter le même cirque que ce matin, et comme par magie, ma bonne humeur reprend le dessus.

Je joue à faire des exercices de mon cahier de maternelle avec elle pendant une bonne heure, puis joue avec Papa le temps que Maman prépare le diner. 18h30, nous passons à table tous les 3 sur la même table. Tout se passe très bien, je mange de bon appétit.

19h15, je retourne dans ma chambre et joue jusqu’à l’heure du coucher. 20h30 Maman me chante quelques chansons, Papa me fait un gros câlin et je m’endors sans trop de soucis. Rédacteur : Aurélia, ma Maman.

Toutes mes dernières photos : Cliquez ici et vidéos : Cliquez ici.

Programme du jour : Mauvaise humeur, école, crèche et Viri.

6h40, je me réveille de très bonne humeur, jusqu’à ce que Maman m’interdise de prendre mes colliers à l’école. Ensuite je refuse tout se que l’on me propose même si cela me fait plaisir. Maman est patiente mais Papa un peu moins et je finis par être punie avant de partir à l’école.

7h20, Tata Viri et Maman m’accompagnent à l’école, je suis très contente de lui montrer toutes les salles et de lui présenter ma maitresse. Nous nous arrêtons à la cantine pour prendre un café, je bois un verre de lait ce qui me met de meilleure humeur. 8h05, je suis dans ma classe, Maman et Tata sont parties.

13h25, Maman vient me chercher et lui parle de mon cours de catéchisme. Nous partons à la crèche. Maman vient me chercher quelques heures plus tard, puis nous rentrons à la maison. Tata Viri est encore là et je suis contente de voir que Corentin est là lui aussi. Maman me prépare des pates « alphabet ». Je mange de très bon appétit, je suis adorable. Je prends ma douche, Tata Viri joue avec moi, puis me met au lit. Papa arrive juste à temps pour me faire un dernier bisou. Il est 20h. Rédacteur : Aurélia, ma Maman.

Toutes mes dernières photos : Cliquez ici et vidéos : Cliquez ici.

Welcome one and all to another burst of automotive news, straight from the broken faucet of the Internet and into your unsuspectingly open eyes!

Let’s start off with something sexy. Over the last couple of weeks, no fewer than three boner-inducing artist’s concepts have appeared for potential supercars from some of the world’s foremost makers of excitiong cars. Now, unfortunately, none of these are anywhere near cleared for production – they’re just artistic visions of potential supercars. But at least we can imagine ourselves in them – which is all most of us would be doing if they were real, anyway.

First up is a concept for a successor to the former fastest car in the world, the McLaren F1. McLaren recently unveiled their first all-new car since the F1; named the MP4-12C, it’s designed to fight in the highly competitive supercar middleweight category, against such Worthy Opponents as the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Porsche 911 Turbo/GT2, the Audi R8 5.2, the successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo, and Stephen Colbert.

McLaren has stated the MP4-12C (which sounds more like a submachine gun than a car to us) will occupy the middle of their three-supercar lineup, leaving room above and below it. With that in mind, Coventry University student Matt Williams whipped up this concept called the LM5, a hypercar to fit above the MP4 and challenge the Bugatti Veyron for global supremacy. (Imaginary power comes from a 700-horsepower version of the BMW M5’s V10.)

Next up comes a design for a potential Porsche supercar to succeed the Carrera GT of a few years ago. Crafted by an Iranian designer named Emil Baddal, this exotic-looking machine currently goes without any imaginary powertrain at all. (It also goes without a name, so I guess Baddal is one of those artists who likes to title his works “Untitled” because he thinks it’s avant-garde.)

Since Baddal apparently wants to leave the details up to the imagination, I’m going to call it the “Rapier,” after the runner-up name for the F-22 fighter, and pretend it’s powered by a 745-horsepower 6.8 liter turbocharged V12 based off the Panamera’s V8, connected to an all-wheel-drive system by a seven-speed PDK transmission. Then I will pretend to drive it across the country to Jennifer Aniston’s house and take her out for a fancy dinner before parking on Mulholland Drive and getting busy on the hood.

Baddal also brings us the third in our list of imaginary playthings, a real-life version of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept from this year’s Frankfurt show. That concept was “propelled” by a 163-horsepower turbodiesel 1.5 liter three cylinder connected to a pair of electric motors; sources claim the production version, rumored to go by “Z10,” would run a 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine (also rumored to be the engine of the next M3). Combined with a low curb weight, the Z10 ought to be as ballsy as a triple shout of Jåger.

But enough fiction. If you’ve been following this site for a while, you’ve probably read our posts on the “Toyobaru,” the sport coupe under joint development by Toyota and Subaru. Well, the wraps have finally come off, and it looks pretty sweet.

Currently going by the name of the Toyota FT-86 Concept (excitement fail), the car is powered by Subaru’s 2.0 liter boxer four-cylinder engine, hopefully putting out at least 200 horsepower. Supposedly, the car will be rear-wheel-drive only; whether that’ll preclude it being sold as a Subaru in the States remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see an AWD system slung under there for the U.S. market.

The production FT-86 will reportedly be coming our way in 2011, hopefully priced around $20,000. RWD or AWD, it looks like it’ll be a great car – it’s about time manufacturers started making more small, fun cars for less money.

Vying for the FT-86’s recession-paralyzed youth, though, will be a similarly priced sports coupe from Honda – and it’s a hybrid, which scores you bonus points but means you have to scrape Ed Begley Jr. off your car more often. (He’s like a starfish!)

Successor to the beloved CR-X hatch of eons ago, the CR-Z (I guess CR-Y just sounded too sad) will only pack a hybrid powerplant, so don’t expect many smoky burnouts. Rumor has it the powertrain will be a 1.5 liter four-cylinder connected to Honda’s usual hybrid gear and your choice of six-speed stick or CVT automatic; expect somewhere around 125-150 combined horsepower, a 0-60 time of around seven seconds, and moderate-to-heavy smug levels.

But there’s more news from Subie-land these days – and this next tidbit is a bit…unexpected. Apparently, Motor Trend has named the 2010 Subaru Outback its SUV of the Year. To which we at CCO respond…really?

As readers know, we really like Subarus. They’ve been making tremendous strides in quality without sacrificing their core values, and remain some of the best cars in their price range. And the Outback, with its elevated stance and versatile AWD, does offer most of the ability of a sport-ute while retaining most of the virtues of a car.

But that’s because it is a car.

Now, I’m sure Motor Trend will say the line between cars and SUVs is blurrier than ever, and that the newest Outback features enough differences from the regular Legacy that it should qualify as a separate category.  Sorry, MT. We love ya, but the Outback is a car. To paraphrase our well-spoken president, you can put all the lipstick you want on a pig, but she’s still Sarah Palin – and you can put all the off-road trappings you want on a car, but it’s still a station wagon. In our minds, the winner should have been the Audi Q5.

Speaking of Audi, some good news from our friends in Ingolstadt. According to AutoExpress, Audi will be bringing the electric e-tron concept from the Frankfurt show to production as a new smaller sports car called the R4.

Reportedly, the R4 will be based on the production version of VW’s Concept BlueSport, a small diesel-powered roadster from this year’s Detroit show. No idea what sort of output we should expect from the production electric R4, but given that the concept’s 3,319 lb-ft of torque could probably fling the space shuttle into orbit, it’ll probably be a mite less when it lands on our shores around 2012. (There will likely also be gas-powered version, for those of us lucky enough to still have access to fossil fuels after the zombiocalypse of 2011 price of gas goes up.)

But if electric-powered sports cars aren’t your bag, how about a convertible Porsche Panamera? No, the Germans aren’t bringing back the four-door convertible. That’s not coming back until somebody goes back in time and saves JFK. But according to Automotive News, a topless two-door version of the Panamera will be hitting the streets sometime in the next couple of years. No word yet on whether they’ll also offer a two-door coupe version to combat the Mercedes-Benz CL and BMW 6-series, but given Porsche’s 928 filled a similar GT coupe role from 1978 to 1995, you’d probably be safe putting down a deposit…just in case.

Or, if you’d prefer something equally luxurious but a bit more insane sensible, Automotive News also says Aston Martin is considering putting its Toyota/Scion-based Cygnet runabout into production. For around $32,000, drivers could have an Aston Martin the size of a Smart car with the same Toyota suspension and drivetrain as the iQ upon which it’s based. Aston Martin engineers say they got the idea after watching Daniel Craig get whipped in the balls in Casino Royale.

"The world is gonna know you died designing a ridiculous car!"

Still, if you decide to spend your thirty-two grand on a Cygnet instead of, say, a Mustang GT, at the very least you’re less likely to see one of Chevrolet’s new Caprice police cars in your rear view mirror. For those of you who just exploded at the thought of a Chevy version of the wonderful Pontiac G8, sorry to burst your bubble, but the G8’s still marked for termination as of this writing.

Those of you who’re envisioning a four-door Camaro, though, are much closer to the mark – like the Camaro, the Caprice is based off GM’s Zeta platform. However, don’t get too caught up in dreams of drag-racing with the wife and kids; the Caprice will only be available to police here in the States. (It’s available for civilians in the Middle East, because apparently GM easily confuses that region with the Mid-West.)

Loaded with a 355-hp 6.0 liter V8 mated to a six-speed auto, the Caprice should run 0-60 in the mid five-second range while driving up police academy recruitment from Pennsylvania to Nevada. Expect to be checking your six for them in 2011; V6 powered versions will be available in 2012, but…why?

By now, you know all there is to know about the not-for-public-consumption, Camaro-engined cop Caprice. Wannadrive wouldn’t normally be concerned with a V-8 American sedan, except this one isn’t. It’s the technological successor to the superb, dead Pontiac G8, and Australian masterpiece, and America doesn’t have another GM V-8 sedan that isn’t a Cadillac.

So Wannadrive went out and scored this exclusive video of it in action–forget worrying about the headlights in your mirror. If you hear this thing roar, just drop to the ground. You haven’t got a chance. Full press release after the jump.

DENVER – An all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) will join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011. It’s a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a host of specialized equipment and features.

Chevrolet made the announcement at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado. The Caprice PPV will be available for ordering next year and will hit the streets in early 2011.

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

Vice President, Global Chevrolet Brand Brent Dewar added, “Along with Impala and Tahoe, the Caprice PPV gives agencies a greater range of choices for police and special service vehicles that are all available from Chevrolet.”

Unlike other police cars on the market, the Caprice PPV is not based on existing “civilian” passenger-car model sold in North America. It has been developed in key areas specifically for police duty, containing modern equipment and features:

• Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
• Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
• Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
• Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
• Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

The front seats are sculpted to “pocket” the equipment belt, which greatly increases the comfort for a great range of police officer sizes. The foam density of the seatback and cushion insert surfaces are designed to conform to the shape of an equipment belt’s various items, too, allowing the officer’s back to rest properly on the seatback surface.

“The Chevrolet Caprice PPV’s seats represent a revolution in comfort and utility for officers who spend long hours in their car,” said Bob Demick, lead seat design manager. “The shape also enhances entry and egress, making it easier for officers to exit the vehicle quickly. The seatback bolsters, for example, have been purposefully contoured to help pocket the equipment on the belt, which includes the gun, Taser and handcuffs, which rest comfortably in the sculpted lower bolsters. That also increases the longevity of the trim cover surface.”

Along with comfort, the materials used in the seats were also carefully selected. High-wear materials were chosen to stand up to long hours of everyday use, while breathability, long-term durability and ease of cleaning were also important criteria.

Engineers worked on several iterations of the seat, testing a couple of versions in the field to get real-world feedback from police officers, who used prototype seats in their cruisers for a month. Their input helped determine the final design.

Class-leading space

The Caprice PPV is based on GM’s global rear-drive family of vehicles that also underpins the Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture – 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) – along with a four-wheel independent suspension that delivers responsive high-performance driving characteristics that are crucial in some police scenarios.

Caprice PPV’s long wheelbase also contributes to exceptional spaciousness. Compared to the primary competition, its advantages include:

• A larger interior volume – 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters – than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
• The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
• At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice’s trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area.

The Caprice’s 6.0-liter V-8 is rated at an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) with an estimated 384 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by a six-speed automatic transmission that is performance-calibrated for police duty. Additional, police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include:

• High-output alternator
• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
• Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
• Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
• Heavy-duty suspension components
• Police-calibrated stability control system
• Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

A host of complementary features are also offered, including special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an “undercover” street-appearance package (9C3).

To enable more room for interior equipment, the standard radio can be relocated to the trunk, allowing for an in-dash, touch-screen computer to be used.

Caprice on patrol: A brief history

Chevrolet’s history with law enforcement is almost as old as the brand itself. Police departments have used Chevy sedans as police cars for decades, ordering them with basic equipment and powerful V-8 engines – including some special engines that weren’t available in regular-production models, such as the 1959 Biscayne that was offered with up to 315 horsepower.

The full-size Chevrolets joined the force in 1976. All Caprice police cars – including the new, 2011 model – have carried the 9C1 order code. Here’s a quick look back at Chevys on patrol:

1959 – Chevy Biscayne police model capable of 135 mph with specially tuned, police-only version of the 348-cubic-inch V-8 engine

1965 – The new “big-block” 396 engine is offered in Biscayne and Bel Air police cars, making them among the most powerful on patrol; a 427 V-8 was added in 1966

1976 – The 9C1 order code is given for the first time to a full-size Chevy police car package. It carries the Impala name.

1977 – The full-size Chevy is downsized. The 9C1 police package is retained, as is the Impala name.

1986 – The Caprice name replaces Impala, as the car is updated for the mid- and late-1980s – including the option of a powerful, 5.7-liter small-block V-8.

1991 – A new-generation Caprice is launched, with the 9C1 police car still on the beat.

1994 – The 260-horsepower (194 Nm) LT1 V-8 engine is offered in the Caprice 9C1, making it one of the fastest full-size police cars ever offered.

1996 – Caprice police car production ends, as GM’s full-size, body-on-frame car architecture is discontinued.

2011 – The Caprice PPV returns to active duty.