Officially named Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV), General Motors will produce the vehicles in association with Australian Company Holden Motors for 2011. According to GM, the Caprice will have a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine rated at an estimated 355 HP and 384 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed auto transmission – this compares nicely to 340 horse power HEMI Dodge Charger police edition, and kicks the ass of the Ford Crown Vic 250 HP 4.6-liter V8. We figure it will only be a matter of time before 2011 Caprice vehicles are being chopped on the streets of Philly. One Chicago jazz-&-blues musician commented on Caprice: “It’s got a cop motor, it’s got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks.”

Chevrolet Volt Electric Car

First off was Chevrolet’s press release announcing their 40 miles per gallon charge Volt electric car will have it’s Lithium Ion battery constructed by LG Chem, located in Troy, Michigan. Keeping things local, Chevrolet will also contract the University of Michigan to create a class specializing in battery engineering. Don’t be surprised if your future Volt battery has a big blue and yellow “M” logo.

2010 Chevrolet Spark / Beat Concept

Chevrolet’s Beat concept has grown (metaphorically speaking) into the 2010 Spark Concept. This small Aveo replacement, taking cues from foreign couples and small 4-doors, has an engine range starting with a 1.2-liter front wheel drive vehicle. This concept is already a star in its own right, as one of the robots from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox

A new Equinox is covering Chevrolet in the Crossover/Small SUV segment for 2010. This redesign is taller with a wider front end. This stores a “2.4L Ecotec direct injected I-4 engine estimated at 182 horsepower (135 kW), which delivers an estimated 30 mpg highway, 21 mpg city (EPA certification pending).”

As for the rest of General Motor’s brands, a future for Saturn, Pontiac and Saab seems bleak. If all goes well with bailout spending  GM will focus on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC – Saab will soon be sold off and Pontiac will be downgraded. Saturn, as it looks, is at its end. When Automotive News broached the subject with GM North America Tony Clarke he stated simply “We’re going to be a smaller company.”