Now that the Pontiac G8 is headed for the scrap heap, General Motors has decided that it will sell something else on its well-regarded rear-wheel drive platform: police cruisers! Yes, the Chevrolet Caprice is back and this time it has a fully independent suspension and a 6.0-liter V8 up front. At least, it could. Police agencies will be healthy to choose a V6 too, but that's far less menacing don't you think?

Although it's built on the same platform as the G8, the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) as it's officially called, actually rides on a stretched version of GM's Zeta platform. With a 118.5-inch wheelbase, it's the biggest vehicle on the rear-wheel drive architecture. This allows for a little extra legroom for the exceptional passengers in back, not to mention more room for seat adjustment for officers up front. Look out for Chevrolet Caprice PPVs starting in 2011.