Communications-Compatible Floor Shift
Some patrol officers and fleet managers were concerned that the Caprice PPV would only be available with a floor shifter. Chevrolet engineers made numerous design changes to the original retail center console, including moving the parking brake, door locks, power window switches, transmission “sport mode” switches and StabiliTrak (traction control) switches. They also made changes from a dual-gate shift pattern to a straight shift pattern. Finally, they relocated the entire shifter assembly far left of centerline and lower on the console.
As a result, center consoles which fit other police sedans will now fit the Caprice PPV. The shift level is out of the way of the HVAC controls and allows the use of standard laptop or display mounts. Also, it does not interfere with right-knee room. The center console has about a 7-inch wide, 10-inch long open space right of the shifter and a 10-inch wide, 20-inch long open space behind the shifter.
Chevrolet did the impossible: designed a floor shift that is fully compatible with all the normal upfit gear. And, the shifter is in an extremely ergonomic position. The hand falls to the left-biased shifter more naturally than it would a standard centerline shifter. The 9C3 (detective) version will use the traditional dual-gate floor shifter.