The Impala won't be replaced until 2014.

[Jesda]

For f***'s sake. 2014.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/07/2012 ... t-delayed/

http://jesda.com/2011/02/08/why-does-the-impala-exist/

When discussing the current W-body Chevrolet Impala, the phrase "long-in-the tooth" is an understatement. And while Chevrolet's biggest retail sedan was scheduled to get a complete overhaul in 2013, a report from GMInsideNews states that the next Impala has now rescheduled for the 2014 model year.

In an effort to keep the elderly Impala passably fresh until its new Epsilon-based replacement arrives, General Motors is reportedly ready to outfit the big sedan with its 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both the current 3.5- and 3.9-liter V6 engines have been canned, and because of the W-body architecture, adding a six-speed automatic transmission to the existing engines would not have been feasible.

Sheesh.

Does anyone know anyone who actually bought one new?
Doesn't count if the person you know is named Bob Hertz, John Dollar, Mark Avis, Walter Budget, or Richard Enterprise (totally made up names, har har har).

[Bubba1]

For f***'s sake. 2014.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/07/2012 ... t-delayed/

http://jesda.com/2011/02/08/why-does-the-impala-exist/

When discussing the current W-body Chevrolet Impala, the phrase "long-in-the tooth" is an understatement. And while Chevrolet's biggest retail sedan was scheduled to get a complete overhaul in 2013, a report from GMInsideNews states that the next Impala has now rescheduled for the 2014 model year.

In an effort to keep the elderly Impala passably fresh until its new Epsilon-based replacement arrives, General Motors is reportedly ready to outfit the big sedan with its 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Both the current 3.5- and 3.9-liter V6 engines have been canned, and because of the W-body architecture, adding a six-speed automatic transmission to the existing engines would not have been feasible.

Sheesh.

Does anyone know anyone who actually bought one new?
Doesn't count if the person you know is named Bob Hertz, John Dollar, Mark Avis, Walter Budget, or Richard Enterprise (totally made up names, har har har).

LOL. I guess that's about on par with other domestic manufacturers (eg Ford
with its outdated CrownVic/GranMarquis.

[sx moneypit]

Jesda, your write up was excellent! I loved the comment about the Hyundai and Kia owners!

[Dattebayo]

To answer your question, I actually know no one who has actually bought a new car from any manufacturer, period. No one can afford the monthly payments!

[Bubba1]

To answer your question, I actually know no one who has actually bought a new car from any manufacturer, period. No one can afford the monthly payments!

Yes, you do.
< purchased the 350Z, Altima, and 4Runner new.

[themadscientist]

Dr. Dre was unavailable for comment.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Bring back the LS4 in it to at least make it appeal to would-have-been Grand Prix GXP owners in the meantime.

C/D seems to think the next Impala will be Taurus/Deville gigantic, and share its platform with the upcoming DTS-replacing Caddy XTS. Stupidly, engine options will be fours and sixes, with no eights in sight, not even a sideways Northstar or LS4. I don't get it.

In reality, the Impala hasn't mattered since 1970 anyway. 70s and 80s models were gutless, and the revival of the name was barely better than a Taurus. What DOES matter is that GM still has plans for the new "Caprice" or whatever they call the Zeta (Camaro, G8, etc.) sedan that'll slot in where the Impala name SHOULD be going regardless of what happens to the Impaler itself.

[Ajax]

d!ck Enterprise. Brilliant.
Edit- wow, I can't even use the name d i c k?

[RicerX]

My thing about the Impala -

Pontiac made this wonderful swan song vehicle named the G8. It was actually a sedan from GM that was EXCITING (we'll exclude the CTS from this argument as it's on a completely different level than any other sedan GM has released in the last 10 yrs).

Why on God's green earth did GM not just move that back to Chevy and rebadge it as an Impala, using the GT or GXP version as an Impala SS? I can't see how they wouldn't sell a ton of them.

The Maxima is an exciting sedan to me. The new Taurus is fresh and somewhat exciting (I'd be curious to drive the new SHO even though it's a boat). The Genesis sedan is a gorgeous vehicle (even the new Sonata is very well done). I absolutely LOATHE Volkwagen, and I can even admit the CC is a very enticing, attractive car. GM has NO answer for ANY of those in my opinion.

They continue to make stupid decisions with their product lineup, which is one of the major factors behind their struggling in the first place.

The hype around the Camaro will soon diminish, and even with it hyped, what does Chevy have that is actually competitive? A muscle car, a premium sports car, and big trucks. The end. Cadillac is the only division of GM that is worth a damn.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Why on God's green earth did GM not just move that back to Chevy and rebadge it as an Impala, using the GT or GXP version as an Impala SS? I can't see how they wouldn't sell a ton of them.

This was considered for some time, but without the Impala name. There are still rumors circulating about the "2012 Caprice" which is a rebadged Holden Commodore (with some different bodywork from the G8). GM says it won't hit the consumer market but admits they're looking at it as a possible police cruiser. Seems foolish to me to build a car Exclusively for fleet sales, but then that's what the Cavalier and Impala ended up doing in practice so you never know. I think a consumer-market rear-drive Caprice with LY7, LLT, and LS3 engine options would make a lot of people happy.

[RicerX]

Ah, interesting. I don't see why they'd limit themselves to fleet sales. That just doesn't make sense. But time will tell what they decide. I hope it's something that's at least competitive.

[Jesda]

Not only that, I'd argue that the even older Crown Victoria/Town Car is a superior car to the Impala.

Ford Panther platform goes back to 1979
GM W-body goes back to 1988.

Despite having the advantage of a decade, the W-body is inferior. I see cops using the Impala for light suburban duty while CVs are used in more densely populated areas, park services, and highway patrols.

[naladude911]

I wanna see a new crown vic. those havent been replaced since 1999

[Kompresshun]

I've seen signs around here and TN advertising a new Impala for $13,995, which is hard to believe to me but I wouldn't spend even that on one. When they first redesigned it, i'll admit that I wanted one for a while, but after riding in a couple I quickly changed my mind. I honestly think the only reason they sell, aside from being a fleet car, is that there is still a market for cars like them for the people that have followed cars like that for quite some time. When I used to sell cars for Lincoln/Mercury, you wouldn't believe how hard it was to convince old people to buy something different than a Grand Marquis or Town Car, mainly because you could get $8,000 off the sticker price of a GM and $10,000 off of a TC, plus the people that own those cars were quite loyal to them. I don't care to own something the size of an Impala though and it being FWD.

If I were buying something that size though, it would be a Marauder hands down

I wanna see a new crown vic. those havent been replaced since 1999

The Crown Vic has been discontinued for quite some time, aside from fleet models, I doubt you'll see a new one anytime soon

[themadscientist]

I'm all about rocking a crown vic retired cop car when I get back. I just need a hat and some wayfarers.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yil9wlfa ... r_embedded[/youtube]

[Jesda]

Thats really the key difference between the Crown Vic and Impala.




One is ancient but revered by a small group of intensely loyal fans.

The other is an Impala.