Continued Marathon: 2012 Impala to Get New Engine

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Continued Marathon: 2012 Impala to Get New Engine
Impala to go largely unchanged until 2014.
www.GMInsideNews.com
February 7, 2011
By: Nick Saporito

Having been around since 1988, the General Motors W-Body platform has been well utilized in its tenure on the marketplace. After spawning dozens of GM sedans over the years only one W-Body continues to solider on, the Chevrolet Impala. While the ancient platform is remaining, the Impala is getting a new high-tech powertrain for 2012.

According to numerous sources, including dealerships, the 2012 Impala will have only one engine and transmission option. That singular option will be GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Dealerships state that the 3.6-liter is listed as the LFX, the all-new variant of the familiar 3.6-liter that is making its way into several 2012 GM products.

Once production of the Buick Lucerne ends later this year, the Impala will be the only remaining GM product to utilize the 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter ‘high value’ overhead-valve V-6 engines. As such, GM is probably seeing a cost advantage by dropping production of those two engines in favor of changing the Impala’s powertrain.

There have been conflicting reports about other changes to the 2012 Impala, however the latest word is that no other significant changes are being made to the car for the 2012 model-year.

Engineering sources tell GMI that GM’s six-speed transmissions would not fit in the W-Body platform when mated to the ‘high value’ V-6’s, but state that changes to the engine cradle could accommodate the 3.6-liter and six-speed combination.

The news of the 2012 changes come just as GMI was told that the next-generation Impala has been pushed back several more months. According to leaked Canadian Auto Workers union documents the next-generation Impala was supposed to launch in February 2013.

GMI’s sources state that as of last week the car (known as GMX-352) has been pushed back several more months for unknown reasons. The car is still slated to be a 2014 model-year vehicle, but the launch date will be later than February.

As already reported, the next Impala will be riding on GM’s Global Epsilon platform, supposedly sharing the same wheelbase as the upcoming Cadillac XTS sedan. The current Impala has been on the North American market since 2006, meaning the car will experience a marathon seven-year life cycle unless current plans change.

[FenwickHockey65]

Can't even tweak the front fascia?

[Astra RL]

Can't even tweak the front fascia?

Why on earth would they want to update the classic Lumina look, you can barely recognize it already.

[Buick City]

Spot On! Aside from cost savings, GM could not get the "High Value" engine re-certified, so thats another reason for the change. I have not heard anything about any other changes aside from engine and transmission. Why any INDIVIDUAL would purchase a new Impala is beyond my comprehension. I know some people still like the "old-school" styling and features, but there re-sale values are absolutely terrible. Just buy a 6 month to 1 year old model with 8K on it for under 10 grand.

[osv_alero]

I wonder what that the running gear change will do for gas mileage ratings. Any one know what the horse power and torque ratings will be for this updated engine?

[MalibuMan2010]

Two less engines. The brilliance of Dan Akerson at work.

(Yes, I am being sarcastic.)

[Amphibian]

Good news, even if it hardly changes the Impala's position in its class. TMK the Lucerne doesn't have the 3.5L though. That's just the Impala.

[steve333]

Lazy sots
This doesn't do much for GM PR

[DetroitIron]

I'm looking at this on the positive side. GM will build this model out in 2012, use up all the stock laying around, put in a common engine and then give buyers something new in 2013.

[boblutzfan]

This is actually a smart move...eliminating the number of different engine/transmission combinations that GM builds will help to streamline their overall operation.

The bigger question - is will GM give the interior an update to go along with the new engine? You have to wonder though...besides rental and government fleets...why would you want this when you could get get more modern FWD sedans that are better in nearly every way...except for maybe the price. If I had to have a full size FWD sedan from GM - I wiould be getting the Lacrosse...not this ancient pile of...80's engineering.

[jAustin]

This is a nice update but with the 3.6L as the only option, the 2012 car will get lower fuel economy than both the current 3.5L and 3.9L car.
I feel that a 2.4L base, especially a DI, would be perfectly adequate and it would surpass all current engine options in fuel economy.
-------- Bases for my assumptions:
W Impala weighs 100 lbs more than Ep Malibu but has .01 lower drag coefficient.
2009 EPA city, hwy, overall--> Malibu 3.5 = Impala 3.5

One last MCE would be interesting but I guess it's not worth it for just a couple years. Not sure why they're forgoing a 4cyl.

[mrDenali]

How about, IDK, a completely new car instead?

This car was outdated in 2006, and it'll still be around till 2014 And to think right now we could have been driving Zeta Impalas.

[Amphibian]

Two less engines. The brilliance of Dan Akerson at work.

(Yes, I am being sarcastic.)

Why would this be a bad idea in this instance? Secondly, you aren't suggesting that the the death of the pushrod V-6 family wasn't a sure thing well before he became CEO ... right?

I don't know which direction your sarcasm is facing.

[Olds88]

Considering Impala's relatively light curb weight, this should be an impressively quick car.

[Impalibu]

I'm looking at this on the positive side. GM will build this model out in 2012, use up all the stock laying around, put in a common engine and then give buyers something new in 2013.

I'm taking this as a positive as well. The 3.6 will make at least 280hp and in such a relatively light car should result it a decent 0-60 time. I'm guessing low 6s. The heavier Camaro tuned for speed gets 29mpg so I would expect the Impala to get at least 30.

Power and number of gears are the two biggest shortcomings of the Impala IMO.

I'd like to see the styling tweaked a little as well but I'll take what I can get.