Impala to replace Monte Carlo in NASCAR Nextel Cup

[rsbaker]

I don't care if Monte Carlo is in Nascar or not. I ""do"" care that GM may not replace it when Chevrolet gets the new Impala. There's always room for at least one Coupe in the line up. If Monte Carlo sales are down right now it only means people have grown tiered of the current model and that it needs to be replaced with a new one. I have always thought Monte Carlo should be moved back to share the Malibu platform as it did for almost 20 years, in this case Epsilon II. (Correct me if I'm Wrong on that) The New 2008 Malibu is due next summer or fall of next year and from what we've all seen and heard, it is going to be a knock out. I say why not give us a sexy sporty coupe version of that new Malibu and call it Monte Carlo, and while you're at it why not give that new Monte Carlo a Saab 9-3 type convertible version to to go with the coupe as a lower cost alternative to the hard top G6. Monte Carlo could become the personal luxury touring coupe and convertible in the line up. Whether or not it returns to NASCAR is unimportant. GM should make more of its models competitive in the SCCA series as they have done with Cobalt and Solstice anyway. SCCA races are much more interesting to watch anyway.

[johnny smallblock]

The real problem with the nameplates is that they've switched places. The Camaro was a mid-sizer. Now it will be built off Chevy's large car platform. If they bring the Monte back it will have to be a mid-sizer. Mid-size cars are NOT personal luxury.

[firesho]

All of this means precisely nothing. Next year when the NASCAR 'CAR OF TOMORROW' begins running.... Alll cars will be the same, inside and outside. The only differentiation will be what grill, and headlights get painted on the front.

Nascar will have even LESS in common with real world cars, than it does now, which is damn little enough.

You will be able to paint IMPALA on the side, COROLLA, or FUSION.. .it wont matter. Its the same thing inside.

Frankly, i may cancel my NASCAR tickets, and see about a set of season tickets to the WWF.

At least the WWF is honest about what it is.

[DuSpinnst]

No surprise there.

[FoMoCo Fan]

Guys, the Camaro is replacing the Monte Carlo. Remember the Camaro is on Zeta, GM's full size RWD platform, the same platform that will underpin the new FULL SIZE Impala, and FULL SIZE G8/GTO or whatever they call it. The point of having a coupe bigger than the Camaro is lost on me. The Camaro is NOT going to be small.

[Silverado14]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

Especially when it goes on hiatus, to be replaced with the Zeta RWD "heritage" ('66) Impala.

...correct. As for the folks asking why no more big 2 doors. Well, GM may just call both the coupe and sedans IMPALA. Heck, from the first Impala in '58 (that year there was no Impala 4 door), to all the way through the 1981 Impala coupe, thats the way it was! .....Impala sedans model years since then have been 82-85, 94-96 and 2000 to present. The 1958 and most of the 60's Impala coupes were truly classic designs and most had great SS V-8 models. Racing and Impala are nothing new.

[Silverado14]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

Guys, the Camaro is replacing the Monte Carlo. Remember the Camaro is on Zeta, GM's full size RWD platform, the same platform that will underpin the new FULL SIZE Impala, and FULL SIZE G8/GTO or whatever they call it. The point of having a coupe bigger than the Camaro is lost on me. The Camaro is NOT going to be small.

...BINGO!

[Silverado14]

Originally Posted by Sporer65

The Impala replacing the Monte Carlo makes since. New racecar, better selling, more of a direct competitor. But Dodge replacing the Charger with the Avenger makes no since. The racecar that is most similar to street car, V8 and RWD, is being replaced by a small V6 FWD car. That sucks.

Very good point. At least the next Camaro/Impala will get back to RWD/V8s.

[Highlander]

Originally Posted by CountryME

here's a little more info from Jayski.com

...The switch from Monte Carlo to Impala could signal the end of the Monte Carlo name from the Chevrolet lineup, as its rear-drive design is used on its model alone and at the present time, no replacement is on the drawing boards at GM.

Uhmm....RWD??? Me thinks somebody not know what they talk about! (That's the best I can convey a sarcastic "tone")

Come on....They're both FWD W-bodies!!!

[KingElvis]

Originally Posted by CountryME

here's a little more info from Jayski.com

Manufacturers and NASCAR also are continuing to move forward with plans to change all of the models used in the Busch Series, perhaps as soon as the 2010 season. That change would put smaller, sportier models into competition, like the retro-designed Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger – as well as the Toyota Solara.(Yahoo Sports)(10-24-2006)


Anyone know what's smaller and sportier about a Camry with the words Solara slapped on it?

And the Challenger? Is that smaller than the Avenger? Even the Mustang is longer and heavier than the Focus. This makes no sense at all. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to race the Challenger and Mustang and Camaro in Nextel Cup - at least they will be V8 rwd cars and roughly similar to the NASCAR chassis which are pseudo coupes.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

Guys, the Camaro is replacing the Monte Carlo. Remember the Camaro is on Zeta, GM's full size RWD platform, the same platform that will underpin the new FULL SIZE Impala, and FULL SIZE G8/GTO or whatever they call it. The point of having a coupe bigger than the Camaro is lost on me. The Camaro is NOT going to be small.

Tell that to the people who say the Camaro is riding on a shortened Zeta. I tried arguing with them in another thread and they basically told me I was wrong. Personally I think Macphisto and whoever else it was are full of it but whatever I was done arguing with them. Like talking to a wall.

[01cavalier]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

Guys, the Camaro is replacing the Monte Carlo. Remember the Camaro is on Zeta, GM's full size RWD platform, the same platform that will underpin the new FULL SIZE Impala, and FULL SIZE G8/GTO or whatever they call it. The point of having a coupe bigger than the Camaro is lost on me. The Camaro is NOT going to be small.

The point of having a Camaro and a monte Carlo was to have one sports car and one sporty luxury coupe. This probably isn't even needed for Chevy anymore though, especially with refocusing the divisions.

[macphisto]

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

Guys, the Camaro is replacing the Monte Carlo. Remember the Camaro is on Zeta, GM's full size RWD platform, the same platform that will underpin the new FULL SIZE Impala, and FULL SIZE G8/GTO or whatever they call it. The point of having a coupe bigger than the Camaro is lost on me. The Camaro is NOT going to be small.

The Camaro is not full size, it is mid-size. The measurements of the concept fit in with what is now considered mid-size.

The Camaro is shorter than the current Impala by 14 inches and is about 7 inches wider. The wheelbase is exactly the same - 110.5 inches.

However there are supposed to be three different Zeta variations. Camaro fits on a shorter wheelbase variation that has a wider stance. If Impala went on that configuration it would not be much longer than the next Malibu, a car that will be about 190 inches +- in length - slightly longer than the Camaro will be.

The Impala will sit on a long wheelbase of around 115-116 inches. The dimensions of the DTS will give you a good clue as to what the longer version of Zeta will be:
207.6 inches in length (21 inches longer than Camaro)
74.8 inches in width (almost five inches less in width)
115.6 inch wheelbase (5 inches longer than Camaro)

The coupe variant will be slightly shorter, likely around 203 inches but still about 18 inches longer than the Camaro. Camaro will not have much rear legroom while a large Zeta coupe (GTO) would. The longer Zeta variant will also sit higher.

The third variant is the less wide version used on the new Commodore. It's funny how Motor Trend suggested that it would come over as the new Grand Prix when it's dimensions are close to the G6 aside from the width.

[KingElvis]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

I don't care if Monte Carlo is in Nascar or not. I ""do"" care that GM may not replace it when Chevrolet gets the new Impala. There's always room for at least one Coupe in the line up. If Monte Carlo sales are down right now it only means people have grown tiered of the current model and that it needs to be replaced with a new one. I have always thought Monte Carlo should be moved back to share the Malibu platform as it did for almost 20 years, in this case Epsilon II. (Correct me if I'm Wrong on that) The New 2008 Malibu is due next summer or fall of next year and from what we've all seen and heard, it is going to be a knock out. I say why not give us a sexy sporty coupe version of that new Malibu and call it Monte Carlo, and while you're at it why not give that new Monte Carlo a Saab 9-3 type convertible version to to go with the coupe as a lower cost alternative to the hard top G6. Monte Carlo could become the personal luxury touring coupe and convertible in the line up. Whether or not it returns to NASCAR is unimportant. GM should make more of its models competitive in the SCCA series as they have done with Cobalt and Solstice anyway. SCCA races are much more interesting to watch anyway.

rsbaker, I've seen you advocate this idea before, and I think it's intriguing. However, given that there is already a G6 coupe, GM could be accused of 'badge engineering' or brand overlap with a Malibu coupe/monte carlo - a convertible just pushes it farther into Pontiac territory.

Even more interesting I think would be to have an all wheel drive Epsilon II coupe that would be a rally type car ala WRX Subaru. I don't really like the G6 coupe proportions, but I relish the idea of a GM rally car. It gets out of the retro/muscle box and into something much more contemporary. It would have practical, functionality, all weather bragging rights and perhaps a racing pedigree, and not just ride on GM's 1960's laurels.

[AndrewGS]

It sure was nice back in the '70s when you could choose what kind of car you wanted. You could get the Monte Carlo for a more upscale look with or without the muscle, you could get the Chevelle as a basic midsizer or a full-blown muscle car AND you could get the big Impala in a sedan OR coupe form and it was only a trim-level's difference from the Caprice. Both, again, available with or without the muscle.

Where have our coupes and love for them gone?