Impala: Past, Present, Future?

[Markld74]

The Impala has no future, it has been a dull boring car for so long. Plus with fuel economy and new CAFE regulations an updated version has no place.

[TJ95GAGT]

Originally Posted by dav305z

GM already ruled out a zeta Impala because of the potential CAFE impact. Making the heavy Zeta's fuel efficient would cost a lot of money.

Better to leave it as a niche vehicle with Pontiac for now.

Impala SS: 16/24
G8 GT: 15/24

No reason why the Zeta couldn't become the SS trim as mentioned in this thread.

The V6 G8 isn't that far off in fuel economy compared to the Malibu either.

V6 G8: 17/25
V6 Malibu: 17/26 or 18/29

[BigAls87Z28]

Exactly. The heavier and bigger Zeta gets about the same gas milage as the Malibu, which is lighter.
Whats even harder to wrap your mind around, is that the Direct Injected CTS gets better gas milage with more power.

So what about a lighter Zeta car, one lthat is talked about from Holden, using the new 3.0 powerplant that will make the same power as the current SFI 3.6 but get better gas milage?
There is no need to make a larger Epsilon when you could move Impala up market.

[HotCarNut]

Originally Posted by dav305z

GM already ruled out a zeta Impala because of the potential CAFE impact. Making the heavy Zeta's fuel efficient would cost a lot of money.

You know, truck and SUV sales tanking may be exactly what the doctor ordered for a RWD Impala. Follow me for a second here. The killer for the RWD Impala was that they needed the 1 mpg improvement given the current sales mix. However, in the face of $4 gas and the prospect of even higher prices, America is abandoning trucks and SUVs in droves. This shrinks their share of the CAFE mix and leaves a bit more room for GM to play with in terms of models and product decisions. Even better, sales of small cars like the Aveo, Astra, and the "triplet" model-size vehicles in the market are soaring. This gives GM a significant amount of room that previously didn't exist in their CAFE calculations. I'm not suggesting that they can go crazy, but a well-thought out RWD car could fit and succeed.

Now, Big Al made some great points about the weight difference being negligable between the current W platform Impala and the Zeta-based G8. The biggest reason for the difference in gas mileage is driveline tuning and the rear end gearing. There is no reason that GM couldn't put a 6-cylinder with a 6-speed transmission and a more fuel-efficient rear-end in the new Impala and easily get 22/30 out of the vehicle. Sure, they'll sacrifice in 0-60 times, but then again, nobody buying the V6 would care much about that. They can use a more-aggressive rear-end in the V8s as those will sell in MUCH lower numbers and mostly to enthusiasts who want the straight-line performance.

[Timekeeper]

The current Impala SS is a sweet ride. I usually get one when I rent to drive on business and the ride is comfortable and doesn't wear me out. Keep the W body and make some body adjustments noted above and it will still sell well.

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by Markld74

The Impala has no future, it has been a dull boring car for so long. Plus with fuel economy and new CAFE regulations an updated version has no place.

Obviously another plant.
you are an idiot.

[sigma]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

Could GM do a different version of rebadging for this? Instead of sticking many badges on one vehicle, how about putting the same badge on two vehicles. You could have a FWD Impala for LS, LT, and LTZ along with a RWD Zeta for SS only.

Ding Ding Ding... We have a winner. There is nothing that says that all versions of the Impala must ride on the same platform. There is nothing that says that base level models (LS, LT1, LT2, LT3) can't be FWD and the higher end luxury and performance models (SS and LTZ) can't be RWD.

Yes, the models would look different because of the difference in drivetrain orientation, but that might be just what GM is looking to do.

[Chaz_23]

The next Impala:

W platform, 3.8, 4-speed, Malibu fascia. BAM!

[HotCarNut]

Originally Posted by Chaz_23

The next Impala:

W platform, 3.8, 4-speed, Malibu fascia. BAM!

Please tell me you're doing drugs or trapped in a time-warp back to the bad-old pre-Lutz GM.....

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by TJ95GAGT

Impala SS: 16/24
G8 GT: 15/24

No reason why the Zeta couldn't become the SS trim as mentioned in this thread.

They are not going to build one vehicle off of two different platforms. That makes no sense.I agree tweaking W body using lighter weight materials and the new 6 spd trans with the Direct Injected powerplant would be fastest and cost effective.

[HotCarNut]

Originally Posted by prototype66

They are not going to build one vehicle off of two different platforms. That makes no sense.I agree tweaking W body and lighter weight materials and the new 6 spd trans would be best and cost effective.

Please define "best". You see, the platform is ancient and every other car that is currently built on it is moving to a new platform. GM is doing this for a reason: namely that they just can't tweak this ancient Buick Regal any further. I've never seen anywhere where this chassis offers an advantage (outside of being cheap) for the performance of the automobile. I'm not talking about enthusiast performance here, I'm just talking about the normal ride, handling, stability, comfort, flex, rigidity, etc expected of a modern chassis. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nearly every new chassis GM is producing is stiffer and more stable than this one.

[Ambalanche]

Why is it that we only are talking about either Zeta or EpiII? Is GM not going to, in the next 5 years or so come out with a new platform? Does the EpiII have to wind up being like the W platform that is 20 years old?
If the Impala stays the same till 2012 (remember this was supposed to be a stop-gap car) I hope there will be a MAJOR MCE for 2010 since it's basically been untouched since introduction. the 2013 model year is a long time away and I just don't see how the current car can go on for 4 more model years until there's a new one.
I guess unless and until GM bites the bullet and makes something that leap-frogs the competition, it's always going to be playing catch-up and be behind the times. Hopefully the Volt is that car. But the current Impala will be 9 years old by the 2013 MY. That's too long for a truck, much less your bread and butter car.

[BigAls87Z28]

W body will not exist. W body is not a choice.
There are no other cars built on W body anymore.

There are 3 routes that Impala can take from here

1) Zeta
2) Epsilon 2
3) Death.

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

Why is it that we only are talking about either Zeta or EpiII? Is GM not going to, in the next 5 years or so come out with a new platform? Does the EpiII have to wind up being like the W platform that is 20 years old?
If the Impala stays the same till 2012 (remember this was supposed to be a stop-gap car) I hope there will be a MAJOR MCE for 2010 since it's basically been untouched since introduction. the 2013 model year is a long time away and I just don't see how the current car can go on for 4 more model years until there's a new one.
I guess unless and until GM bites the bullet and makes something that leap-frogs the competition, it's always going to be playing catch-up and be behind the times. Hopefully the Volt is that car. But the current Impala will be 9 years old by the 2013 MY. That's too long for a truck, much less your bread and butter car.

Yes...GM could develop a new platform. But...why?
How is Epsilon gunna be 20 years old? EP2 is brand new, and not even out yet.

GM's only large FWD platform is Epsilon 2 from here on out. Everything else bigger will go to Zeta everywhere else in the world. Lucerne will go to Zeta, DTS will go to Zeta. Grand Prix has already gone to VE as G8.
GM does not have the money to make an all new platform for one car.

[TJ95GAGT]

Originally Posted by prototype66

They are not going to build one vehicle off of two different platforms. That makes no sense.I agree tweaking W body using lighter weight materials and the new 6 spd trans with the Direct Injected powerplant would be fastest and cost effective.

I was thinking more along the lines if Pontiac is to get axed. All they would need to do is bring it over with the Chevy face and badges.

I agree with you, what you said is the easiest/cheapest probably, will they continue the W-body for 1 car though? Aren't its W-body mates getting axed or moved to EPII?

[elderon]

Well here is a tid bit for you guys. One of my close friends works at a local Delphi plant and they are already tooling parts there for a RWD Impala.....