First RWD Impala spy pics?

[paul38469]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

So it is a RWD Impala made to look like the new Buick LaCrosse? Could it possibly they're testing an AWD system?

Why would they use a camo'd body of a vehicle that hasn't been unveiled in production form to test the chassis for another vehicle under development? It makes no sense. Recall they used a shortened Commodore to test the Camaro setup, a GMT-360 body for TE, and are using a previous generation Malibu for the Volt internals. If they were using a different body, wouldn't they use one who's development had been completed and they could run without camo and not arouse suspicions with, like the current Impala, Malibu or Commodore?

My best guess is that it was a mistake. It was probably built by Opel, not Holden, and it is an AWD LaCrosse replacement on Epsilon II. It makes sense for SAAB to be testing the XWD system in Epsilon II mules right now. I hope it is something more interesting than that, but I have my doubts.

[megeebee]

Rather misleading thread title, don't you think?

It's pretty obvious that the vehicle shown here is a 2010 LaCrosse prototype. It may indeed be a test bed for something, but it couldn't possibly be RWD. The body simply wouldn't "fit" over a RWD set up. The front wheels are simply situated too far back toward the cabin.

Besides, didn't someone confirm some time back the the next Impala was going to be FWD?

[1931Chevy]

this should be merged here Spied: GM begins testing turbo four-cylinder engine in large cars

and considering this is the 2010 buick lacrosse rwd made in AU for China and the states I could say yes is rwd and we could expect the 4 banger in it butI dont think the Impala will go RWD for the next refresh

[63GrandSport001]

I think thats a Buick.

If you look at the front end shots you can kind of see the vertical slats and the circle where the emblem is to go and it does have the Buick body.

It lacks the new Chevy face from what I can see.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by paul38469

Why would they use a camo'd body of a vehicle that hasn't been unveiled in production form to test the chassis for another vehicle under development? It makes no sense. Recall they used a shortened Commodore to test the Camaro setup, a GMT-360 body for TE, and are using a previous generation Malibu for the Volt internals. If they were using a different body, wouldn't they use one who's development had been completed and they could run without camo and not arouse suspicions with, like the current Impala, Malibu or Commodore?

My best guess is that it was a mistake. It was probably built by Opel, not Holden, and it is an AWD LaCrosse replacement on Epsilon II. It makes sense for SAAB to be testing the XWD system in Epsilon II mules right now. I hope it is something more interesting than that, but I have my doubts.

The answer is simple and makes complete sense. The Impala and this LaCrosse both are LWB EPII so under the skin they are sister cars. If you are testing a new platform and there is a complete version of that available to test that gives the most accurate information, why would you use an old vehicle that is only an approximation? The situation with the Volt is that they don't have the new platform yet and they are testing not the platform but the drive train set. Here they are testing not just drive train but the EPII platform in RWD format too. Also, it would be likely that the RWD option developed for an EPII Impala may also be made available eventually for the Buick.

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

this should be merged here Spied: GM begins testing turbo four-cylinder engine in large cars

and considering this is the 2010 buick lacrosse rwd made in AU for China and the states I could say yes is rwd and we could expect the 4 banger in it butI dont think the Impala will go RWD for the next refresh

That is not a RWD Buick made in AU, it is the exact same Buick LaCrosse prototype as I propose is being used as an Impala mule, and in Buick form it is a US/China project that does not involve Holden.

[FenwickHockey65]

Well...maybe there is hope yet for a RWD Impala.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

I think thats a Buick.

If you look at the front end shots you can kind of see the vertical slats and the circle where the emblem is to go and it does have the Buick body.

It lacks the new Chevy face from what I can see.

Yes its a Buick, I said it was a Buick lacrosse prototype being used as an Impala mule in the article.

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

Yes its a Buick, I said it was a Buick lacrosse prototype being used as an Impala mule in the article.

I see but what valid information do we have that says its infact an Impala mule or has anything to do with the Impala at all?

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

What I do see that I like is that front-end looks pretty vertical to me (i.e. not very swoopy). Swoopy front-ends (Honda, Toyota, et al) I believe are more feminine, while a vertical front-end is more masculine. Masculine lines I believe give the car a more "purposefull" presence, while the swoopy look says, "Tell me green is yellow, and I'll believe you".

I do notice how hard the driver has that front end set at turn in. Almost like an M Series Beemer on a track. Anyone who has seen an M aggressively set that front end on turn in will know what i mean. It almost looks unnatural. But the result is you get the front to bite (don't need to worry about hitting your apex) and can be on the throttle to exit quickly to the next corner.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

Or maybe it's just a very good FWD chassis. And they are over correcting for the abomination known as EPI

That video proves my point. It shows how a FWD car understeers (the opposite of over correcting) and if you try to over correct in an understeering car you simply drive off the road.

That is why those pics show what one expects only of a RWD chassis.

[TriShield]

I hear from an insider that the car has a strong Holden styling influence and that it is, sadly, FWD.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

I see but what valid information do we have that says its infact an Impala mule or has anything to do with the Impala at all?

There is no valid proof. The article is an OpEd, which means I'm giving my opinion based upon supposition and what I can deduce. It may well be a Buick being tested as a RWD version of that Buick. But I would say that there was no previous talk out of GM for making this Buick anything but a FWD car. However there was an active desire to have the next Impala a RWD car by Lutz until the bean counters put paid to that hope.

So if my supposition is correct then you may be witnessing Lutz's way of doing an end-run around the accountants. Because both the LaCrosse (which this prototype mule is) and the next Impala will be on the same EPII LWB platform, and given that Lutz wanted a RWD Impala, then given this is testing RWD then one of two things is true. A/ That both the Buick and Impala will get a RWD option or B/ the Impala only will get a RWD option. In either case the Impala is in play and it is GM's most important car.

If they do this then the Impala will be available as a FWD/AWD I4 and V6 and also in smaller numbers for enthusiasts an I4 RWD, V6 RWD with the possibility of a V8 RWD, although less likely now with CAFE. As GM’s most important car it will have something for the straight Camry crowd with FWD I4 and V6, it will have the sow crowd with the AWD and it will offer the enthusiasts something with the RWD. Why not make your most important car your most innovative and flexible. It has already bee said that Lutz wanted to try FWD/AWD/RWD for the old Chrysler 300 but it was too expensive. But that was in the days before Holden invented the flexible build chassis system. And it was before the flexibility of vehicle mix offered by robots on the line that can change tasks in an instant. Perhaps now Lutz can get his way.

[1931Chevy]

If this car is on epsilon 2 then this is AWD what you are seeing here , I dont believe that GM will use epsilon for RWD since thats Zetas work and remember that Epsilon engine force is the ecotec family and the v6 family and thats where they need to concentrate their efforts because the MPG needs to go up

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

There is no valid proof. The article is an OpEd, which means I'm giving my opinion based upon supposition and what I can deduce. It may well be a Buick being tested as a RWD version of that Buick. But I would say that there was no previous talk out of GM for making this Buick anything but a FWD car. However there was an active desire to have the next Impala a RWD car by Lutz until the bean counters put paid to that hope.

So if my supposition is correct then you may be witnessing Lutz's way of doing an end-run around the accountants. Because both the LaCrosse (which this prototype mule is) and the next Impala will be on the same EPII LWB platform, and given that Lutz wanted a RWD Impala, then given this is testing RWD then one of two things is true. A/ That both the Buick and Impala will get a RWD option or B/ the Impala only will get a RWD option. In either case the Impala is in play and it is GM's most important car.

If they do this then the Impala will be available as a FWD/AWD I4 and V6 and also in smaller numbers for enthusiasts an I4 RWD, V6 RWD with the possibility of a V8 RWD, although less likely now with CAFE. As GM’s most important car it will have something for the straight Camry crowd with FWD I4 and V6, it will have the sow crowd with the AWD and it will offer the enthusiasts something with the RWD. Why not make your most important car your most innovative and flexible. It has already bee said that Lutz wanted to try FWD/AWD/RWD for the old Chrysler 300 but it was too expensive. But that was in the days before Holden invented the flexible build chassis system. And it was before the flexibility of vehicle mix offered by robots on the line that can change tasks in an instant. Perhaps now Lutz can get his way.

I think that offering the Impala in FWD, AWD, and RWD is going to cost more then what its worth to do.

This could also be GM testing AWD on the Buick as well though, its really hard to say what it is.

[zete]

I've thought, since the comments that the Impala would stay FWD, that GM would bring back the Caprice as the Chev large RWD car. That would allow them to have the Impala be FWD/AWD and the Caprice, selling in much smaller numbers, be the RWD/AWD flagship. It also allows them to save the design costs they've already invested in the Impala by using the design for the flagship car. To meet CAFE GM would simply offer the Caprice with the turbo-4, the DI 6, and, again in limited numbers, a v8. GM could also take the Caprice and offset development costs by selling police versions of the car, which would not affect CAFE -- or shouldn't since they're special vehicles and most probably are exempt (I personally don't know, but that would make sense since police cruisers aren't sold to the general public).

Of course, the one remaining problem I have with all this is that since the Malibu is bigger, and the Impala has to be larger yet, how big would a Caprice be?

BTW, I think having Impala FWD/AWD is a smarter option simply since FWD is easier to deal with in the snow. And, offering an AWD option would help sales in snow states and Canada (FWD or RWD). I know a lot of folks prefer FWD in the winter and after our horrid winter this year I can tell you that I prefer FWD or AWD over RWD. And, yes, I know how to drive RWD in the snow and have driven RWD in the snow most of my life. But I'm an AWD fan after this winter and I'll leave RWD to speciality cars in my life, like a future Corvette.

Others may argue with me at length now ...