Rumors of next gen Impala, Silverado upgrades

[bmarkdc]

Originally Posted by gmmerc5

Thanks for the info, I am disappointed to hear your dealer only have 5, and 4 went to GM exec, we are making them as quick as we could, 80% of our production went to the Malibu, 10 hour day.

Please keep us up to date on the sale number.

Hey bro thanks for making this great car. Just a question, how long does it actually take to build a car. Always wonderd

[racy]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

I don't believe the 6.2 liter 430 hp v8 is necessarily a gas guzzler..

With DOD, Direct Injection and a good six speed automatic or better yet dual clutch sequential clutch...25 mpg real world is more than possible..

My 99 C5 A4 with 380 hp that ran 12.90's @ 109mph in the quarter mile averaged over 26000 miles 22 mpg..

Thats without the benefit of Direct Injection, DOD or a six speed automatic or better yet DSG..

Yes the impala may weight an additional 900 lbs than a C5 but I still think with the technology advances over the past decade the 6.2 liter can not only out power but get better gas milage as well...

Call me an optimist but at 100 dollars a barrel it won't be much longer when biofuel will allow gas to brought back down to a dollar a gallon..(5 years tops)

The bigger threat for V8's is this nonsensical emissions requirement that is totally uncalled for..

At this point in time.. environmentalists should go after stationery emissions producers if they really care about the environment..

I'll pay for the gas and enjoy the 30 grand V8 impala SS and pass on the 60 grand Audi S5 or S6....

Or better yet Mercedes benz C63 which I love but gets 10 mpg?

I agree with everything you've said. My fear is how the media will spin it. Look at what the media did to the sales of SUV's when gas was $1.50/gallon.

If I have Cruise control set at 65, I can get 30+ mpg with my H/C C5. No lie.

But what about my question regarding Torco and 13.5:1 SRC ? I think you're the only one on this board who can answer that. Like I said, I am about ready to pull the trigger on a max effor, high compression 346, designed to run on E85. Until and E85 station gets closer, and one is planned for next year, my plan is to run on 92 with a bottle of Torco per tank.

[racy]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

What's the S in SCR? And which engine is going to be available with such a compression ratio? Sounds like I missed some bit of news or rumor.

SCR = Static compression rate. It is compression measured on paper given the volume of the combustion chamber. As opposed to DCR, Dynamic compression rate which is a real world measurement and in cases such as mine, is a lower number. In paper, my compression rate should be somewhere around 10.7:1. But becuase of my cam and specifically, the overlap in the valve events, the number is much smaller.

That's a layman's definition - because I am a layman. There are probably two dozen people on here who can give you the better understanding.

But to answer your real question - no, they don't offer anything that high. I am going to do a rebuild. THe moste I can get with milling the heads is about 11.2:1 - which is not enough to take advantage of the higher octane rating of E85. Therefore, I've gotta do a rebuild with high compression notched pistons.

[gmmerc5]

Originally Posted by bmarkdc

Hey bro thanks for making this great car. Just a question, how long does it actually take to build a car. Always wonderd

You are welcome, but to tell you the truth, the credit really should goes to GM finally decided to build products that surpass the competitors, hopefully GM will continue this practice for a very long time, and of course the customers (some of you guy here may buy the Malibu and passing the good words around).

As for your question, I don't know the answer to it just yet, but I will find out, check back a day or two.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Originally Posted by chevydlrmn

had a guy in a brand new Lexus ES350 speed up to catch me. Still had the dealer tags and I had my dealer plate. He was staring me down and kept trying to get in front of me so

Wow, you had a guy in a Lexus wanting to pull in front of you to check out the Malibu? Hmm, that's a good sign. I bet you could read his mind as he saw the Chevy emblem.

Word of the NG Implala still being RWD helps me sleep easier. I just hope the exterior style is stunning, and "subtley-heritage".

[wpageabc]

Sounds like a good plan.

[CharlotteFirebird]

I guess I still think it should be a FWD car, about the size that it is now, perhaps a little smaller...with a V8 option. The next Malibu then would be a little smaller than it is now...a little sportier perhaps. I'd leave RWD to Pontiac, Caddy, and one Buick.

If there is the Malibu, a large FWD, and a RWD...that's too many cars IMO...especially when they're adding some of these other (small minivan, etc).

[tamatt27]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

It had better be RWD. We already have a great FWD sedan. We don't need another!

We've already got a great RWD sedan aswell...

[SAngelo]

Here is my take on the whole Impala situation. I think Chevy should fix everything that is wrong with the Cobalt first, even if it takes sheetmetal changes. The car really needs a whole new interior if u ask me and maybe changes to the front clip and rear. Put the same quality interior in this car as the Astra but make it different.

While they are doing that, they should assess whether they need a rear wheel drive Impala at the current time. I don't think so with the uncertain gas situation. I would say just revise the current car.

- Give all Impalas a similar ride and feel as the LTZ, maybe not as sporty
- Make some major changes to the Dashboard particularly the center stack, like using the brushed aluminum as is done in the Malibu and fake wood in other places. They can Malibuize the interior a little. Also, PUT IN a NAVIGATION SCREEN !!!!!
- The floor shifter shouldbe numbered, this was a typical GM cost cutting feature
- Add the 6 speed auto to all models, across the board.

- Give the LTZ the 3.6 liter engine with a detuned DI (280hp)
- Keep the SS if you want with the 5.3 but add a 6 speed manual

- Give the car maybe a new grill to make front more pronounced.

You can make these changes with very little investment dollars. The car does have more room than the 08 Malibu and a larger trunk, so it can compete against the Avalon. Then when GM has most of their cars fixed then come out with a new Impala when things are more certain

[tamatt27]

I have to agree. The Cobalt/G5 needs a refresh ASAP! The Impala seems to be doing quite well in current form.

[TaHoE]

Originally Posted by tamatt27

I have to agree. The Cobalt/G5 needs a refresh ASAP! The Impala seems to be doing quite well in current form.

I see tons of Impalas here in New York. They are relatively handsome cars, but they are so basic looking. It's not really my type of vehicle, but I could definitely see the good value in them.

[Jimmy Jive]

I was really warming to the idea of a FWD Impala on a stretched EpII.
They just make a larger Malibu, but with some retro-cues, maybe some Volt concept thrown in. Move it up market to a bit of a higher price point, but load it out standard with all the bells and whistles.

Basically, when you've reached a higher affluent position in life, and want something a little nicer then a Malibu LTZ, you move on up to the Impala.
It's already a storied name plate, design it right, option it right, and the name Impala could be synonymous with class and prestige, the Chevrolet way.


Leave RWD for Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac.

[tamatt27]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Jive

I was really warming to the idea of a FWD Impala on a stretched EpII.
They just make a larger Malibu, but with some retro-cues, maybe some Volt concept thrown in. Move it up market to a bit of a higher price point, but load it out standard with all the bells and whistles.

Basically, when you've reached a higher affluent position in life, and want something a little nicer then a Malibu LTZ, you move on up to the Impala.
It's already a storied name plate, design it right, option it right, and the name Impala could be synonymous with class and prestige, the Chevrolet way.


Leave RWD for Pontiac, Buick, and Cadillac.

I like the way you think!

[SCarFan]

I know I sound like a broken record around here, but I hope GM leaves the Impala as-is for a couple more years. They can introduce a Zeta-based replacement in fall 2010 for the 2011 model year.

I approve of the idea of keeping the Impala FWD, making it on a stretched Epsilon II in the future.

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by AMcA

Sorry. No. The Caprice name has none of the umpf of Impala name. None. It was a trim package, that devolved down in GM fashion into a taxi cab. There was never a great Caprice. There were many great Impalas. (Indeed, the only notable Caprice was re-named Impala.)

I could not disagree more.
Impala and Caprice both have a rich well deserved reputation as being class leading vehicles throught the years. Caprice is still a leading moniker in the Holden fleet as of today. The smartest and leased expencive solution is to keep the Caprice name on the Statesman Caprice and bring it to the states unchanged!
You cannot tell me that this car isn't a perfect fit already to fill this RWD full size vehicle "hole" in the product line and you can still keep the loyal FWD Impala people happy with a 6 passenger capable car.

Tell me with a straight face this car has no Uuummph!
BS