Speculation: New Impala Coming in 2011?

[chevyman1973]

Originally Posted by neshapop

Impala should be out soon to prop up the sales of bread and butter sedans, aiming to niche features will prolong the launch and it won't bring market share to GM. Having Camaro and Corvette is more than enough for one brand to carry in performance division. Chevy needs Cruze/Malibu/Impala to be competitive volume sedans.

I don't mind platform sharing with Buick and Caddy if they are differentiated by options, design and price accordingly.

now thats a smart man!

[Z28x]

I wish they would just give us the updated 2011 Holden Commodore and call it Impala.

[Novak454]

Originally Posted by chevyman1973

wouldnt it be kool if the current impala out sells the in coming ford taurus!

Never underestimate the power of fleet sales....

[motorman]

Originally Posted by prowlerjc

The current Impala is a thoroughly decent car and does its job well for 99% of the driving public (most of whom don't know or don't care which end drives the car or how many cams open the valves).

I wouldn't mind seeing a new one, but all the hate draped over the Impala is a bit over the top.

the new impala V-6 engines do not get the MPG that the old outdated 3800 did. something is wrong there. i know people who have traded up to the new impala from the previous one and get less fuel mileage. maybe the 6 speed trans will help with the new engine

[dindak]

I really hope this is all true. The Impala is suppose to be the flagship Chevy sedan and the center of marketing Chevy in NASCAR and it's been allowed to age too long as it is.

At the very least new engines and transmissions should have been installed for 2009.

Anyway, I don't want to see a car rushed to market but putting some priority on it is very important in my opinion. Chevy is what will save GM and Chevy needs a full size sedan ASAP!!

[slayrdave]

So if we want a RWD Sedan and cant afford a CTS.....GM will send us to Chrysler/Dodge and Hyundai......Still time to get a Mercury.How can Ford Keep the very dated Merc alive and GM cant see a need for the G8(Impala,Caprice).

[JoeT]

Holden & GM In US Export Discussions - Cadillac, Buick & GMC In The Picture June 2009

Holden still eyes US exports, studies GMC and Cadillac products May 2009

As I've been saying for ages and GM and Holden have been hinting for many months now, if RWD Holden products are to return to North America they won't be sold through Chevrolet. Buick is the brand to keep an eye on.

Personally I would like to see the Holden SS-V and Calais sedan and sportwagon, plus the LWB Statesman/Caprice be sold as Buicks, with the Holden Ute and hopefully a next generation Crewman/Denali dual-cab head for GMC.

[neshapop]

Originally Posted by motorman

the new impala V-6 engines do not get the MPG that the old outdated 3800 did. something is wrong there. i know people who have traded up to the new impala from the previous one and get less fuel mileage. maybe the 6 speed trans will help with the new engine

Now seeing all the fuss about SIDI 3.0L w/6 speed auto in new GM vehicles I don't think I would replace my good old 3.8L with 4 speed and enjoy great low end torque and decent fuel economy for quite some time and move up to CTS maybe few years down the road.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by nsap

The Chevrolet Impala has generated a whole lot of controversy in the last year. The current car was all-new in 2006, but based upon a chassis that dates back over 20 years ago and it is saddled with four-speed automatic transmissions and overhead-valve V6's.

So then...it wasn't all new, was it?

[KingElvis]

The Epi II must offer superior rear legroom and width for three passengers in back (and possibly in front). If you got a front driver with 78" width - maybe a 116" wheelbase and 204+" length it would be big enough - and then you avoid the problem of the Impala actually having LESS legroom than the 'midsize' Malibu.

And a tougher transmission is needed to handle the power of a V8 engine. I've heard the current 4t60 keeps failing in the SS models - perhaps why they canceled the V8 this year.

People are getting upset about front drive, but I think if we get a genuinely large (6 passenger) car with a V8 option traditionalists could find something to love - and that would offer a clear advantage over the less expensive Malibu.

...and perhaps they could even bring back the Caprice name for a luxury version.

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

People are getting upset about front drive, but I think if we get a genuinely large (6 passenger) car with a V8 option traditionalists could find something to love - and that would offer a clear advantage over the less expensive Malibu.

...and perhaps they could even bring back the Caprice name for a luxury version.

EPII isn't NEARLY wide enough for 6 passengers.

[Asinity]

Originally Posted by neshapop

Impala should be out soon to prop up the sales of bread and butter sedans, aiming to niche features will prolong the launch and it won't bring market share to GM. Having Camaro and Corvette is more than enough for one brand to carry in performance division. Chevy needs Cruze/Malibu/Impala to be competitive volume sedans.

While I do agree that Chevy needs the three to be volume sedans, and that they should focus on getting the Cruze and a refreshed Impala to customers soon, they shouldn't neglect having at least one performance sedan in their lineup. The Commodore would have made a perfect Impala, even if only for a couple years.

Not everyone is in the market for a Camaro, and not everyone can afford a Corvette. With Pontiac gone, Chevrolet NEEDS to have a performance sedan sooner than later, otherwise people who are in that market will go to Mazda 6, Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus or Dodge Charger as GM has nothing to compete with these vehicles right now, at least nothing that can compete with them anyway.

[RoyG]

"Fool me once, shame on you."
"Fool me twice, shame on me".

Sounds like a serious case of vapor-ware. The current Impala is dated and non-competitive with the Taurus. When you don't have the prodcut or the capital for new product you crank up the disinformation. First a new front wheel model followed by a rwd model.

[neshapop]

Originally Posted by wescoent

EPII isn't NEARLY wide enough for 6 passengers.

Probably he was thinking about option for 3 passengers at the front with column shift option? Even my Allure has that now and it was advertised as flip and fold center stack. Having 4 people at the back is not an option for any sedan today, especially North American sized.

[MAK]

If you read Nsap's post, he said take everything w/a grain of salt. I'm sure a final decision hasn't been made yet.