Please GM, keep the next Impala simple.

[JBsZ06]

I believe the new Impala is going to be built on the 2010 lacrosse chassis.

GM should just make the vehicle with fwd, the 3.0 liter direct injection v6 and give it a nice styling package. Price it in the mid 20's and call it a day.

I especially like the malibu's suede center seat covers as the only seat. I like it better than leather and the price would be less. Leave the leather and millions of luxury items for cadillac and buick.

Price it well , style it nicely, give GOOD VALUE and this new chevrolet Impala will outsell the taurus (which is way over priced in my opinion with all its options

[big swede]

Originally Posted by jAustin

AMEN to that! That's why I love my 3100. Easy to work on. No need for timing belt replacement. Peak power low in the rpm's. I don't drive my car at 6900 rpm's! Like they say, HP is what you brag about but torque is what you really feel.

There are companies that are coming out with lifetime timing belts so I don't really see this as much of an issue. If you want torque and power down low you want GM's DOHC 3.6 because it will squash any OHV V6 engine GM makes at every RPM.

I definitely understand what the OP is getting at with the Impala and that is pretty much why sales are still through the room for what is a relatively outdated car by todays standards. I drive a Monte SS everyday because it is roomy, comfortable, has great power and gets good gas mileage while doing everything I really need.

I think in 5 years people are going to be wishing for a car like the current Impalla becase car prices have been far outpacing raises and as they continue to soar in price a lot of people will be forced into smaller and smaller cars when they would prefer to keep their larger less complex (cheaper) car.

As far as the FWD/RWD dynamics debate. If you still question this you have never owned a decently powerful RWD car. It doesn't have to be a road burner and you don't have to be driving like a maniac to enjoy the benefits of RWD. The #1 benefit to RWD is the purity of the steering it will have. No matter how little or how much throttle you give it the steering feel is unaffected by the gas pedal which is a beatiful thing. Go test drive a low power 2.0 Hyndai Genesis to see what I mean about low power still benefiting greatly from RWD.

[T'Cal]

To the original poster:

I'm happy that you're pleased with your choice in vehicles. I see a need for the vehicle you describe but I see a great deal of those traits in the Malibu. While I understand your desire for the simplicity of the 3.5L OHV V6, one is available in the Aura, which is the Malibu's twin under the skin. I highly recommend that you drive these two vehicles when it's time to replace your beloved Chevy and I'll bet you come back impressed at the value you'll find in these cars.

EDIT: In 2009, it appears the 3.5L was replaced by the 2.4L I4, which is still a very good choice when backed by the 6 speed automatic. Sorry!

If GM decides to continue to make a large FWD Impala, it's my hope that they also build a true fullsize RWD sedan. They have a bunch of Chevy names they could use to keep the brand identity in tact such as Bel Air, Chevelle, Caprice, etc.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Just make it pretty, make it big, keep it FWD, and have a V-8 option and I'll buy it! I want another big Chevy!

[T'Cal]

With the big Police-only Caprice coming in 2011, I'm guessing a civilian version will follow 12-18 months later especially if fuel prices stay stable. If that's the case, I really don't care what they do to the Impala since it will no longer be Chevy's biggest sedan. It will likely stay a midsize-large FWD sedan that's high in value but low in appeal or contemporary technology. Big and cheap and little else. Too bad.

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

Rwd was common, almost universal, until women became a large part of the (outside the house) workforce. Women are in many cases practical, and would want a car that can get them back and forth to work, shopping, etc.
Fwd and awd aid in driving in less than ideal driving conditions, such as we have in Missouri. Rwd handles probably 90% of driving conditions, fwd probably 99%, and awd the last percent.
I believe the fwd push has come from meeting womens' desires for cars that can handle the most driving conditions they are likely to find in their normal driving environments.
Awd has traditionally been for off-raod use, but nowadays it is almost never used that way. It does provide more a sense of security. The driving dynamics of rwd are superior to the others, but it also does the worst in severe adverse weather.
Using my wife as an example, she hates and is afraid of driving in snow and ice. She doesn't like to drive at night. She won't drive my Cobra when it is raining, and doesn't like driving it the rest of the time, finding it "scary and heavy." She wants something comfortable and safe. For her, a fwd or awd sedan is the right choice.
The current Impala would be a good choice for women, and an awd version would be better still. Guys will still want the power and driving dynamics of the rwd version, like an Impala SS.
GM needs to bring out a modern Impala, and it probably should be the EpiII fwd/awd model, stretched and widened to fit 5-6 adults, and ideally wide enough to fit 3 child seats in the rear.
I'd like GM to bring out a rwd version simply called "SS," a single model with a smallblock LS engine in it, kinda like an updated 94-96 Impala SS.

Are you serious? You're blaming women for the proliferation of FWD cars?
It's always been a question of *basic* efficiency, just like the transition from BOF to unibody construction. The **** and Europeans led the way forward, and America followed - as competition demands. Go figure why all the FWD barges and low-powered crap popped up during the malaise era.

How else do you explain the Miata being a girl's car? Just because your wife dislikes your car doesn't mean it's that way for everyone, Christ.

[spectre]

A fellow SS T/C owner! good choice! I have to agree with you on the fact that RWD would have been perfect for the SS. However, I look at the average person and see people like this driving RWD sports cars in the winter and even with winter tires they make me nervous as hell to watch. I personally find RWD to handle better on all counts because I can simply apply throttle to help balance out the car one wet or snowy roads and with a good set of winters you never get stuck. I hate how FWD goes wherever it was pointed at the time traction was lost. No matter what you do. I hope noone takes offence to this but I really do liken it to, FWD being for the average driver while RWD is cut more for drivers with natural ability. FWD is really and truly used because it utilizes far less drivetrain components, there is less parasitic loss and it's cheaper to manufacture. It also helps the average driver because all the weight is on the drive wheels. At the same time, my SS only makes around 240ish HP to the wheels. I can keep up with 300+ HP Mustang GT's. It's not just the weight difference, it's also the fact that Mustangs lose alot of power because the power has to travel farther before it reaches the wheels. The LSD on the SS pretty well negates torque steer and the way they setup the FE5 suspension the rear end is a little more lively. I find the SS corners very well at high speeds however, once you pass the 300 hp mark the limits of FWD become very apparent. FWD's are also much easier to maintain. On the negative side, FWD cars that have power levels beyond 200 horsepower and don't have LSD's (Caliber SRT-4) are so plagued with toque steer you have to break your knuckles to keep them under control while accelerating. You can't throttle through corners when you break traction, instead you usually go where the tires are pointed so if you lose control your usually screwed. Aside from having good acceleration and handling characteristics in the snow AWD suffers from similiar issues (Minus torque steer). Audi has a rear-biased AWD system that helps out a fair bit but at the end of the day it depends on what you want. If you like power, great cornering and all out performance and a pure driving experience RWD is for you. If you want a reliable configuration that's easier and cheaper to maintain, better geared for everyday driving and hold less initial vehicle cost. Go with FWD. If you want reliable traction in all weather conditions, good towing capabilities, off-road reliability and cost of purchase and maintenance isn't much of a factor for you, by AWD. Better yet, drive cars with different setups, do some research and make an informed decision. Simple and effective. I'm also not an expert by any means so if any of the information above needs correction, don't hesitate to let me know. Just be advised that if you act like a **** i'll just bill you as a troll and never acknowledge you again

Originally Posted by JT87

The FWD push comes from added simplicity, weight, and practicality, as well as the 'inability to get into trouble while going to fast' as evidenced by FWD's understeer/push tendencies. It's easier to package, easier to put together and theoretically cheaper.



Depends on how 'seriously' your are asking. I could throw you an essay about moments and load transfer and various geometries, etc., and bore you to heck. Drive a FWD that is engineered for performance (i.e. my Cobalt SS) somewhat spiritedly and you'll quickly notice the limits of FWD. The entire rear of the car is passive. The various directions of forces and moment axes that the front wheels have to cope with is quite ridiculous! You simply shouldn't make one half of your car do so much work, while the other half does virtually nothing. In a FWD car, there is more weight shift away from the front axle while accelerating and turning than there is in a RWD car. RWD car's stay better balanced. Again, I could go on and on and write you a textbook!

[spectre]

You should call up NASCAR and Formula 1 and tell them that. Than again I reason that the best racing minds in the world probably stick to RWD for a reason. AWD will never be a drivetrain of choice outside of Rally applications. You've clearly never experienced a track with a RWD car. No comparison to AWD and definitely not FWD, sorry.

Originally Posted by calgaryhhr

I think the benefits of a well engineered all wheel drive system are becoming much more apparent lately. With lighter materials and smaller packaging it is becoming the drive system of choice for all driving situations (even spirited and racing applications.)

I would take AWD over any front or rear wheel drive option.

[spectre]

I wish I could have explained that so easily lol. Mine took like 3 pages. Well put!

Originally Posted by nailhead425

FWD vs RWD in snow:
Acceleration: FWD.
This is often exaggerated especially when comparing low-torque FWD vehicles to high-torque RWD vehicles. Such as a Corolla to a 3/4 ton pickup. high-torque front drivers will spin the tires with the rest.
Deceleration: RWD.
Engine braking on the rear helps prevent premature lock-up in slippery conditions. Try it in snow, it works great.
Cornering: RWD.
FWD will understeer when pushed and in snow or on wet pavement that point is very early. With RWD a simple goose of the throttle will bring about some trailing oversteer and bring the rear around. While on dry pavement in FWD letting off will reverse the action and cause the front to get more bite, in a situation with a low coefficient of friction, this is typically too little, too late.

In todays automotive market FWD has a packaging advantage, that is all.

[nick1978]

Impala desperately needs a major updating of its interior. It is very old inside design amd GM shows that it can do way better with the Malibu and 2010 Lacrosse.

[Smellhound]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

I believe the new Impala is going to be built on the 2010 lacrosse chassis.

GM should just make the vehicle with fwd, the 3.0 liter direct injection v6 and give it a nice styling package. Price it in the mid 20's and call it a day.

I especially like the malibu's suede center seat covers as the only seat. I like it better than leather and the price would be less. Leave the leather and millions of luxury items for cadillac and buick.

Price it well , style it nicely, give GOOD VALUE and this new chevrolet Impala will outsell the taurus (which is way over priced in my opinion with all its options

As many others, including myself, have said...Please NO MORE new cars with that 3.0 engine until it has vast improvements or just put the 3.6 in it.

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by Smellhound

As many others, including myself, have said...Please NO MORE new cars with that 3.0 engine until it has vast improvements or just put the 3.6 in it.

I'm in total agreement.. I don't even believe the 3.0 version of the motor should exist in North America..

I'm of the belief GM should just offer to levels of tune for the 3.6 liter via the pcm.

One for 255 hp and the other for 304.

I just suggested the base 3.0 liter motor to minimize the production variations to lower final consumer costs to buy the Impala..

One motor...one or two basic levels for interior. two levels of the suspension...and even thats a stretch of whats called for. Offer two colors for the interiors..with PW, PS, PB, ABS.

I personally believe one diameter of tires is required and just change the width as a higher cost option.. I'd like to see 19 or 20 inch rims to create a contemporary look. (just change the widths to offer better handling performance)

I personally believe the days of 16 inch wheels as a base vehicle should be gone.. to have a contemporary look.. 18's are fine....but 19's and 20 would give the cool look many consumers don't even realize they are attracted too.. Small little wheels make a car look dated...(again...JMO ) and the cost to increase is minimal.

Its funny but almost any vehicle no matter how dated looks more contemporary with a larger diameter wheel.

Just shooting the breeze!

[BigC]

I completely agree with the thread starter. Anyone who lives in a climate that has snow can appreciate the Impala's driving dynamics. I drive an 05 Monte Carlo and it is the best car I have ever had on snow. The car is very forgiving. I hope that the next gen Impala keeps what is good about the current model(which is most of it) while correcting/updating the rest, without straying from the current formula too much.