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21,459 Posts
Confirmed: FWD Impala through 2012
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5,936 Posts
Well, at least we can hope that it will maintain the rumored "stunning" exterior styling the RWD version was to have. GM needs stunning exteriors, with equally stunning interiors to seal the deal.
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2,217 Posts
well, this is not really a good idea. it is in some aspects, but the w body just needs to die. im tired of it.
or at least redesign the damn car. the impala is nice, i like it, but it needs redesigned.
or at least redesign the damn car. the impala is nice, i like it, but it needs redesigned.
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1,410 Posts
Agreed. The Malibu is Chevrolet's bread winning sedan for the masses. Let the Impala venture out there with more bold design, even as FWD.
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2,317 Posts
Well there goes my mother's sale and mine of an SS. SRT8 here I come!
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5,425 Posts
Way to go Chevrolet.......after totally trashing the Monte Carlo nameplate (which at one time was nothing more than a 2 door Lumina).....you've taken the once storied Impala name and are doing the same thing.
I wonder if people will even give a damn about the name 'Impala' if it ever goes back to RWD......
I wonder if people will even give a damn about the name 'Impala' if it ever goes back to RWD......
Once again a bad product decision by GM. It may make financial sense from a labor relations perspective, but did they not learn anything from what they did/ are doing to the SAAB 9-5? Eldofan, you are correct, GM sure knows how to kill a name plate.
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13,369 Posts
I could not agree more....the next one NEEDS to be "stunning" vs. the current safe vanilla design.
Overall, I agree with you.
On one hand, the car could be/should be updated. It still is using a 4 speed automatic after all, and other than slight cosmetic or enging updates, a large part of the car is on a very old platform.
On the other hand, it still is selling well. Now some might say it is only selling well versus the competition becasue of the lower price and incentives. HOWEVER, because it has been around for so long, GM CAN sell it with those incentives and at a lower cost (they have already probably absorbed all the developmental costs and are using existing, available components)....so as long as it sells, why not keep it around. If the car was outdated...and NOT selling well even with incentives...get rid of it.
My father is the perfect reason why the car is still around. He is now on his second new Impala in just under 4 years. He "likes" the styling of the car...doesn't love it..but likes it. BUT, for the price, there is NOTHING else he would even consider that has the room and comfort he is looking for. I have a feeling there are a lot of customers out there (and they are the ones currently buying the Impala.)
The new Malibu isn't much smaller than the Impala..a little bit..but not a lot. For GM's mid sized FWD customers who want something new, they can get it with the new Malibu, with the 6 speed automatic, the DOHC V6 available..flashier interior..and little or no incentives. For the rest of the customers who want a mid to large sized, stodgy, relativly low-tech FWD car for a great bargain...the Impala is there.
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16,774 Posts
"..kill a name plate." The Impala is one of GM's best selling cars. I say keep the formula and improve upon it.
Honestly, I don't understand all these people that think RWD is the answer to all questions. FWD offers larger cabins for a given wheelbase, lighter weight, and the traction that breeds driving confidence for those in cold/ wet/ snowy climates. Do you think the near one milliion people that buy Accords and Camry's every year give two spit-balls about which set of wheels is doing the work? High volume, bread and butter sedans is what GM needs right now. I think this was a good decision.
Now, I hope this extra time brings a new interior and some sheetmtal changes to keep the Impala selling as well as it has.
I'll never understand the RWD crowd. The Impala will trounce the G8 in sales yet people will still scream about RWD. If Honda wanted to kill their Accord sales all they would have to do is make them all RWD. It's insane.
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9,680 Posts
The midsize sedans need to stay FWD to appeal to the everyday driver point A to B people which the Malibu seems to be taking over. There is room above this class of cars for a slightly larger car with more power and RWD as long as your volume seller remains FWD.
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13,378 Posts
The car needs a overhaul to align it with the Malibu both inside and out. Outside wouldnt take much to redo, some enhancements here and there.
Inside would need to be redone. The engine cradle would have to be redesigned to accept the 3.6 and 6spd auto. 2 Engines available, the 3.5 for fleet, and 3.6/6spd for retail sales with maybe a V8 engine if they can some how work the 5.3 and the 6spd auto into the W body for an SS trim, if GM wanted to keep that. I doubt it for CAFE reasons. That and the fact that the LS4 is pretty much going away and the 3.6 DI motor would pump out 300hp.
This would really be the only way this car could move on.
Inside would need to be redone. The engine cradle would have to be redesigned to accept the 3.6 and 6spd auto. 2 Engines available, the 3.5 for fleet, and 3.6/6spd for retail sales with maybe a V8 engine if they can some how work the 5.3 and the 6spd auto into the W body for an SS trim, if GM wanted to keep that. I doubt it for CAFE reasons. That and the fact that the LS4 is pretty much going away and the 3.6 DI motor would pump out 300hp.
This would really be the only way this car could move on.
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21,459 Posts
Well at the moment, the volume seller is the Impala. The Malibu's selling strong, but it'll take some time before it reaches the Impala's sales figures.
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13,378 Posts
I wouldnt expect much from the Impala since it will only have 3 more MY's after 09.
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9,680 Posts
That's absolutely true and the main reason why I don't fault GM for doing what they are doing. They have a suprise hit on there hands with the Impala with long payed for tooling so they are going to ride the wave of big profits for a little while longer. Once the Malibu becomes established as Chevy's #1 volume seller and the G8 moves to a U.S. plant the Impala will probably return to RWD. It's also a safe bet to leave it as FWD and see where oil prices shake out. If they return to normal supply and demand prices then move it to RWD if not keep it FWD.
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393 Posts
Whats wrong with the g8
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